A view you won't see on the MM:
VFW members were a lot nicer to John Kerry than he was to them in 1971, when he accused Vietnam veterans of war crimes "on a day-to-day basis with the full awareness of officers at all levels of command.'' But when he said, "For 35 years I have fought and kept the faith with our veterans,'' it was more than some could take.
About 50 to 100 veterans walked out before Kerry spoke, said Vietnam veteran and Bush supporter Gene Watts of Columbus, a former Ohio state senator. And in the Massachusetts delegation - Kerry's home state - two Vietnam vets stood and turned their backs on Kerry for his entire speech. Before Kerry showed up a half-hour late, some in the Massachusetts delegation planned to walk out. "I told our group to show respect, we want to hear what he has to say,'' said Massachusetts state Commander Robert VanKirk.
So some vets just stayed away. Twelve minutes before Kerry was supposed to speak, it was announced: "There are still many seats up front.'' "I've already heard him, and I am not impressed,'' said one boycotter, Anthony Albano of New Jersey. "To me, he's an 'I' and 'me' man.'' |