Kerry Asks Bush to Debate on Vietnam

Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry, reacting sharply to Republican attacks about his record on defense issues and Vietnam-era antiwar activities, sent a letter to President Bush late Saturday challenging him to a debate about their military experiences during the Vietnam War.

In his letter, Kerry wrote, “Over the last week, you and your campaign have initiated a widespread attack on my service in Vietnam, my decision to speak out to end that war and my commitment to the defense of this nation.”

“If you want to debate the Vietnam era, and the impact of our experiences on our approaches to presidential leadership, I am prepared to do so,” the letter added.

The challenge from Kerry is the latest indication that if he emerges as the Democratic nominee, the Vietnam War will figure prominently in the campaign between him and Bush.

The president has faced questions recently about his attendance in the Air National Guard during that war. And Kerry has been criticized on websites and talk radio for his role in the antiwar movement.

At a brief news conference in Atlanta on Saturday, Kerry forcefully defended his support for the country’s defense programs, reacting to new Republican claims that he voted repeatedly to cut military spending during his 19-year Senate career.

The charge by Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), made during a telephone conference call arranged by Bush’s reelection campaign, was the latest GOP volley aimed at tarnishing the military credentials of the Democratic front-runner, a decorated Vietnam veteran.

Kerry said that he had in fact voted for the largest military and intelligence budgets in history.

“I am not going to stand by and allow these Republicans, who continually go to the low road, challenge my commitment to the defense of our nation,” said Kerry, flanked by two dozen local elected officials and former Sen. Max Cleland, a fellow Vietnam veteran.

“I don’t know what ... these Republicans who didn’t serve in any war have against those of us who are Democrats who did,” Kerry added.

During an interview taped earlier Saturday for broadcast today on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” Kerry made a similar comment.

Spokesman David Wade said Kerry was referring to Chambliss and others -- not Bush -- in both remarks.

The Massachusetts senator said last week that he would not make an issue out of questions about Bush’s National Guard service.

Kerry told reporters Saturday that the presidential election “is about the future ... not a war 34 years ago.” But his campaign released the letter to Bush later in the day.

A spokesman for Bush’s reelection campaign dismissed the letter as disingenuous.

“Sen. Kerry’s letter, which comes after his campaign has spent $4.9 million running 15 different negative attacks on President Bush, is further evidence that Sen. Kerry says one thing and does another,” said Scott Stanzel, a spokesman for Bush-Cheney ’04.

Kerry’s campaign said Saturday it had raised $7.6 million in January, though $3.5 million was a loan from Kerry.

The campaign spent $7.1 million, leaving itself with $2.1 million in cash and $7.2 million in debt. Kerry has raised $33 million since his campaign began, though $6.4 million of that was from personal loans.