Freedom's Fire, Brightly Burning

This is what I've been telling people, and I've heard the Sestak folks say it, but hadn't seen it in print before.

Kerry tries to add wind to Sestak’s sails
William Bender, Of the Times Staff
10/27/2006

RADNOR - U.S. Sen. John Kerry defended Joseph Sestak Thursday against what he said were "unacceptable" attacks on his Navy career by U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon and other Republicans. The Massachusetts senator was one of Sestak’s earliest supporters when he entered the 7th District race in February, providing a first-quarter cash infusion that helped establish his viability.

"Although dollar figures aren’t the most important thing, I’ll tell ya’, those $90,000 sure as heck helped," said Sestak, a former vice admiral who is leading Weldon in the polls with more money in the bank.

Kerry urged voters to end the "culture of corruption" in Washington and chastised Weldon for belittling Sestak’s 31-year military career.

"You don’t get to be a three-star admiral unless you have talent, and unless you have values and integrity," said Kerry, whose performance in Vietnam was questioned during his failed 2004 presidential bid. "That integrity has never come under assault until now, here, in this campaign for the United States Congress by a man who should know better. I, as others, are simply not going to stand for this."

At last week’s debate, Weldon described Sestak as a Navy elitist, asking if he drank out of "wine goblets" and was waited on by "sailor servants." The National Republican Congressional Committee has funded mailers calling him an "arrogant, narcissistic, self-serving" admiral whose career "ended in disgrace."

"It’s unacceptable in America that now people should question Joe Sestak’s service, the quality of his service," Kerry said during a press conference at Meridian Venture Partners.

In 2004, Kerry defeated President Bush in the 7th District with 53 percent of the vote.

(snip)

Um, okay, that 53% didn't come from my town. :( But we'll do better this time, I promise!