Dead Cant Rant

While reflecting on John Kerry’s “I was in Vietnam, I was a war hero, so I should be your president” platform, Reneé reminded me of another war hero who ran for office…

You see, this man also knew what it was like to walk the line at night, dodge enemy fire, and fight to defend your country in an incredibly unpopular war. Like John Kerry, he was wounded: once in the leg, and then later in the eyes. Also, like Kerry, he was decorated for bravery twice, each time receiving one of his nation’s highest honors — the equivalents of the bronze star and silver star.

Amazingly, just like Kerry, he returned home to protest his government’s policies and attempted to “right the wrongs.”

Thank God he was elected, so his country could have a war hero to lead them.

To contrast, consider President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Here we have a man who was stricken with polio at an early age, completely unable to enter the military, let alone be a “war hero.” Despite this, FDR went on to become one of the greatest “war presidents” ever, ensuring victory in World War II, leading the country out of the Great Depression, and preparing the way for one of the greatest economic booms in American history.

Of course, we’re not saying Kerry is Hitler — and he’s definitely no FDR. But the moral is this: Being a war hero won’t necessarily make you a good president, and a good president doesn’t necessarily have to be a war hero.

And be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.