Skewered: George Bush and his republican mates

Something that has always intrigued me about American politics is the emphasis placed on candidates’ military service records, in particular how people are damned or lauded for their actions from 30-40 years ago.

This article in the Huffington Post absolutely skewers American conservatives/Republicans, for their warmongering ways, and in particular criticism of Democrats who question or criticise the war in Iraq.

The critics:

• George W. Bush: Went National Guard, checked the box marked “Do Not Volunteer for Overseas” on his application and then went AWOL.
• Dick Cheney: “Had other priorities” like four student deferments.
• Karl Rove: Avoided the draft. Many schools, no degrees.
• Paul Wolfowitz: Avoided service through college deferment.
• Condoleeza Rice: Chickenhawk enabler. Never served.
• Tom DeLay: Chose to enlist in the war on cockroaches, fleas and termites as the owner of an exterminator business, rather than joining Kerry or Murtha in battling the Vietcong.
• Newt Gingrich: Avoided Vietnam through college deferment.
• Rudy Giuliani: Never served.
• Sam Brownback: Never served.
• Mitt Romney: Never served.

And let’s not forget some of Malkin’s colleagues from the GOP Barking Head Brigade:

• Ann Coulter: Never served.
• Rush Limbaugh: Got out of Vietnam due to an ingrown hair on his buttocks.
• Bill O’Reilly: Avoided Vietnam through college deferment.
• Sean Hannity: Never served — though he talks tough.

And those being criticised:

• Ted Kennedy: did two years in the Army from 1951 through 1953
• John Kerry: had his tour in Vietnam, for which he was awarded a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V and three Purple Hearts
• Jack Murtha: served in the U.S. Marines for 37 years, is also a Vietnam combat veteran and was decorated with the Bronze Star, two Purple Hearts, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

What was that about people in glass houses?