Well, well, well -- Bob Dole
now claims he was essentially just "tweaking" Kerry about the wounds he received in Vietnam:
Bob Dole, a prominent Republican and former presidential candidate, defended his criticism of White House hopeful John Kerry (news - web sites)'s war record as "political hardball," saying he had merely "tweaked" the Democratic candidate.
Dole said Kerry called him to express "disappointment" over his comments Sunday that the Massachusetts senator had won "three Purple Hearts and never bled that I know of. I mean, they're all superficial wounds."
"There's respect there," Dole said Monady. "We were in the Senate together. But we're talking about the presidential race, and I tweaked him a little on the Purple Hearts."
"I just wanted him to get off Bush's back and have his people get off Bush's back," Dole said.
Political hardball? Like when the Republicans attacked Max Cleland for losing only 3 limbs in Vietnam instead of all 4? Like when the Bush Campaign insinuated that John McCain was unstable after his POW experience in Vietnam?
Is that political hardball? Attacking an opponent for his self-sacrifice for his country at war?
Bob Dole questioned whether Kerry's wounds bled. QUESTIONED WHETHER HE BLED. The man is walking around with shrapnel in his leg. Well, says Bob Dole, I never saw any blood.
Bob Dole has no shame. He has no decency. He has lost every shred of his reputation over this. He deserves no respect.
And WHO is on WHOSE back? Kerry needs to get off of Bush's back? About the issues?
Senator Dole, you haven't seen Kerry on Bush's back yet. But I can tell you we're in mounting position, and Bush is about to be squashed.
Senator Dole, you, sir, are an idiot.