February 11, 2004
Kerry's Other "F-Bomb"
as in FONDA. Jane "Hanoi Jane" Fonda.
Snopes.com confirms that the photo is more than likely genuine..
Corbis Photo from the Washington Times. Photo w/ Arrow via Newsmax.com
So the Dems think that Kerry's Vietnam Service gives him an in over Bush's Guard Service (especially with the 'deserter' meme floating around the Internet)? Once the buzz about this photo, not to mention things like Kerry's testimony before the Foriegn Relations Committee in 1970, the "Winter Soldier Investigation," his false accustations of drug abuse, rape, murder, and wanton destruction leveled at his fellow veterans without a shred of evidence, and of course, the infamous medal incident, shows up in the mainstream media, Kerry's supposed advantage over Bush in terms of war experience will dissapear faster than Dean's front-runner status. Because the only thing a Vietnam veteran hates more than someone who tried to avoid Vietnam... is Jane Fonda.
Believe me. My Dad's a Vietnam veteran. He sung me a "Fuck You Jane Fonda" song when I was 12. (I have since forgotten the words... but it was the most profanity I've ever heard packed into one sentence.) One of his bosses in the Air Force, a 2-Star General, was a former guest at the "Hanoi Hilton." The contempt in his voice, and among all of his military friends of that era, is incredibly thick. And I know they are not the only ones.
This is going to be one of those little things, like Trent Lott's praise of Strom Thurmond, or Howell Raines and the Fall of the New York Times, that is going to take a while to grow. But it will grow, slowly but surely, until it grows so large the media cannot help reporting on it. The blogosphere will see to it. Call it a "memetic time bomb."
As I said with Gen. Clark: Welcome to the campaign trail, Sen. Kerry. Incoming fire has the right of way.
UPDATE: Best of the Web Today put it thusly:
So in 1971 Kerry's view was that American servicemen in Vietnam were murderers. In 1992, they were no better or worse than anyone else. Today he proudly claims the mantle of war hero.
Kerry was only 27 when he testified before the Foreign Relations Committee, but he was already active in politics, having waged an unsuccessful campaign for Congress. His views might well have changed in the intervening years as he matured. But at the very least, someone who wishes to be commander in chief in a time of war owes the country an explanation of how and why his views have changed.