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| Kerry refuses to release more Medical, Service Records |
| 2004-04-20 |
| The day after John F. Kerry said he would make all of his military records available for inspection at his campaign headquarters, a spokesman said the senator would not release any new documents, leaving undisclosed many of Kerry’s evaluations by his Navy commanding officers, some medical records, and possibly other material. Or his wifes taxes...why the coverup, JFK? Kerry, in an interview Sunday on NBC’s "Meet The Press," was asked whether he would follow President Bush’s example and release all of his military records. "I have," Kerry said. "I’ve shown them -- they’re available for you to come and look at." He added that "people can come and see them at headquarters." "Uh,....unless if you really do come, then they’re not availanle...it was a metaphor, ok?" But when a reporter showed up yesterday morning to review the documents, the campaign staff declined, saying all requests must go through the press spokesman, Michael Meehan. Late yesterday, Meehan said the only records available would be those already released to this newspaper. "He is releasing all military records he has released to The Boston Globe," Meehan said in a telephone interview. In a follow-up e-mail, Meehan said it was those particular records to which Kerry was referring on "Meet the Press." yeah, that’s the ticket Kerry has not released the formal evaluations from superior officers, although his campaign has given a letter from a commanding officer that recommended him for service aboard Navy patrol boats and also reports for the Silver and Bronze stars that laud Kerry’s actions in combat. By comparison, retired Army General Wesley K. Clark released hundreds of pages of his records during the Democratic primary campaign, including all evaluations of him by his superiors. Bush earlier this year released 300 pages of documents after media outlets raised new questions about the extent of his National Guard service. Those records, which Bush promised during a Feb. 8 appearance on "Meet the Press" to make available, included many military evaluations and medical records. White House communications director Dan Bartlett, in a telephone interview, contrasted Bush’s action with that of Kerry’s. "The president made a pledge before the American people, and he made his complete file available to the media and the public," Bartlett said. "They were able to review all of his medical records, and we fully released the remainder of his military files, including evaluations and performance sheets as well as days served. The president lived up to his commitment he made to the public, and we should expect the same from his opponent." The question about Kerry’s military records came up when Tim Russert, the moderator of "Meet The Press," asked the Massachusetts senator about a story in the Globe last week that quoted Kerry’s former commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Grant Hibbard, as saying that he raised questions about Kerry’s first Purple Heart. Hibbard said that he had heard from others in the office that there were questions about whether Kerry and his crew took enemy fire, and Hibbard observed that Kerry’s wound was minor, resembling a fingernail scrape. Purple Heart regulations say nothing about the severity of the wound. The campaign earlier this year showed the Globe a record verifying that Kerry was treated for the wound and that shrapnel was removed. That document was cited in last week’s story, which was based on the forthcoming book, "John F. Kerry: The Complete Biography," written by a team of Globe reporters. Meehan said yesterday that the campaign would show that document to what he called "legitimate" news organizations. He said other records previously shared with the Globe -- including documents describing Kerry’s actions when he was awarded the Silver and Bronze stars -- would be shared with other reporters. Asked whether Kerry would release his evaluations, as Clark did during the primaries, Meehan responded: "We don’t have Wesley Clark’s evaluations." Asked directly whether Kerry would release all of his own evaluations, Meehan repeated that the campaign would release only the records already made available. Meehan similarly said no new records would be released when asked if the campaign would make public other medical records besides the one related to the first Purple Heart. Payback’s a bitch, ain’t it? Bwahahahaha! |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #12 AP via DRUDGE-MAN Oops. Another flip. But I don't need a PHOTO of this : shrapnel wounds in his left buttocks |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-20 6:36:44 PM |
| #11 This is really great. Rove just has to have someone on the inside. There's no other explanation. |
| Posted by: Matt 2004-04-20 5:54:05 PM |
| #10 this is what i like about Bush - when he say's something he means it and carries it through...from what I have seen/heard about kerry I cannot say the same. |
| Posted by: Dan 2004-04-20 5:27:42 PM |
| #9 So will Lurch come over and 'kick Gillespie's ass' for questioning his patiotism? (Yes I know it was Clark who made that statement). I would be interested in his superior officer's evaluations.... but wait until he gets the official democratic nomination first..... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-04-20 12:42:42 PM |
| #8 I know it would never happen, but, if RUSSERT himself showed up at Kerry's HQ unannounced. . . After all, it was Russert that was BS'd personally last Sunday. . . |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-20 12:24:04 PM |
| #7 So the chickens come home to roost! Pun intended. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2004-04-20 12:12:24 PM |
| #6 GOP jumps on it (from Drudge): Coming Ed Gillespie speech to be delivered in Ohio today: "John Kerry's pattern of caveats, qualifications, disclaimers, policy reversals and vacillation are not the qualities voters are looking for in times of change that demand steady leadership. "The Boston Globe reports today that when a reporter went to Kerry's headquarters yesterday to follow up on the pledge Kerry had made on Meet the Press Sunday that he would make all his military records available, 'the campaign staff declined' and said 'the only records available would be those already released to this newspaper.' The campaign is withholding formal evaluations from superior officers and other documents they have yet to release. "Guess it depends on what your definition of the word 'all' is. "When President Bush committed to release all his military records on the same program, he kept his word. John Kerry should do the same. Voters aren't stupid, and he shouldn't treat us as if we are." ON HIS WIFE'S TAX RETURNS, HE HAS SAID 'NO'. ON HIS HEALTH RECORDS, HE HAS SAID 'NO'. ON HIS COMPREHENSIVE MILITARY RECORDS INCLUDING NAVAL RESERVE RECORDS, HE HAS SAID 'NO'... |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-04-20 11:10:11 AM |
| #5 Bottom line - is anyone surprised??? The Predident probably suffered more discomfort with the dental work in Alabama, than Lurchy did with the schrapnel scratch for Purple Heart #1. Why don't you want us to see those records, Senator???? |
| Posted by: Anonymous4052 2004-04-20 11:09:48 AM |
| #4 Kerry has a big problem here. Many fair minded people do not believe that it is right to question Kerry about his purple hearts. In fact, many here on rantburg would agree. The problem is that the Dem's insisted that Bush should release his pay records proving that he had nothing to hide...and thus he released them. While the argument can be made that we shouldn't question his purple hearts - the argument can't be made that Kerry shouldn't just release his records proving he has nothing to hide. His refusal to provide the records (short of his you-know-what getting blown off) says more than his critics ever have to. No one's asking to see ALL of his medical records, just the reports re: his purple hearts. Better yet, it's a debate stopper. Even Kerry's most loyal followers have a problem arguing against the fact that if he was indeed worthy of the purple hearts, then releasing the records would put the matter to rest. |
| Posted by: B 2004-04-20 10:47:38 AM |
| #3 Well the reason is obvious. John Kerry is a phony plain and simple. |
| Posted by: Bill Nelson 2004-04-20 10:36:58 AM |
| #2 Mustn't show the Botox injections in public. It might be considered somewhat... unmanly. I'm not saying... I'm just saying... |
| Posted by: eLarson 2004-04-20 10:29:14 AM |
| #1 I wonder how many people who thought Bush was hiding something -- even AFTER all the records were released -- see nothing wrong with Kerry keeping his records closed? |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-04-20 10:14:42 AM |