posted on September 8, 2004 11:26:47 PM new
The people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. -- St. Matthew 15:8
The American phrase “lip service” is derived from this Biblical quotation. It connotes insincerity, or “expressed with the lips, but not acted upon or believed.” Although the current democrat presidential campaign has been rife with lip service on countless subjects, among the most objectionable—often reverentially uttered, mantra-like, not just by democrats, but by reporters, TV talking heads, and, regrettably, even prominent Republicans—is that John Kerry is a “patriot.”
Even the slightest doubt expressed about Kerry’s patriotism will evoke vigorous denial that runs the gamut from raised eyebrows to utter disdain to uncontrollable wrath. As we saw when Kerry appeared at a late-night Ohio rally following the close of the Republican Convention, he is stung even by a non-attack: “They have attacked my patriotism!” Kerry bellowed.
Alas, they had not.
It is one thing for President Bush and Vice President Cheney to remain above the fray on this issue. But former prisoner of war John McCain knows better, the savvy former mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani, should know better, and democrat Senator Zell Miller, in a fiery oration denouncing Kerry’s senatorial voting record, at least implied that he knew better.
Before independent-minded members of either party, let alone the sought-after bloc of “undecideds,” make up their minds about John Kerry’s alleged patriotism, let them first ponder this definition: A “patriot” is “a person who loves and loyally or zealously supports his own country.” (Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language).
Then let them test that definition, as we have, against some damning facts:
A patriot does not flee when comrades are in danger, no matter what the perceived threat.
A patriot does not fake or exaggerate minor wounds in order to garner medals.
A patriot does not “somehow” obtain three different citations for a single medal, the latter two sanitizing the first.
A patriot does not bail out from a one-year combat assignment after only four months, by taking advantage of a loophole in an obscure regulation, leaving his “brothers” to face the enemy.
A patriot does not appear before a committee of the United States Senate looking like a cartoon version of a Vietnam veteran, wearing ribbons on unkept fatigues.
A patriot does not give ghost-written testimony to that senate committee, attacking his country.
A patriot does not take an oath before that senate committee, and then proceed to lie through his teeth.
A patriot does not use his televised testimony before that senate committee to accuse American troops—including those still in the field.
A patriot does not hand our communist enemies such anti-American propaganda, which can be—and was—then used as a tool in the torture of American prisoners of war.
A patriot does not falsely accuse himself of committing war crimes in order to make a political-theater statement against the Vietnam War.
A patriot does not associate with potential murderers, conspiring to assassinate American political leaders.
A patriot does not make common cause with traitors like Jane Fonda, Tom Hayden and Ramsey Clark, and other America-haters who give aid and comfort to our nation’s enemies.
A patriot does not march around the Capitol of the United States of America carrying an upside down American flag.
A patriot does not, during wartime, organize and participate in a sham investigation of American “war crimes” (Winter Soldier Investigation)— paid for by Jane Fonda and designed to spout communist propaganda and undermine and embarrass our military.
A patriot does not organize and participate in antiwar protests, nor march under the communist Vietnamese flag, and defile military medals by throwing them away—especially while Americans are in combat.
A patriot does not act as spokesman for an organization that is a front for the very enemy that the United States of America is fighting.
A patriot does not associate with an organization (Vietnam Veterans Against the War) admittedly in bed with the Communist Party USA.
A patriot does not write a book with a cover that desecrates the American flag, and contents that disparage his country.
A patriot does not, while still a member of the United States Navy, fraternize in Paris with communist enemies whose troops, at that very moment, are killing Americans and torturing American prisoners of war.
A patriot does not urge acceptance of the Vietnamese communists’ proposal to end the war—on their terms, not ours.
A patriot does not vote against virtually every piece of national security and related legislation—laws that would make our country stronger and safer.
A patriot does not refuse to appropriate funds to support American forces, fighting for their country in Iraq.
A patriot does not attempt to suppress a book critical of his military service by putting pressure on its publisher and on booksellers.
A patriot does not unleash his lawyers on TV station managers, threatening them with legal and administrative action should they air advertisements critical of his military service.
A patriot does not allow colleagues and supporters to call the President of the United States a liar, and much worse—particularly in time of war.
A patriot does not denigrate legitimate draft deferments once granted the Vice President of the United States, who later served in Congress, then as Chief-of-Staff to a President, and later as Secretary of Defense during wartime.
A patriot does not silently accept his photograph being displayed in the Vietnam communists’ “War Crimes Museum,” along with others who helped the Vietnamese communists win the war.
A patriot is not willing to surrender American sovereignty to the United Nations under the guise of “multilateralism.”
A patriot does not refuse to make all of his military records public, especially in the face of a loud public clamor.
A patriot does not allow his Silver Star medal to be falsely embellished with a Combat “V” that is unauthorized and possibly illegal.
A patriot does not denigrate America’s National Guard and Reserve forces, who throughout this nation’s history have performed with distinction in our defense.
A patriot does not promise a more “sensitive” War on Terrorism, no matter how “politically correct” that notion may be.
A patriot does not wrap himself in the American flag for political advantage, after spending a mere three months in a combat zone.
When one adds up these facts, one has every right to conclude, as we have, that John Kerry has never been, and is not now, a patriot—and more: that to say otherwise, is merely to pay lip service.
posted on September 9, 2004 06:11:38 AM new
LOL Bear... now you know there will be some lame ass "President Bush" thread... or answer...
Demos are showing how childish they can be... swiftboat kicked their asses and now look at them scramble to talk about President Bush's guard service, which he has never made an issue of... LOL Pathetic losers and the American people will see that.
posted on September 9, 2004 07:20:25 AM new
Sorry, Twelve, but Bush's guard service was an "issue" back when he first started in politics. Even then people questioned it.
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"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
posted on September 9, 2004 07:34:35 AM new"These are the shadows of things that have been they are what they are do not blame me"
____________________
"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
posted on September 9, 2004 07:46:27 AM newIt's not about Vietnam.It's about Bush receiving special treatment, influence peddling, being purposely kept far from harm's way, and the subsequent cover-up, by a man who claims to be a better wartime president.
If you believe even a fraction of the crap they're throwing at Kerry is justified, then certainly this is justified.It's simply the way the game is played.
Bush didn't come off sounding too good. His rep sounded rather shrill when he started talking about "Dirty Politics".Pretty funny stuff considering the alliance they struck with the Not-So-Swiftboat Vets.
Now that your man is getting it good with FACTS, you suddenly wish to "tap dance" away.Not a word from your mouth when the swift boat liars were spreading their falsehoods.
Sorry, you are going to hear the truth whether you want to or not.
Compromise - Bush drops out of the presidential race and does 4 years of service in Iraq. He can take "no serve" Cheney & Ashcroft with him!
posted on September 9, 2004 07:52:58 AM new
Patriotism is also fighting for your country which Bush and DICK(5 Deferments) Cheney didn't do.
Bush hid in a bottle snortin' coke....what a patriot!
posted on September 9, 2004 08:14:29 AM new
ahhh the liar crowfart chimed in... can't even keep her own word and has the gall to question others.... how amusing.
LOL see Bear... like I said here they come... Bring it on! LOL
They support a lying traitor and need to justify that...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
Re-Elect President Bush... the only true choice.
[ edited by Twelvepole on Sep 9, 2004 08:16 AM ]
posted on September 9, 2004 09:38:36 AM new
You're right Twelve. WE know Pres Bush served & his DD214 proves he completed it. kerry has brought all this upon himself, running on his vet record because thats all he had. He sure hasn't accomplished anything as a senator.
posted on September 9, 2004 05:52:08 PM newJohn kerry, Patriot?
Not in my book.
When one adds up these facts, one has every right to conclude, as we have, that John Kerry has never been, and is not now, a patriot—and more: that to say otherwise, is merely to pay lip service.
Just as he pays 'lip service' to his religious beliefs. Yea, right.
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This tit-for-tat isn't going to hurt President Bush. The public knows who he is and what he stands for. They know what he's done for this country and will voting according to how they've judged he's done his job.
Then there's kerry....most of the public had never heard of him, aren't aware of his past actions....especially about throwing away those oh-so-precious war medals. Especially about him siding with the pro-communist groups...anti-Americans.
They'll now learn something about kerry they didn't know before....whereas all this garbage about a President who was given an honorable discharge is ONLY a re-hash that's been brought up time and time again.
Bring it up again now, isn't going to have the same harmful effects that the public just learning about kerry will bring. Remember he's an 'unknown' to most....until now. His actions WILL provide doubt about his capability to protect this Nation.
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"One thing is for sure: the extremists have faith in our weakness. And the weaker we are, the more they will come after us." --Tony Blair
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"The War on Terror will not be won until America is united. And as long as Democrats target the Bush administration -- not the terrorists -- as the enemy, we are in trouble." --Oliver North
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Those are only two reasons why we need to:
