[techweenie]

Seahawk, I believe Kerry did explain what he did and how he changed. I believe he spoke up exactly as he put it -- to contiune to fight for the guys in Vietnam -- to being them home. (See his 'winter soldier' reference.)

Your dad's choice to leave and not talk about it was a common one, and I would never critcize him for that.

I don't want to use the 'you really had to be there' argument about the Vietnam era, but the country was divided just about down the middle by 1968, and it kinda tipped over into the majority opposing the war around the Summer of '69. Our soldiers had no lack of awareness of what was going on 'back in the world,' Solders were divided in 'Nam as well. Few thought it was 'their war.' Most felt it was a big political machination and that the leaders were getting bad information from the field (it turns out they were getting very bad information).

As for Kerry talking about his war record, I have mixed feelings about it. No question he served. No question he was in Vietnam for 9/10 months. No question he won medals for bravery.

But he needs to talk about his forward-looking plans & policies and is caught in a bit of a vicious circle: not talking about Vietnam is going to make him look guilty. Was it a mistake for him to mention Vietnam? Early on, Viet vet support helped him win the nomination.

Would the Republicans have attacked if Kerry hadn't brought up hie service? I think they would have.