Return with me if you will to the last time we had a slate of candidates running for the presidency in 2003-2004. There were many issues discussed. Some of them -- including he Iraq war -- are still issues. But perhaps the greatest issue was military service. Being on active duty meant you had a view on war that was more nuanced and righteous than those who did not.
George W. Bush was pilloried by the Kerry campaign, the media and the anti-war left because he did not get activated and sent to Vietnam. This triad sent near-daily press releases detailing John Kerry's 45-days of service as if he were Audie Murphy. The campaign made his Vietnam service the center-point of his campaign--a tactic that back-fired spectacularly once the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth went into action and dispelled the carefully crafted biography Kerry had laid out. The military issue was so prominent that a well-respected newsman--Dan Rather-- lost his job because of a falsified letter he presented as truthful was brilliantly picked apart by bloggers.
Fast-forward to the present; there's zero discussion of military service by either side. Why the sudden change in attitude about whether or not someone served? Simple, only a few have and none of them are Democrats.
Let's look at the candidates and see who did, who didn't and who plain came up with a reason not to serve in the greatest military in the world:
Democrats:
Delaware Sen. Joe Biden: None. Rejected for medical reasons, but would have been eligible in a national emergency.
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton: None.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd: Army Reserve (1969-75).
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards: None. Draft number was never called.
Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich: None. Was rejected for military service because of a heart murmur.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama: None. Too young to have been drafted for the Vietnam War.
Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico: None. Received student and medical classifications. Draft number was never called.
• • •
Republicans:
Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback: None. Came of age as draft was ending.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani: None. Received student and occupational deferments. Draft number was never called.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee: None. Came of age as draft was ending.
California Rep. Duncan Hunter: Served as an Army paratrooper and Ranger in Vietnam (1969-71).
Arizona Sen. John McCain: Served in the Navy (1958-81); prisoner of war in Vietnam (1967-73).
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney: None. Received a deferment as a Mormon missionary in France. Was eligible for the draft upon his return to the states but was never selected.
Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo: None. Received student deferments. Was available for military service in 1969. Reclassified in 1970 because of stress-related anxiety and could have been called up only during a pressing national emergency.
Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson: None. Gained deferment because he had children. (Note: Not on original list, added by author)
Texas Representative Ron Paul: Served in the Army as a Flight Surgeon (1963-1965); Air National Guard (1965-1968) Never served in Vietnam, served in South Korea, Iran, Ethiopia and Turkey. (Note: Not on original list, added by author as an update on 8/22/07 0857))
If we go by the criteria set-forth in 2004, the only candidates who would warrant any attention and would have authority to speak on Iraq are Sen. John McCain, Rep. Ron Paul and Rep. Duncan Hunter. In fact, Hunter's son is currently active duty and boots on the ground. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson would not be considered (however Thompson's exemption is more warranted than others). In fact, if we were to silence all who never served from talking about the war, the discussion would be pretty small.
I said it in 2004 and I'll say it again, the Founding Fathers believed strongly in the concept of civilian control of the military. There's a reason the Commander in Chief is the President and not a five star General or Admiral. The Democrats and liberals made it an issue because they had a candidate who had served in Vietnam and the GOP did not. Now that circumstances are different, the fact that their candidates have no service time is not even muttered and that is disengenuous at best.
If I were John McCain and Duncan Hunter, I'd make this a priority on their campaigns, however, most who served are too proud or humble to do that. Of course, John Kerry was neither and wore his like a badge of courage while John McCain -- a man beaten in a POW prison for years -- did not.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Well, Scott, I hope it was your source that didnt mention this and not you, but Ron Paul served his country as well:
Flight Surgeon, United States Air Force, 1963-1965
Flight Surgeon, United States Air National Guard, 1965-1968
James Fetner at 8:48AM on Aug 22nd 2007
2. You're right Mr. Fetner. It is now added. He was not on my original source as you can see by clicking through the link.
Scott at 9:02AM on Aug 22nd 2007
3. Gee, why don't you check your facts before just printing anything negative that comes into your head about Senator Kerry?
For your information, Senator Kerry serviced more than 45 days in the Navy. He actually served his entire tour minus six months and remained in the Reserves. The honorable discharge six months early was appoved so that he could run for a congressional seat. Some of the information i provide comes from "Urban Myths". It details the TRUTH about his medals and his assignment.(Other links are provided for futher information)
Claim: John Kerry's Vietnam War service medals (a Bronze Star, a Silver Star and three Purple Hearts) were earned under "fishy" circumstances.
Status: False
". . . two weeks after [Kerry] arrived in Vietnam, the swift boat mission changed — and Kerry went from having one of the safest assignments in the escalating conflict to one of the most dangerous. Under the newly launched Operation SEALORD, swift boats were charged with patrolling the narrow waterways of the Mekong Delta to draw fire and smoke out the enemy. Cruising inlets and coves and canals, swift boats were especially vulnerable targets. "
Here is some history,
February 8, 2004
John Kerry
February 18, 1966:
A senior at Yale, Kerry commits to enlist in the Navy.
December, 1967:
Kerry is assigned as an Ensign to the guided-missile frigate USS Gridley. After five-months aboard, he returns to San Diego to undergo training to command a Swift boat, used by the Navy for patrols in Vietnam.
June, 1968:
Kerry is promoted to Lieutenant.
November 17, 1968:
Kerry arrives in Vietnam, where he is given command of Swift boat No. 44, operating in the Mekong Delta.
December 2, 1968:
Kerry gets his first taste of intense combat, and is wounded in the arm. He is awarded a Purple Heart.
January, 1969:
Kerry takes command of a new Swift boat, completing 18 missions over 48 days, almost all in the Mekong Delta area.
February 20, 1969:
Kerry is wounded again, taking shrapnel in the left thigh, after a gunboat battle. He is awarded a second Purple Heart.
February 28, 1969:
Kerry and his boat crew, coming under attack while patroling in the Mekong Delta, decide to counterattack. In the middle of the ensuing firefight, Kerry leaves his boat, pursues a Viet Cong fighter into a small hut, kills him, and retreives a rocket launcher. He is awarded a Silver Star.
March 13, 1969:
A mine detonates near Kerry's boat, wounding him in the right arm. He is awarded a third Purple Heart. He is also awarded a Bronze Star for pulling a crew member, who had fallen overboard, back on the boat amidst a firefight.
April, 1969:
According to Navy rules, sailors that have been wounded three times in combat are eligible to be transfered to the U.S. for noncombat duty. Kerry is transferred to desk duty in Brooklyn, NY.
January 3, 1970:
Kerry requests that he be discharged early from the Navy so that he can run for Congress in Massachusetts' Third District. The request is granted, and Kerry begins his first political campaign
http://www.snopes.com/politics/kerry/service.asp
http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2004/02/02_400.html
http://news.findlaw.com/legalnews/lit/election2004/docs.html
http://www.snopes.com/politics/kerry/service.asp
http://www.snopes.com/politics/kerry/service.asp
MAC at 1:27AM on Aug 23rd 2007
4. Listen, I'm not degrading Mr. Kerry'service, the fact is he spent 45-days in combat, more in theater.
Another issue is that I would have liked to see my CO's face if I asked him to cut my service short so I could run for Congress. Yeah, that would have happened.
Scott at 11:52AM on Aug 22nd 2007
5. Military service is still important. The Democrats are not making an issue about it this time because they don't have any candidates running who have any background with the military.
John McCain is the only guy with the experience and if we manages the upset and wins the right's nomination it will be presented as a huge benefit and they would be right to do so. McCain unlike Bush or Kerry is a certified war hero. The amount of character he showed in Vietnam is a trait that perhaps none of the other candidates, Republican or Democrat can match. I mean come on, do you think Hillary, Obama, Edwards, Rudy or Mitt would have taken a deal to get out of a North Vietnam Prison?
Clay at 12:09PM on Aug 22nd 2007
6. Isn't working for the government a form of public service? Many of these honest experts could make a lot more money in private industry.
Military service is perhaps the highest form of public service. Risking life and limb is a debt that can never be fully repaid. But I do think service people should be compensated better.
Steve Bonomo at 6:24PM on Aug 22nd 2007
7. The truth is you cannot run the entire nation like a military.There are numerous issues and problems that are not military related in everyday life of the civilians population.The most important qualities any President should posses in order to preside over the affairs of the nation are;management skills,leadership abilities,good communicator,firm commitment to serve the American people,faithful to God and the Constitution of the United States of America,able to recognize what is best serve the interest of the American people and Families,lead without political motives,honest and integrety,a committed husband and father to his wife and childrens,knowledgeable and able to solve all kinds of problems.Mitt Romney have all those qualities.
Realistic at 3:18PM on Aug 23rd 2007