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Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Hypocrites

John Kerry and his left-wing surrogates would have us believe that the Bush administration is going to re-instate the draft if re-elected. CBS even ran a story on this false rumor.

But despite all these rumors, it seems as though Kerry is actually the candidate in favor of compulsory military service.

Here's an excerpt from the Kerry Campaign website (the page has been removed but is now archived here) (via Right on Red).

Part of 100 days Plan to Enlist One Million Americans in National Service A Year

On September 11th, 2001, America experienced the most terrible and deadly attack in its history. John Kerry believes we need to think big and do better and get more young Americans serving the nation.

As part of his 100 day plan to change America, John Kerry will propose a comprehensive service plan that includes requiring mandatory service for high school students and four years of college tuition in exchange for two years of national service.


To sum this up for you, Kerry flip-flopped on the issue of compulsory military service and then accused his opponent of holding the same position he himself held before the flip-flop.

It doesn't get any more nuanced than that.

Update:

As per the comments below, here's further explanation of Kerry's plan for mandatory service from the same archive link above.

As President, John Kerry will ensure that every high school student in America performs community service as a requirement for graduation. This service will be a rite of passage for our nation's youth and will help foster a lifetime of service. States would design service programs that meet their community and educational needs. However, John Kerry does not believe in unfunded mandates. No state would be obligated to implement a service requirement if the federal government does not live up to its obligation to fund the program.


So he's advocating for mandatory community service as opposed to mandatory military service. My mistake. This explanation was in a link further down the page which I didn't read.

Still, I'm not sure younger voters would be thrilled with such a plan.

Comments

Avatar for Another Thought

The bottom line is that Kerry is the one in favor of compulsory service...granted, it is community service, but it is still compulsory...so more big brother…

Also, let’s face it...Kerry clearly has no qualms about requiring compulsory service...how much more of a step for him would it be to leap to compulsory military service, especially since so many uber-leftists in his party favor the idea to make a point about social equity?

Another Thought on September 29, 2004 at 11:09 am
Avatar for tbrosz

Looks like the site was not removed, but just changed.  Check out:

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/national_service/

Not quite the same page, though.

tbrosz on September 29, 2004 at 11:09 am
Avatar for charis

This national service refers to AMERI-CORPS, not the military. It’s obvious if you go to the archived weblink and link to the originial Kerry document.  You know, tutoring kids after school will really defeat terrorism. (NOT!)

I can’t stand Kerry and admire Bush. But you didn’t report Kerry’s position correctly.

charis on September 29, 2004 at 11:09 am
Avatar for veteran

Charis wrote “You know, tutoring kids after school will really defeat terrorism. (NOT!)”

Actually, I have in mind a tutoring program that may just be of a little help in our struggle against militant Islam.  The program’s main objectives would be (1) to understand the danger posed to the free world by militant Islam; (2) safe and proper use of firearms; and, (3) how to discharge one’s citizenship duties, to include volunteering for the Armed Forces.

veteran on September 29, 2004 at 12:10 pm
Avatar for Johnny Walker Red

The point to me is that the DNC is rumor-mongering and scare-mongering about the draft, which is baseless, but here we have real evidence that Kerry favors MANDATORY service, no matter what kind of service he’s suggesting.

Johnny Walker Red on September 29, 2004 at 12:10 pm
Avatar for Tim

Nuance Central

Kerry is for mandatory service for high schools. (child labor for social service agencies)

But Kerry is not making it a requirement. (If he doesn’t fund it.)

Of course, he gets to decide what the appropriate ($1) amount of funding is for the program.

How can you not be for this program?

Tim on September 29, 2004 at 12:10 pm
Avatar for charis

This national service refers to AMERI-CORPS, not the military. It’s obvious if you go to the archived weblink and link to the originial Kerry document.  You know, tutoring kids after school will really defeat terrorism. (NOT!)

I can’t stand Kerry and admire Bush. But you didn’t report Kerry’s position correctly.

charis on September 29, 2004 at 12:10 pm
Avatar for Seth Yantiss

Doesn’t this sound a lot like SOCIALISM????  Mandatory public service ????  Funded by the Government???  = SOCIALISM !!!

AUGHGHGHHGHHGHHGH!!!!

I am happy to help out my fellow man, but let me decide when and where I will help.

I once put a crack addict up in my rental home for 3 weeks while she tried to find a place to get well… I have compassion, but that will go out the window once I am FORCED to do it.

Seth Yantiss on September 30, 2004 at 06:09 am
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