Talk:John Kerry/Rex's version

1971 Meeting of Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW)
From November 12-15, 1971, a VVAW meeting was held in Kansas City, Missouri. It has been reported that at that meeting, a VVAW member proposed that they should assassinate pro-Vietnam War politicians.

Some sources say that this suggestion was immediately shouted down by a large majority. Also, according to some reports, Kerry left the meeting prior to that suggestion being offered and was therefor not present to personally hear the proposal for violence.

On this subject, over the years, Kerry has at various times stated that he does not remember attending the meeting in Kansas City. He has said that his memory is that he had already resigned from the organization several months earlier, at the St. Louis meeting in July 1971.

However, the New York Sun reported in a front page article on March 12, 2004 that "Kerry's presence at this meeting has been confirmed by several witnesses, even though Senator Kerry has stated that he does not remember attending." 

Additionally, as late as January 26th, 1972, the New York Times was still reporting John Kerry as being "a leader of Vietnam Veterans against the War"

The varying reports on this topic do not make clear precisely what the historical record is and for that reason, the readers are left to drawn their own conclusions about this.

1971 Meeting of Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) (Rex v.2)
From November 12th to 15th, 1971, a VVAW meeting was held in Kansas City, Missouri. The meeting is quite controversial because one VVAW member in attendance suggested that the VVAW should assassinate, among others, seven Senators who were in favor of continuing the Vietnam War, including Strom Thurmond, John Stennis, and John Tower.

And even though most reports indicate this suggestion was soundly rejected, controversy has arisen in some circles as to whether or not Kerry was at this meeting, and whether or not his statements about this and as to when he quit VVAW have been consistent and accurate.

Kerry’s campaign, according to the Boston Globe, says that Senator Kerry does not remember attending the Kansas City meeting, nor does he remember the specific discussion in question.

Additionally, although Kerry has at times stated that he had already quit the VVAW before this meeting took place, the New York Sun reported on March 12, 2004 that "Kerry's presence at this meeting has been confirmed by several witnesses, even though Senator Kerry has stated that he does not remember attending." 

However, Scott Camil, the man who suggested using violence, has more recently said that he does not remember Kerry being there. According to the Boston Globe, Camil states “He had nothing to do with this, I don’t remember seeing him there.”

Other sources, including the FBI and also another VVAW Member, Randy Barnes, have corroborated Kerry as attending the meeting. However Mr. Barnes has more recently restated his position on this and now says that he may have been mistaken as to which meeting in Missouri he saw Kerry at.

The varying contentions surrounding Kerry's alleged attendance at this controversial meeting as well as the contradictory evidence as to precisely when he did in fact disassociate himself from VVAW has caught the eye of several national commentators, including John Fund of the Wall Street Journal and Patrick J. Buchannon, the right-wing idealogue.

The varying reports on this topic do not make clear precisely what the historical record is, however most published reports do give Mr. Kerry the benefit of the doubt and are clear to avoid suggesting that he was personally in favor of assassinating US Politicians. It is also reasonably clear that regardless of when indeed Mr. Kerry actually did quit the VVAW, it was in any case, no later than approximately 6 months after the controversial November 1971 meeting

1971 Meeting of Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) (Rex v.3 - How about this?)
From November 12th to 15th, 1971, a VVAW meeting was held in Kansas City, Missouri. The history of this meeting is controversial because one VVAW member in attendance suggested that the group should act violently against certain politicians who were in favor of continuing the Vietnam War, including Strom Thurmond, John Stennis, and John Tower.

And even though most reports indicate this suggestion was soundly rejected, there has been controversy as to whether or not Kerry was at this meeting, and whether or not his ongoing statements regarding this and his departure date from VVAW have been consistent and accurate.

Additionally, although Kerry has at times stated that he had already quit the VVAW before this meeting took place, the New York Sun reported on March 12, 2004 that "Kerry's presence at this meeting has been confirmed by several witnesses, even though Senator Kerry has stated that he does not remember attending." 

The varying reports on this topic do not make clear precisely what the historical record is, however most published reports do give Mr. Kerry the benefit of the doubt and are clear to avoid suggesting that he was personally in favor of harming anyone with violence. It is also reasonably clear that regardless of when indeed Mr. Kerry actually did quit the VVAW, it was in any case, no later than approximately 6 months after the controversial November 1971 meeting.

67.180.24.204's version of Rex v.3
might I suggest the following paragraph, containing the essence of your v.3?

In November 1971, a VVAW meeting was held in Kansas City, Missouri. This meeting is controversial because one VVAW member in attendance suggested violence against certain senators who were in favor of continuing the Vietnam War. The suggested violence was by all accounts soundly rejected. It is unclear whether or not Kerry was at this meeting or was still a member of the VVAW at the time. The varying reports on this topic do not make clear precisely what Kerry's role (if any) in this meeting was, however published reports are clear that Kerry was personally opposed to any violence by VVAW.

67.180.24.204 07:33, 31 Jul 2004 (UTC)