PRESIDENTIAL RACE Veterans weigh in on Bush, Kerry

Kerry's campaign is targeting military veterans.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mike Popadak of Warren Township is the type of voter targeted by U.S. Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
Popadak is a registered Democrat living in one of the most Democratic counties, Trumbull, in Ohio, a key battleground state for Kerry and President Bush. But more importantly, Popadak is a Vietnam War veteran, having served in the Army for two years.
Veterans have traditionally leaned toward voting Republican. But Kerry -- like Popadak, a Vietnam War veteran -- and his campaign are targeting military veterans because he is one of them.
But Popadak isn't impressed.
"Even if I agreed with Kerry on 100 percent of the issues, I'd never vote for him," he said.
That's because of what Kerry did after he returned from Vietnam, Popadak said. After serving four months in Vietnam, Kerry became an outspoken opponent of the war, and told a Senate committee in 1971 that some U.S. troops committed war crimes.
"He betrayed his fellow soldiers," Popadak said.
"It was the ultimate slap in the face. For him to desecrate what we did, he might as well have spit in our faces."
Medals
During his four months of active combat duty in Vietnam, Kerry received three Purple Hearts, given for wounds by enemy forces; a Silver Star for gallantry in action; and a Bronze Star, given for heroic achievement.
Even so, Popadak doesn't consider Kerry to be a war hero.
James L. Ridge of Poland served for about 18 months in Vietnam in the Marines, but sees Kerry differently. When Ridge returned from Vietnam, he, like Kerry, opposed the war.
"After the fact, you see some of the ramifications and wonder what you did," he said.
Ridge, an independent who typically votes Democratic, said he's a lot more impressed with Kerry's military record than Bush's. Bush served in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War and never saw action.
"Bush kind of got a free ride, which disturbs me," Ridge said. "It's a little bit frustrating and disturbing to me that Bush is leading the military and he never served. He didn't step up when the call was there."
While Ridge plans to vote for Kerry, he's not terribly enthusiastic about it. He also questions the effectiveness of Kerry's strategy to target veterans.
There are about 27 million military veterans nationwide, including more than 1 million in Ohio.
The Vindicator interviewed about two dozen local military veterans to get their thoughts on the presidential election, whom they plan to vote for and why, and if the military records of Kerry and Bush play a factor in their preference.
Some of the veterans saw combat while others either served during peacetime or didn't go overseas during wartime.
Dave Harl of Warren, who served 18 months in the South Pacific during World War II as a Marine, is a registered Democrat. He said he will do what he did in 2000: vote for Bush.
'I like him'
"I have yet to see what Kerry stands for," he said. "He talks a lot, but I don't hear anything. He flip-flops on everything, and he takes both sides on an issue. I don't agree with what the president does all the time, but I like him. I like the president's policies on the war on terrorism, and the war in Iraq was the right way to go."
Donald Worth of Youngstown, who served in the Army from 1978 to 1982, said he supports Kerry. But, like many of those interviewed by the newspaper who say they support Kerry, Worth said his vote is more of an anti-Bush one than a pro-Kerry vote.
"Kerry is trying to offer a different direction for the country," said Worth, a registered Democrat. "I wouldn't have any complaints against Bush, but he lied to the American people by pursuing a war when he had no proof of terrorist activity in Iraq. His priorities are really messed up."
Leonard J. Sainato of Warren, a registered Democrat who served 17 months in Europe during World War II, was more blunt.
"I'm disturbed by Bush," he said. "This man hasn't done any good for this country. As for Kerry, I like that he's the Democratic candidate and he's not Bush. If it was another Democrat, I'd vote for that person. I'm anti-Bush, and I don't like the policies he's put in place. I'm going to vote for Kerry even though I have some misgivings on some of the things he's done, and because he kind of wavers a little bit."
Alan Eggleston of Liberty, an independent who voted for Bush in 2000, plans to vote for the Republican president in November.
"I'm very happy with my vote," said Eggleston, who served in the Army from 1984 to 1990, most of it in Germany. "I'm big with the NRA [National Rifle Association], and he hasn't hurt me at all gun controlwise."
Eggleston said a person's war record doesn't matter to him unless they were protesters.
"Kerry went so he had the right to protest," he said.
Will vote for Kerry
Harry Ross of Boardman, who served in the Marines from 1946 to 1951, said he's not thrilled with his choices for president. But the registered Democrat plans to vote for Kerry.
"I don't believe [Kerry] was the strongest candidate," said Ross, who said that honor went to U.S. Sen. John Edwards, whom Kerry chose as his running mate. "But I like Kerry because he believes jobs are more important than tax cuts for the rich."
As for Republicans' saying Kerry flip-flops on issues, Ross doesn't buy it.
"The Senate is a difficult place to be because everything is a compromise," he said. "That doesn't mean he flip-flops. The only negative I have for Kerry is he isn't running a strong campaign and doesn't present himself well in public. I don't trust a thing Bush says."
Patrick M. Liste of Girard, who served in the Air Force from 1957 to 1961, is a registered Democrat, but John F. Kennedy is the last Democratic presidential candidate he supported. He doesn't plan to change in November.
"I have a high opinion of what George Bush has done and will do," he said. "I can't vote for Kerry. My biggest reason is what he did in '71. His opinions about the [Vietnam] War were too radical."
Robert Hausen of Southington, a registered Republican who served in the Marines from 1986 to 1991, including three months in the Middle East during Operation Desert Storm, said he's backing Bush.
"He says what he means," he said. "I could almost respect someone who had an opinion on an issue different than mine. But I can't respect someone who keeps changing his opinion every few years. That's what's going on with Kerry. Bush is doing the best he can. Without a doubt, I feel more comfortable with Bush's foreign policy than what Kerry would do. The president is decisive and knows what he's doing."
Thomas G. Raseta of Liberty, a registered Republican, is a bit biased when it comes to the presidential election.
Raseta retired in 1992 as an Army lieutenant colonel, spending the last four years working for Dick Cheney, when the vice president was the secretary of defense.
Backing Bush
"The president and the vice president are straightforward, and I agree with their policies," he said. "I never cared for war protesters. A leopard doesn't change its spots. Kerry doesn't appeal to me at all."
Dean Burns of Struthers, a registered Democrat who served in the Navy from 1952 to 1955, said he is firmly behind Kerry.
"I have a problem with this war with our guys over there getting killed for no reason," he said. "Kerry doesn't have a message you can follow. But I can't stand Bush. I'd go with Kerry, but it's more of an anti-Bush vote."
Norris Lunger of Austintown, who served in the Army from 1953 to 1956, says he can't stand Bush. Lunger is a registered Democrat, but says he often votes for Republicans.
"Bush wants to be in charge of everything, and he doesn't know what he's doing," he said.
"I don't like his domestic or foreign policies. Kerry's OK, but there were better candidates they could have put in. He had a good war record. He served over there and was wounded. I've seen a lot of war heroes. War records impress me, but it's not a reason to vote for a candidate."
skolnick@vindy.com