Bob Dole Has Earned The Right To Speak Out

I will admit I am a great admirer of former Senator Bob Dole. I supported him when he ran for president. He came to Gainesville, Georgia, campaigning for former Georgia Senator Paul Coverdell and a lot of us got to meet him. He was a war hero whose wounds left him without the use of his right arm, and yet he had a great sense of humor about it; he never complained. I say this so you will know I am biased in what I am about to say.

Bob Dole got pulled into the John Kerry Vietnam hullabaloo the other day, and is being severely criticized by some people for suggesting that Kerry should apologize to all Vietnam veterans for his testimony before Congress in which he alleged American atrocities. Here's what Dole said that has the anti-war liberals upset: "One day (Kerry) is saying that we were shooting civilians, cutting off their ears, cutting off their heads ... (then) throwing away his medals and his ribbons." Dole continued: "The next day he's standing there (saying) `I want to be president because I'm a Vietnam veteran.' Maybe he should apologize to all the other million's of veterans who served. He wasn't the only one in Vietnam."

Bob Dole made it a point not to criticize Kerry's battlefield service. What he criticized was Kerry's condemnation of his fellow American military men; his abandonment of his battlefield comrades, after he came back to America, and while his comrades were still in harm's way or in enemy prisons. Bob Dole understands all this, and I figure he has earned the right to say it. He paid the price.

This is Gordon Sawyer, and may the wind always be at your back.