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Democrat Lashes Out at Cheney •
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Senator Harkin: Cheney's Comments 'Cowardly'
The Associated Press
Monday 16 August 2004
DES MOINES, Iowa - Vice President Dick Cheney's questioning of John Kerry's war record and his ability to protect America is "cowardly," Sen. Tom Harkin said Monday.
"It just outrages me that someone who got five deferments during Vietnam and said he had 'other priorities' at that time would say that," said the Iowa Democrat, a former Navy fighter pilot.
Harkin said he had seen clips of the vice president saying in Iowa last week that Kerry lacks a basic understanding of the war on terrorism.
He accused President Bush and his vice president of "resorting to dirty attacks on John Kerry's war record."
"They're running scared because John Kerry has a war record and they don't," said Harkin. "What he (Cheney) is doing and what he is saying is cowardly. The actions are cowardly."
Harkin, a 20-year veteran of the Senate, was a Navy flier from 1962-67, including stints at Atsugi Naval Air Station in Japan and Guantanamo Bay. He served 1968-74 in the Reserves.
He said Cheney has little standing to question the war record of Kerry, who was repeatedly wounded and decorated while serving as a swift boat commander in Vietnam.
The issue first arose when Harkin joined with Des Moines police officials protesting the call-up of a police officer who already had completed his eight year military commitment.
Harkin said that it angered him to hear tough talk from Cheney.
"When I hear this coming from Dick Cheney, who was a coward, who would not serve during the Vietnam War, it makes my blood boil," said Harkin.
"He'll be tough, but he'll be tough with someone else's kid's blood," said Harkin.
Harkin said he decided to speak out because Republicans have a history of attacking on the issue of patriotism, including questioning the patriotism of former Sen. Max Cleland, who lost both legs and an arm to a grenade in Vietnam.
Too often, those who are targeted simply ignore the charges, Harkin said.
"You can't let them do that again," said Harkin. "If you let these crazy attacks go unanswered, they take on a life of their own."
Republican National Committee spokesman David James dismissed the attack as shrill and negative.
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Democrat Lashes Out at Cheney
The Associated Press
Tuesday 17 August 2004
DES MOINES - Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) pushed the name-calling in the presidential race to a new level Monday, saying Vice President Dick Cheney was a coward for not serving in the Vietnam War and cowardly for his criticism of Sen. John F. Kerry.
Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee, recently said that if elected he would pursue a more effective and "more sensitive war on terror that reaches out to other nations and brings them to our side."
Cheney has mocked the reference to sensitivity.
Harkin, a former Navy fighter pilot, said that President Bush and Cheney were "running scared because John Kerry has a war record and they don't."
He said of Cheney, "What he is doing and what he is saying is cowardly. The actions are cowardly.
"When I hear this coming from Dick Cheney, who was a coward, who would not serve during the Vietnam War, it makes my blood boil," Harkin added. "He'll be tough, but he'll be tough with someone else's kid's blood."
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