SwiftVets.com

[DerbyRed]

Thought this might be of general interest. The event was pretty much general knowledge around here ("around here" includes Fort Bragg, Pope AFB, and Camp Lejeune") but -- as you can tell -- there wasn't an overwhelming interest for it in the community. The organizers whined that they had to bus people in because the military authorities had threatened punishment for any military members who decided to participate in the rally (in fact, personnel -- regardless of who they supported -- were cautioned not to wear their uniforms or do anything to embarrass the military a/o compromise military operations). This area has one of the highest concentrations of military retirees/veterans in the nation and this rally couldn't draw flies. Barker/Sandusky's message got no traction because they didn't understand their 'target audience' (go figure) . . . but I guess the hi-lite came when Sandusky hyper-ventilated that jfk had "surgery" for 2 of his 3 PHs (let me guess . . . #1 and # ?????) I guess the only thing I worry about now is that they're seemingly making things so easy for us to "search-and-destroy" gaps in their credibility > > > GBA/cul/dmm

http://www.fayettevillenc.com/story.php?Template=election&Story=6530626 (If this article is still available online -- there are a couple of fotos of the event)

Fayetteville Observer-Times
August 29, 2004

SWIFT BOAT SAILORS BACK KERRY

By Kevin Maurer
Staff writer

Two swift boat sailors who served with Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry told supporters Saturday in Fayetteville that Kerry would not sacrifice American service mem-bers.

Skip Barker, a former swift boat commander, said Kerry would not rush American soldiers into combat. He said when a friend is killed in combat, you are always left to wonder whether it was worth your friend's life.

"The answer has got to be yes. And before John Kerry sends our children and grandchildren, he will know the answer to that question," Barker said. "He will not do it to change the regime of a foreign country he doesn't like."

About 200 Kerry supporters attended the rally at Rowan Park. Speakers included U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, who told the crowd that a Kerry administration would never send troops to battle ill equipped and without an exit plan.

Many of the Kerry supporters were bused in from Chapel Hill. Supporters held signs and wore T-shirts supporting the candidate. A popular sticker said: "Clinton lied. Nobody died. Bush lied. Our troops die."

Thad Monroe, who grew up in Fayetteville but now lives in Chapel Hill, said this election is the most important of his life. He is 75.

He and Perry Young, a 63-year-old former UPI reporter, said none of the lessons learned during Vietnam are being heeded. Young reported from Vietnam during the Tet offensive in 1968.

"Bush's foreign policy has left us in a terrible position," Monroe said.

Both said Bush blundered into Iraq and has alienated the other nations. "He has embarrassed our beloved country," Young said.

The war in Iraq was at the forefront of the speeches. "The first thing that he is going to do is clean up that mess in Iraq," said Del Sandusky, a crew member on Kerry's swift boat.

Sandusky and Barker said Kerry was a smart, compassionate leader. Barker urged the supporters to do what they can to help Kerry win. "I think our country needs him."

Both defended Kerry's war record, which has become a point of contention. Kerry was awarded Silver and Bronze stars and three Purple Hearts in Vietnam.

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is attacking Kerry's version of events and saying he did not deserve the medals.

Sandusky said the group is telling lies. Kerry needed surgery for two of the three wounds he received in Vietnam, Sandusky said. He also said crew members on Kerry's boat were never interviewed by the group for its commercial.

"They can tell all of the lies they want to, but I am still standing by John Kerry," he said.

OTHER POLITICAL RALLIES

Two other political rallies were held at the park, including one for Michael Badnarik, the Libertarian candidate for president. "This is the one candidate running for president that is actually against the war," said Brian Irving, chairman of the Cumberland County Liber-tarian Party and a candidate for the state Senate.

Ted Sampley led a vocal counter rally from Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry. The group does not support Bush and is only interested in making sure Kerry does not be-come president, Sampley said.

He said Kerry "forfeited the right to be commander-in-chief" when he began pro-testing the war in Vietnam. Sampley said Kerry's comments about soldiers in Vietnam being war criminals were an insult. "I never witnessed anything like that. It was very painful for me to hear," he said.

Sampley and his supporters heckled and chanted throughout the speeches. Sampley, a Vietnam veteran who fought with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in April 1966 and as a Green Beret in 1969, yelled, "Kerry lied while good men died" and "Kerry is a traitor."

Barker, the swift boat commander, said it took courage for Kerry to protest the war and said Vietnam veterans are misinterpreting his actions. He said Kerry did not mean it as a personal assault.

Vietnam Veterans Against John Kerry angered Kerry supporters when they interrupted a moment of silence. Sampley said it was difficult to hear what was going on because their rally was relegated to an area across the street by Fayetteville police. He said his group waited until after the playing of the national anthem before it started its protest, and would have been quiet had he known there was a moment of silence.

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_________________
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." --John Adams "

[Raven]

[ord33]

What nonsense. No wonder Kerry has his handlers take care of his "band of brothers", not only do they back up his already false stories, but they embellish and exaggerate them even more?!?!

Sandusky said the group is telling lies. Kerry needed surgery for two of the three wounds he received in Vietnam, Sandusky said. He also said crew members on Kerry's boat were never interviewed by the group for its commercial.

"They can tell all of the lies they want to, but I am still standing by John Kerry," he said.

[rb325th]

What was he thinking? Fayettville? Please of course they had to bus in people to attend.
I can not see much support coming from Ft. Bragg or Pope AFB for Kerry.
_________________
U.S. Army 1983-1995, 11C1P/11H2P NBTDT

[cipher]

[cipher]

Uh-oh. Maybe he got surgery for the "contusion"? That was the only other time he was allegedly "under fire", yes? Fragging the rice and getting shrapnel in his butt was not a qualifying wound.

They keep burying themselves deeper and deeper.

I'm tempted to call it a "quagmire", but that's such an abused word lately.
_________________
USMC 69-72, 7th Comm, 3rd MarDiv, FMFPAC
US Army 75-79, 97th Sig, SHAPE, NATO
Arkansas National Guard 79
Defense contractor for US Navy, SSPO, SP-20, SP-24, OP-12 84-92

[neverforget]

Those are some very, very bad mistakes by Sandusky. Bussing in leftists from UNC is also a mistake.

[rb325th]

Surgerey?!? Ummm Ok sure he did, let's see those Medical Reords!!
_________________
U.S. Army 1983-1995, 11C1P/11H2P NBTDT

[Nomorelies]

"About 200 Kerry supporters attended the rally at Rowan Park. Speakers included U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, who told the crowd that a Kerry administration would never send troops to battle ill equipped and without an exit plan."

An exit plan for John Kerry is 3 purple hearts.
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[ArmyWife]

Ridiculous!

I loved this quote from the article, "Barker, the swift boat commander, said it took courage for Kerry to protest the war and said Vietnam veterans are misinterpreting his actions. He said Kerry did not mean it as a personal assault."

So, I guess you don't need to apologize for doing something horrible if you didn't mean do.


Active duty military folks can't go to partisan political rallies. Surely they knew that. Did they really think that someone would believe that the bussed-in folks were troops or their families?

[Son Of The Godfather]

Does picking a scab count as surgery?

SOTG
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"Which candidate would enemies of the United States prefer to see in the White House?"

[leeinwv]