When Democrats attack

After Bush's speech the other night at the Republican National Convention, John Kerry made an unprecedented speech right afterward where he blasted Bush and Cheney.

"I will not have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have and who misled America into Iraq," he told a crowd of thousands in Springfield.

Here he is referring to Bush serving in the Texas Air National Guard and Cheney receiving draft deferments.

That hypocrite.

Kerry tried to get a draft deferment so he could study in Paris but it was denied. So he enlisted in the Naval Reserve. When he got called up anyway, he volunteered for duty on swiftboats because, by his own admission, it was not dangerous duty at the time. The mission of the swiftboats was changed from patrolling along the coast to the rivers and deltas, which made it more dangerous.

True, Cheney didn't serve (I dunno if Edwards was ever in the military). However, when Bush was training to fly the dangerous F-102 Delta Dagger jet fighter, qualified F-102 pilots from the Air National Guard were being rotated to Viet Nam as part of a program called Palace Alert. Although it can't be proven, there is an account by a fellow pilot that he and Bush inquired about being part of that program. By the time Bush was qualified, the program was winding down and no more pilots were being sent.

Kerry, to his credit, he went where he was ordered. But to blast Bush and Cheney for ducking service when he himself tried the very same thing is disingenuous.

"For the past week, they attacked my patriotism and my fitness to serve as commander in chief," Kerry said. "I'm going to leave it up to the voters to decide whether five deferments makes someone more qualified than two tours of duty."

Liar.

They never attacked your patriotism. They specifically honored you for your service in Viet Nam. It's your record in the Senate, that was the focus. It's the fact that you've consistently voted against the military weapons programs that this country needed to maintain its superiority. It's the fact that on numerous issues you've embraced both sides and can't seem to maintain a consistent viewpoint to save your life. That's what they were attacking. Not your patriotism.

And two tours? Two tours was 24 months, buddy. You were there for four and a half before you came home with your three Purple Hearts, none of which were for injuries that required hospitalization or absence from duty.

You're being confronted with the truth and - you know I have to quote Jack Nicholson here - you can't handle the truth. So you lash out with lies and half-truths, hoping that the American people can't see through the smoke screen you're putting up.