Kerry: Many U.S. Military Back Him as Their Commander
That's the headline Reuters is running.
Is it true? Almost certainly. It is equally certain that many in the U.S. military back Bush as their commander.
As is the norm, the best bits of the article are near the end. On page 2 in this case.
Who knows who will win the majority of this traditionally Republican voting block? I think we can be assured of one thing. That the truth isn't likely to be spared in the coming months as both camps look for votes.
No matter who wins in November, it is certain that veracity will be a victim. We deserve better.
Is it true? Almost certainly. It is equally certain that many in the U.S. military back Bush as their commander.
As is the norm, the best bits of the article are near the end. On page 2 in this case.
Following this salvo from the Kerry camp on page 1:So, in classic tit-for-tat politicking, both camps offer opposing views. The following second paragraph is the most telling item about where the Kerry campaign is likely headed in its battle(no pun intended) to woo the votes of veterans:
"You can't run around the country talking about patriotism, the flag and service to the nation and willfully turn your back on the people you've asked to serve," he said, citing Bush administration cuts in veterans' benefits.
The Bush campaign counters at the top of page 2:
Bush re-election spokesman Steve Schmidt said the Republicans' campaign to win over veterans for the Nov. 2 election was the largest grass-roots veterans organization in history.
"Our focus on peer-to-peer contact among veterans supporting the president is truly unprecedented and reflects the strong ties between America's veterans and President Bush's principled leadership and commitment to our military," he said.
There are more than 26 million veterans in the United States and their vote usually goes Republican. In a CBS poll released on Friday, Bush got 54 percent, of the veterans' vote while Kerry had the support of 40 percent.You can almost feel the race for this block of voters - which may be crucial in a close race - heating up.
Democrats believe they can close the gap by contrasting the military records of Bush, who served in the Texas Air National Guard, and Kerry, who volunteered for two tours in Vietnam, pushing for increased veterans' benefits and critiquing the president for the way he went to war in Iraq.
Who knows who will win the majority of this traditionally Republican voting block? I think we can be assured of one thing. That the truth isn't likely to be spared in the coming months as both camps look for votes.
No matter who wins in November, it is certain that veracity will be a victim. We deserve better.
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