Reply #2: To be honest, using his dad's connections didn't bother me so much

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Millions of young men all over America were using any connections they had to get out of that war. Yes, I know that John Kerry didn't, but Bill Clinton did, and I wouldn't condemn him for it either.

What I do condemn Bush for is not performing the service he promised in good faith. He had gotten out of combat duty. The least he could do is show his appreciation by doing an honest job in his TANG duty. He didn't.

I also condemn him for the slurs on John Kerry's service. If he had sent a clear message through the ranks of his party that Kerry's service record was not to be commented on, the Swift Boat people would never have aired a commercial. O'Neil's book wouldn't have gotten the press it did (may not even have been published).

I don't blame Bush for avoiding Vietnam to the best of his ability. I do blame him for not honoring those who did go by not performing the service he was assigned instead and then disparaging their service.