As it comes down to the final days till the election my choice for president comes down to basic issues of character. Senator Kerry wants me to believe “in him” with his calls not only of his courage but also for the soldiers of our nation that he will deliver much needed guidance. Does he reflect the character of the leader he wishes us to see? With the debates weeks over, Senator Kerry called for us to know his mother inspired the idea of integrity and that his integrity as well as his values were better than the President's.
Senator Kerry has repeatedly reminded us of his own service in Vietnam and I have two issues when it comes to this period. As he has attempted to silence the voices of soldiers with records some of which surpass his own , we are expected to believe the voices of 6 people over that of roughly 254 veterans. My problem is that with experience in the service, I can definitely say that when we had people that weren’t up to par…..we all knew who they were. If I went to a unit and asked how a man was, especially a leader, you can rest assured you would be warned of who had it together and who didn't. A normal response within all logicical boundaries should be that I come across soldiers that despite personal feelings said, “he was ok”, with the few he had dealt possible punishment to or had to get back in line holding the hard feelings and saying disparaging things. Instead we are expected to believe the vitriolic attacks against the integrity of 254 veterans who risked their lives through the entirety of their tours. I can’t do it.
Senator Kerry at his convention drew his record into play by riding a boat to make an unopposed landing in Boston Harbor. His Hollywood friends helped tune up the films from his Vietnam tour with special effects. My problem with the videos is the idea that he reenacted his supposed battles with himself always as the hero. Why? But let’s come back to this a little later.
Senator Kerry has said that he understands the needs of our soldiers and can empathize, since he had SERVED the nation himself. Yet in a display of embarrassment during a photo opportunity, he falls while snowboarding on his own accord. Does he laugh it off and show a little self-deprecation? No. With a Secret Service agent near by…he curses that the S_O_B agent had tripped him?! The fact that the scene was well recorded and could easily be disputed is of no matter …he shows no sense of common courtesy to apologize for his rude and obnoxious outburst.. demonstrating that these aren’t men serving him as faithful officers performing their duty. Instead these agents are servants to be scolded and to take the blame for his own personal gaffes, so much for empathy.
Senator Kerry through his debates and ads has called attention to his integrity, an asset that his mother apparently fostered. Yet, we now see that despite his REPEATED claims, that he has lied over the extent he talked to the Security Council members of the United Nations. He repeatedly during different events stated he had talked to the ENTIRE group of the Security Council. There were possibly only 4 members that he talked to at any point regarding Iraq. All others assigned to the United Nations at that time have verified that they NEVER met with him. The only one that seems to really have mattered anyway was France. This doesn’t come off as normal rhetoric because of one simple fact…it placed himself at the center of actions… This was not a misstatement of numbers but of PERSONAL action. This seems to be the central theme to the Senator's issues.
In another round of his relating his personal experiences, he has spoken many times of his agonized presence at Game 6 of the 1986 World Series: recorded statements include:
“I was 30 yards away from Billy Buckner in that famous Shea Stadium game in ‘86.” (Cite: ESPN ) “Talking baseball on the plane, he reminisced, “I was at Shea Stadium, 30 yards from Bill Buckner,” recalling the error that many consider cost the Sox the 1986 World Series.” (Cite: “Sox Detour for Kerry", New York Daily News, 7/26/2004) “The Bay State senator says he….watched in anguish as the ball rolled through Bill Buckner’s legs in the 1986 Series against the Mets.” (Cite: “Bogus Bosox Fan", New York Post, 9/19/2004) “I was about 30 yards away from Billy Buckner when that ball wiggled away” (Cite: Kerry tries to rejuvenate his campaign, USA Today 11/24/2003)
His own supporters in the Boston Globe confirm that he was at a banquet in Boston and NOT at Shea Stadium.
So in making my decision for President I can’t honestly vote for a man who degrades those that serve him, and consistently has reflected a narcissistic, and almost pathological nature to always be the “hero” even if he has to lie to do it. I instead will have to vote for the self-deprecating nature of his opponent. He may not speak so eloquently to some ears… but he can demonstrate in simple measure by how he treats those around him he “Really” cares. A man who asks his leaders “Do you have everything that you need?”, and can demonstrate consistent, steadying influence before our enemies.
