Tarnisher Talks Tarnish

Karl Rove in an interview with the AP on Kerry's anti-war testimony after Vietnam:

"It was a period of intense feeling on both sides for and against the war, but I think that was painting with far too broad a brush to tarnish the records and service of people who were defending our country and fighting communism and doing what they thought was right," Rove said during the 30-minute session with AP reporters and editors.

First, the facts: Number one, our troops were not defending "our country," they were defending the corrupt, unpopular and out-of-touch South Viernamese government from the North. The lying political leadership told everyone that they were defending America, but that doesn't make it so. Number two, how many people thought we were doing what was right? Well, 65 percent of the public felt the war was wrong by 1971. So I think it's safe to assume a large number or troops (who knows how many) also felt that way.

Maybe what Rove is saying is that only those who agreed witht he war really mattered as far as opinions about the war are concerned. So even if, say 40 percent thought it was right, that 40 percent overrides the 60 percent that thought the war was wrong. Well of course, Minority Rules - that's fundamental Republican politics.

Now for the emotional outburst:

So let's see. Wearing Purple Heart Bandaids doesn't tarnish the records of service men. Creating a legal environment that enables high-ranking military officers to sanction torture doesn't tarnish their records. Dodging the Vietnam War by using Poppy's influence to get you into the TXANG or hiding behind educational deferments doesn't tarnish the records of those that served. Nope. Only when you serve bravely and then come home to speak out against a hopelessly lost war in an effort to prevent the loss of tens of thousands of more troops and countless civilian deaths in a lost cause do you tarnish their records.

Yep, this is the America I love.