Much has been made in the world of the Right Wing Political Machine this past week of recent comments made by John Kerry. I must say, as a Political News Columnist, it gave me a certain amount of pleasure to see such an issue come to light immediately before the November Elections. Why do you ask, when I am in favor of a Democrat majority this fall, would I take pleasure in a gaff by Kerry? I'll explain.

Kerry erred, no doubt about that. His point was clear though, he was obviously talking about Bush when he made the 'stuck in Iraq' comment, and alluding that had he (or any of the students he was speaking to) been in Bush's position, not only would they not be 'stuck in Iraq', they wouldn't ever have been there at all. The error Kerry made this time, is that he did not apologize for the inference his words were given by the right wing pundits. I know, this is reality, and Kerry doesn't really NEED to even consider the nonsense this administration puts out as fact to have a grip on the real world, but in Politics, every step counts, and this was a mis-step. Had Kerry apologized for the miscommunication, and ALSO re-inforced his original message (as his actual rebutal did quite well), his comments would be much harder to categorize and dismiss by the right. I personally have no issue with his statements, they make sense to me. Kerry was speaking to students, and he was telling them that if they didn't take their studies seriously, they would end up in a huge mess they couldn't handle, as demonstrated by our current President, George W. Bush.

I wondered though, if people would really be swayed by this nonsense, and thought that today would be the perfect time to introduce to you one of those people who 'should have been offended by Kerry' according to the right wing pundits. Yes, that's right ladies and gentlemen, it's time to hear directly from some of our 'Troops on the Ground'.

This week I received a special letter from someone whose story you need to hear. As many readers of this Column are aware, the recruitment tactics used to enlist soldiers in the United States Army have grown alarming to the general public. P&M has finally been able to speak with Stewart Zamudio, whose National Guard Service gave him a first hand look at such behavior. Are you tired of seeing our Troops used as a backdrop behind the President, as he leaves them stranded in a foreign nation without any sort of plan or hope for success? Stewart Zamudio is tired of it too. He's tired of seeing his friends and compatriots abused in such fashion. We thank him for his courage in speaking out in this critical time.

From Stewart Zamudio:

"I joined the Army National Guard in April of 2000 to April of 2006. During this time I did a number of security missions in and around New York City after 9.11. My most memorable experience was helping out at Ground Zero after 9-11, which I am greatly proud of. I was one of the two soldiers who was chosen to participate in the Army National Guard Campaign for 2006-2007. Which included a New York Army National Guard Commercial, Website Interview, Theatre Commercial, Radio, and photographs."

"I felt at that time very strongly that the President had the right idea, but the wrong delivery for the war campaign in Iraq. I fully trusted the President that he would lead us properly after 9.11, as many others have as well. I had high hopes that my Commander in Chief would lead us to victory. But he let me down, he let this miltary down, and most of all he let this country down! I never went overseas so my views are not tainted with war visions, but with war stories from fellow soldiers. My perspective on the war is somewhat coming from an angle of a new recruit."

"That is why I am recalling my message. I would NOT join the Army National Guard at this time because the risk of getting killed or injured is too high."

Stewart's Message to President Bush:

President Bush, I really, really, had high hopes and trust that you would lead us to victory in Iraq. I am very disappointed with the way things have been going for our military in Iraq, and you have let me down. You have let our military down, and most of all you have let this country down. I ask of you Mr. President to look deep down inside, as a man, and ask yourself "are things really going well in Iraq?"

It's ok to ask for help or advice from other parties, and the difference of views can only help. Keep an open mind, these are lives that we are talking about here!

Stewart's Message to the Nation:

"In contrast to my message in the Army National Guard commercial, I ask of you NOT to join the Army National Guard. I say this because the risk of being killed or injured in combat under this Commander in Chief's foreign policy has risen dramatically. I ask you to wait and join the Army National Guard, only when a new Commander in Chief has taken office, or when a new course of action has been taken on the battlefield in Iraq, such as a redeployment of troops. If just these changes were to happen I guarantee that the mood and the war could only change for the better. Removing a negative could only be a positive.

Ask yourself, "If President Bush was a soldier today and the Company Commander at your unit, whom you trusted with your life. And he led you into a battle in Iraq a couple of weeks before, where three of your buddies were killed? Would you trust him with your life in another battle? Would you honestly follow a leader who has failed time and time again?"

Enough is enough, there is a line that a soldier has to draw and ask himself, "Do I really want to follow a leader who wants to stay on a course of action that is clearly not working?

If this President was an officer in the United States Army National Guard and led his soldiers through a string of failed battles, he absolutely would have been demoted to a Private."

Signed Stewart Zamudio

To read more of Stewart's Story, click here: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=75994361

Ladies and Gentlemen, fellow citizens, it is time that we begin to listen to our Troops on the Ground. It is time now for us to look to the experience and knowledge of proven leaders, like those in our Armed Forces. John Kerry personally is a decorated combat veteran, who not only had the courage to sacrifice for our country, but the patriotism to question the illegal orders he and his compatriots were carrying out in Vietnam before the United States Congress. John Kerry went on to serve our nation in the Senate, and has since supported our Armed Forces at every turn. John Kerry is not my favorite person, nor do I feel he is the strongest candidate for the Presidency in 2008. In spite of these things, I think it is high time that our nation stopped questioning the motives of people like John Kerry, and started focusing on the violations of constitutional and international law that have been committed by our current chief executive, George W. Bush.

Yes, it's been fun to watch political news commentators on the right, people who I personally know are smart enough to understand what Kerry was saying, pretend 'not to get it' and to insist that Kerry was 'insulting the troops'. It's always fun to watch people tell a lie they are not comfortable with. It was a ridiculous attack to begin with, and now that the fact has swept the nation, it is also fun to watch the righty pundits backpeddle. Citizens, you and I both know that these people will never stop putting their 'spin' on any and every bit of information they come into contact with. Let's all agree to collectively 'not buy it' this time. Let's all recognize this pile of propaganda for exactly what it is, and not step in it this time down the path. Let's elect a new congress, with integrity and an understanding of the Constitution, that is willing to represent the people, and lets clean out Washington D.C. of the idiocy that works there in our name. I'll see you all at the ballot box.