War Records
I wanted to do some searching about past presidential candidate war and military service records and any controversy stirred up over any findings. How did they influence the election? How will both Bush and Kerry's war pasts influence the election? Will they at all?
Bush and Kerry: One website I found has an interesting time line of miliary events comparitively. http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2004/02/02_400.html It doesn't really look at controversies so much as just state records- and the differences between their military status. I just thought it was interesting.
Bush: I also found a very current article (I am guessing that will be released tomorrow since it is dated Sept 17,2004) talking about a court order to find all of Bush's military records. Hopefully this will shed some light on the misterious memo once all is found. I would like to see a poll of how many people are going to base their votes at all on these two controversies about military records pertaining to their young adult hood. To me, there are much worse things that either party could have done than either are accused of. I suppose it is all about the media liking the attacks on both parties and if they can't find drug, sex and murder in their pasts then I suppose they have to resort to this. Just sad- http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/9/16/202941.shtml
Clinton- accused of being a draft-dodger from the Vietnam War (Please see this very informative link about the American people's draft-dodging record and specifically Bill Clinton's) http://www.1stcavmedic.com/bill-clinton-draft.htm Of course this is not a CNN or Time Magizine story, but I would say that the information is credible and most of all put in to an easily read context. It is obvious from both of Clinton's wins that this major accusation did not have much affect on the voting population. Was this because it was not publiczed enough, at the wrong (or right time depending on who is analyzing), or did the American people just not care?
Al Gore- Of course they had to say something about his war service also. However, I am not sure it was as publicized as the Kerry/Bush military services. This is an interview with Gore supporting his role in Vietnam as a reporter as opposed to infantry (where I guess most people believe is the only respectable way to serve) http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e644.htm Well- since this wasn't such a big deal, I doubt that it had much affect at all (though I suppose it is not all that big of a controversy compared to Clinton, Kerry, and Bush)
So, this is enough to chew on for a while- just shows how much importance is put on doing the perfect thing from the start if you ever dream of being a politician! What pressure- you would have to be primped your whole life to deal with this stuff when you are in your fifties.