Kerry's Wife Explains Switch From GOP
 

WASHINGTON - Teresa Heinz Kerry says anger, not ideology, prompted her to become a Democrat. The wife of Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, says her emotion stemmed from the way the Republican Party, to which she had pledged allegiance, treated Democratic Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia in 2002.

Cleland, who lost both legs and an arm as an Army captain during the Vietnam War, lost his re-election bid in a bitter campaign against then-Rep. Saxby Chambliss. The GOP had raised questions about Cleland's patriotism because of his position on legislation to create the Department of Homeland Security. Cleland supported the concept behind the department, but insisted that a workers' rights provision be part of the bill.

Heinz Kerry, in an interview to be broadcast Tuesday on the "CBS Evening News," says Cleland's status as a triple amputee is enough to prove his patriotism.

"Three limbs and all I could think was, 'What does the Republican party need, a fourth limb to make a person a hero?' And this coming from people who have not served. I was really offended by that. Unscrupulous and disgusting," she said, her reference being an indirect one to President Bush (news - web sites) and Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites).

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...pr/heinz_kerry

Yah being in Georgia, what the GOP did to Cleland was wrong. I won't be suprized if Cleland ends up in Kerry's cabinet if he is elected. Otherwise I am sure he will run against Saxby and win because of what happened in the last election.

Cleland, who lost both legs and an arm as an Army captain during the Vietnam War, lost his re-election bid in a bitter campaign against then-Rep. Saxby Chambliss. The GOP had raised questions about Cleland's patriotism because of his position on legislation to create the Department of Homeland Security. Cleland supported the concept behind the department, but insisted that a workers' rights provision be part of the bill.

While I think the GOP shouldn't have questioned patriotism during the campaign, there is, pardon the pun, an elephant in the living room in regards to Cleland.

All you'll ever hear from Cleland supporters is that he is a hero for his grevious injuries suffered while in Vietnam. What you won't hear is HOW those injuries were suffered - they were not "combat" related.

There are two sides to every story, and both sides are spinning hard on this, but you need to find the true story of how his injuries came about to put the entire saga into context.

I won't tell the tale here, I'll leave it up to you to go research the real story - Cleland supporters spin it to sound like it was combat related (not true).

Regardless of the reason - this is dumb. The degree of severity of injuries doesn't make you more or less patriotic or devoted to your country. It's the luck of the draw. That's kind of like saying women who have & care for mentally or physically disabled children are better mothers than those who have perfectly healthy children.

Cosign, to the nth degree!

I can't believe that people care about her political beliefs. She is not running for office. All first ladies are, or should be, irrelevant.

Perhaps they should be, but they are not.

Another cosign.

See: Clinton, Hillary.

I don't care WHO she is - I would have the same reaction to any public figure who said that. I'm not saying I'm not going to vote for him because of it, I'm just stating that it's a stupid thing to say.

True, but like I said, BOTH sides are spinning this story - the GOP for questioning patriotism based on one specific issue, but the Dems for inaccurate telling of his "hero" status. Both sides are wrong, that's my point.

I agree!

Teresa Heinz Kerry is an idiot. In the end I believe she will be one of Kerry's biggest pitfalls. She has already announced publicly that she is pro-life, which I've got to believe makes Sen. Kerry a bit unhappy. I believe she getting a bit too involved this early in the campaign.

Honestly, who should really care what she thinks?

Lol. Yep if the wife made the difference in a election the Hillary haters would have made it a lot rougher on Bill.

I don't. She can have causes like Jackie Kennedy did (historic preservation) or Laura Bush (literacy), but as far as interfering with the political issues of her husband's administration--she should have run herself if she wants a public say.

See: Nancy Reagan

Most women have their husband's ear. Besides, a good husband respects and trusts their wives' opinions.