The Art of Politics

The Phantom Menace

Kerry defends patriotism, lances windmill...

As the campaign gets noisier, John Kerry today declared with rigor (mortis) that he'd defend himself against Republican attacks on his patriotism - should any actually occur.

Under the mistaken notion that he's running against Dick Cheney and Karl Rove, today at a campus rally John Kerry... questioned THEIR patriotism for not serving in Viet Nam.

"I'm tired of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and a bunch of people who went out of their way to avoid their chance to serve when they had the chance," the Massachusetts senator said. "I'm not going to listen to them talk to me about patriotism."

So, they can't question Kerry's patriotism, which they haven't done, because Kerry served in Viet Nam, but Kerry can question theirs, because he did serve in Viet Nam?

The hypocrisy on this issue is stifling. Especially when considering Kerry's own remarks about Bill Clinton - who surely served no more than Cheney or Rove, and certainly less than President Bush.

"We do not need to divide America over who served and how. I have personally always believed that many served in many different ways."

Flip flop? You be the judge... This attempt at innoculation, at framing attacks on his policies, positions, and votes as being equivalent to attacks on his patriotism, looks soft. There is enough political ammunition to attack the Administration on without complaining that "George isn't playing fair" and self-righteously fending off attacks that aren't there.

In related news, President Bush vigorously announced he would defend the United States from any invasion from outer space - should any actually occur.

Posted by MEC2 at April 16, 2004 11:05 PM