Do you care what a candidate did during Vietnam?

Do you care what a candidate (for any office) did during Vietnam? (Assuming of course they were eligible to serve)

If they did something heoric it's a big plus, but if they dodged I can understand because I can't say that I wouldn't have either.

It's not like I don't like Bush because of his lack of military service.

Whether a man was a soldier or not - whether he served or acted on his conscience and tried to avoid serving -- matters much less to me than what they did both during and after that period. HOW they acted. What they did with their lives.

The question is overbroad, but ultimately what a candidate did in the war (or not) has almost nothing to do with whether they are a good candidate today 30 or more years later.

I hold no problems with either Bush or Kerry for their actions.

But I do mind if Bush was a shirker but wants credit for being in the military.

I have the highest respect for veterans of the Vietnam war (and almost all wars) depending on their actions. I also have the greatest respect for those who felt the war was criminal and avoided going.

But I have almost no respect for those like Bush who supported the war and then shirked their obligations while they avoided going.

If thy went to Vietnam and fought and won medals then what they do after shouldn't be a factor. Now if one was eligible but didn't go for some reason then we deserve to know the real truth why they didn't serve

It goes to show Character of a person and a nation. It was a very defining time for our nation and people as a whole. Remember there was a considerable lot more going on than just Vietnam.

I care that my candidate wasn't out snortin' coke or blind drunk while he was spendin' his time chasin' tail. Cheerleader my ass ......

Would you care if Kerry went AWOL and Bush went to Vietnam?

bush talked alot about character, integrity, "restoring the whitehouse to honor" (this from the son of read my lips) and I'd like to know what kind of "character" it takes to put on a uniform, not show up, have your flight privileges suspended and be grounded.

You remember "Bring em on!" 3 words bush definitely didnot apply to himself during vietnam and 9/11.

Kerry put his life on the line for his country and for the men who served with him. He saw the horrors of vietnam, 1st hand, and had the honesty, integrity, character, and courage to come home and try to stop it. Wasnt a popular thing to do then, but it was right thing to do. Bush didnt have the courage to speak up against the war or even show up stateside.

So yes, it does matter. Kerry has shown he has charcter, bush has shown he has none.