WASHINGTON - John Kerry on Tuesday condemned a television ad that criticizes President Bush's Vietnam-era service in the Texas Air National Guard, even as prominent veterans linked to the Democratic presidential campaign echoed the commercial's accusations.
Bush's campaign accused Kerry of hypocrisy.
In a campaign shadowed by the war on terror, the military records of Kerry and Bush emerged again as an issue after Republican Sen. John McCain called on Kerry to denounce an ad that accuses Bush of using family connections to avoid the Vietnam War.
McCain, a decorated Vietnam veteran with the reputation of a political maverick, had called on Bush two weeks ago to condemn an ad in which several veterans accused the Kerry of fabricating his war record.
Well that's rather convenient. Kerry has never condemed the smear ads from MoveOn and other groups aimed at Bush in the past. How perfect that MoveOn would present him with an ad so that he can begin his condeming at such an oppurtune time.
Now Kerry can claim that he has condemed an attack ad on Bush and speculate as to why Bush won't do the same.
To me this condemnation of one MoveOn ad isn't enough for Kerry to claim the moral high-ground on this issue. He needs to condem MoveOn as an organization and call for a halt to the Bush-hatred permeating from the left.