Yahoo! News - Kerry Demands Bush Prove Guard Service

Conservative critics have questioned whether Kerry deserved his three Purple Hearts for battle wounds, an issue the Democratic presidential candidate sought to put to rest last week by releasing his military records. On Sunday, a top Bush adviser criticized Kerry for leading anti-war protests after he returned from the battlefield.

"If George Bush wants to ask me questions about that through his surrogates, he owes America an explanation about whether or not he showed up for duty in the National Guard. Prove it. That's what we ought to have," Kerry told NBC News in an interview. "I'm not going to stand around and let them play games."

Democrats have questioned whether Bush fulfilled his obligations to the National Guard in spite of White House claims that he completed his duty satisfactorily. Bush joined the Texas Air National Guard in 1968 and transferred to the Alabama Guard in 1972 while working on a political campaign. How often Bush reported for duty in Alabama is unclear.

Bush supporters have tried to turn Kerry's service in Vietnam — a centerpiece of his Democratic campaign — against him even as they say they honor his service to his country. Kerry released his medical records when questioned about the extent of his war wounds, including a report showing he still carries shrapnel in one leg.

That criticism silenced for the moment, Bush adviser Karen Hughes turned to what Kerry did after returning from Vietnam. Hughes said Sunday she was offended by Kerry's anti-war activities in 1971 and accused him of not throwing back his medals when he and other veterans protested in Washington.

Today's armed forces might take note of how this administration treats decorated combat veterans who dare disagree with them. Who the fuck is Karen Hughes to say anything anyway? Yet another way I am thoroughly disgusted by these clowns and their smear tactics.