"John Kerry saved my life" part 2

[sMiLeYz]

I ask again... how could someone not find John Kerry honorable or even heroic?

Kerry the Lifesaver, Part Two


February 05, 2004

Roll Call

by Ed Henry


It turns out there's another Republican who is coming forward to say that Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) saved his life, but this rescue mission occurred in a corridor of the Capitol - not the jungles of Vietnam.

The incident dates back to 1988, when then-Sen. Jacob "Chic" Hecht (R-Nev.) rushed out of a GOP Conference luncheon gasping for air because he was choking on a slice of apple. Kerry happened to walk off a nearby elevator and hurriedly performed the Heimlich maneuver.

"He sized it up in a split second and saved my life," the 75-year-old former Senator recalled in a telephone interview this week.

"Every year at Christmas my wife and I call John Kerry and thank him for saving my life," Hecht added. "My wife of 45 years gets very emotional. He seems very happy that we remember him every year."

In an interview, Gail Hecht said of the couple?s annual calls to Kerry: "He just makes light of it like it was nothing. I say, 'I owe you my life for saving my husband ' what more can someone say?'"

And like Jim Rassmann, the Republican from Oregon who contacted Kerry?s campaign office last month to reveal that the candidate had saved his life during the conflict in Vietnam, the former Nevada Senator said he would be glad to put his partisan leanings aside to appear at the side of the Democratic frontrunner.

"I'm sure if I was asked, I would," said Hecht, who revealed that his wife is planning on her own to attend a campaign event in California and their two daughters have already been working to elect Kerry. "My whole family is very sensitive and very appreciative of what he did."

Hecht said that he and his wife were on a long vacation to Australia and New Zealand around the time of the Iowa caucuses and had very little access to news reports, so they were not aware of Rassmann?s decision to fly into Des Moines last month and appear with Kerry at an emotional campaign event.

Rassmann, a former Green Beret, had been traveling on the Bay Hap River behind Navy Lt. Kerry's boat in 1969 when they both faced an ambush. Rassmann's boat was blown out of the water and a wounded Kerry turned his own boat around to rescue his comrade.

After being informed of the story by a reporter, Hecht felt an instant kinship with the Oregonian. "Of course I do," said Hecht, who is still more amazed by Kerry's actions in the Capitol.

"When someone is drowning, it's obvious," Hecht said. ?But in my case, 99 out of 100 would have thought it was a heart attack. Someone else who is not as sharp as him would have laid me down and I?d be dead. But he just immediately figured it out."

After finishing a round of golf on Tuesday afternoon, the retired Hecht delighted in recounting what he calls "the number one story of my life."

On July 12, 1988, Hecht had been digging into his lunch of fruit salad and cottage cheese at the GOP?s weekly policy lunch when he suddenly felt a piece of apple lodge in his throat.

?It?s the worst feeling,? recalled Hecht, noting that he could not breathe or talk so it was difficult to communicate the problem to his GOP colleagues. He decided the solution was to force himself to vomit and thus rushed into the hallway for some privacy.

That didn?t work, and Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) tried in vain to help by slapping Hecht on the back. Kerry suddenly emerged from an elevator and sprung into action as he happened upon a hunched-over Hecht.

Kerry tried the Heimlich maneuver four separate times until the windpipe of Hecht, who was now blue in the face, was finally cleared. ?He said later, ?When I grabbed you, you had passed out,?? Hecht noted.

Hecht still needed the help of a team of Capitol physicians, who were unable to remove the apple for some time. The Senator was left with a smashed rib and a sore throat that could not handle solid food for several days, but he realized that it was nothing compared to what could have happened.

?It became an international story at the time, and Dr. Heimlich called me and said, ?You had 30 seconds. If you had not been saved, you would be a vegetable.??

There was a remarkable bit of irony to the story, centering on the fact that Kerry was serving as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee that election cycle. Hecht, who had been elected in 1982, was facing his first re-election bid and was one of Kerry?s top targets.

?You know, that says something about America,? Hecht said immediately after the incident, according to news reports. ?That?s the difference between America and another country. He's targeted me as No. 1, yet he saved my life. That's the story of America."

Hecht did end up losing to Democrat Richard Bryan, who wound up serving two terms in the Senate. Hecht landed a terrific consolation prize: serving as U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas in the first Bush administration.

And Hecht is certainly not bitter about the political work of the former DSCC chairman, which is why he and his wife have kept up the annual tradition of calling Kerry?s office around Christmas and getting his personal assistant to track the Senator down regardless of where he is in the world.

"He says, 'It's one of the best calls I get every year. I look forward to it,'" Hecht noted.

That call was particularly poignant this past Dec. 23, when the couple tracked an exhausted Kerry down at his Sun Valley, Idaho, vacation home.

Kerry lamented that there would not be any time for skiing during the holidays, noting that he would only be at the vacation home for a total of about 24 hours and would spend most of that time catching up on sleep. Rather than rush the couple off the phone, however, the Senator proceeded to spend 30 minutes discussing his campaign " which was still struggling at the time.

"He said, 'It's going to turn for me,?? Hecht recalled Kerry saying. "And he laid it out, and what he laid out is happening."

So does Kerry have this conservative Republican's vote" Hecht laughed heartily and then there was a long pause.

"Only the good Lord and myself will know," he finally said.

There was much less hesitation from Gail Hecht when asked whether she will cast a ballot for the Democrat. "How could I not?" she said. "He's someone very special in our lives. There are some times that you make exceptions."

Another Republican owes his life to Kerry

 

[Dari]

I ask again... how could someone not find John Kerry honorable or even heroic?

Backstabbing your fellow soldiers still in Vietnam is neither heroic nor honorable.

a bit off-topic but I was in the Time-Life cafetaria the other day on 6th Avenue and 48th/49th Street. Someone put up a pic of John Kerry (in his sailor outfit) and Gomer Pyle, indicating that they were "twins." People didn't waste any time writing their opinions on the pictures. Here are a few notables:

a Che-Guevara-esque french hat was drawn upon his head;
"Ultra-liberal" adorned the hat;
"Soft on defense" on the right;
"Jane Fonda as V.P." adorned the left;
and "Waffler" was just above his belt.

Oh, and "keep Gomer out of politics" was written above Pyle's head.

Entertaining.

 

[kylebisme]

calling someone a backstabber for bringing to light the atrocities of war is by no means honorable. :disgust:

 

[PingSpike]

Wait, forgive me being unenlightened on this subject but how did he 'backstab' vets?

 

[DoubleL]

ask again... how could someone not find John Kerry honorable or even heroic? Part 2

Well are they going to be a part 4 and 5, He is still a lier

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Wait, forgive me being unenlightened on this subject but how did he 'backstab' vets?

He accused soldiers of atrocities without a shred of evidence. The prick made up those stories as a prelude to his running for office in liberal massachusetts.

 

[AEB]

Giving someone who is choking, a heimlich, isnt heroic its humane. It should be expected. As for the veitnam thing he came back and said it was our governemnts purpose to commit atrocities, and many vets took offense to that, i posted something on this. We haven't had a heroic politician for a long time.

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: AEB
Giving someone who is choking, a heimlich, isnt heroic its humane. It should be expected. As for the veitnam thing he came back and said it was our governemnts purpose to commit atrocities, and many vets took offense to that, i posted something on this. We haven't had a heroic politician for a long time.

I didn't even read the OP's article. It's laughable that he considers that "heroic."

 

[DoubleL]

WASHINGTON ? John Kerry lived two Vietnam experiences -- one as a decorated Navy lieutenant, the other as a staunch protester of the war.


Returning from his tour of duty, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971, in which he claimed it was U.S. policy in Vietnam to carry out atrocities and war crimes.

A number of Vietnam veterans consider this testimony slanderous and say Kerry had to know it was false. They accuse Kerry of lying about fellow soldiers and officers to push a political agenda, and say his words dishonored comrades in arms at a time of war.

"He knew as an officer that those were lies. It never happened," said Vietnam veteran Carlton Sherwood. "He was principally responsible for cementing the image of Vietnam veterans as drugged-out psychopaths who were totally unrestrained and who were a murderous hoard."

After Kerry's testimony, military and independent investigations found that many of the soldiers who told Kerry and others they committed such atrocities were either never in the service, never in Vietnam or couldn't provide more evidence of those horrific actions.

 

[kylebisme]

didn't want to tarnish the crediblity of that post by providing the link to foxnews eh?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,113632,00.html

 

[sMiLeYz]

I like the new spin, supposely he "backstabbed" his war buddies because he exposed the war for the sham that it was. Nice way to spin things.

 

[Corn]

I ask again... how could someone not find John Kerry honorable or even heroic?

Quote from DoubleL that sums up my feelings on this matter:

So what we have is Kerry said he seen this kind of thing happen and often, So either he is a lier like I think he is and used it for his protest like most the others were doing like I think he did or we have him telling the truth like so many thinks, So if he was telling the truth, Well lets just say you better hope he was lieing cause he was a LT. and in charge of his men and any men that he saw no natter what service they were in, Now if he did see that well I don't have to say much more

Honorable and heroic men take actions to stop atrocities as they witness them happening, cowards do not.

 

[PELarson]

Beats blaming the administrations of Ike, JFK, LBJ, and Nixon!

 

[sMiLeYz]

Originally posted by: Corn

I ask again... how could someone not find John Kerry honorable or even heroic?

Quote from DoubleL that sums up my feelings on this matter:

So what we have is Kerry said he seen this kind of thing happen and often, So either he is a lier like I think he is and used it for his protest like most the others were doing like I think he did or we have him telling the truth like so many thinks, So if he was telling the truth, Well lets just say you better hope he was lieing cause he was a LT. and in charge of his men and any men that he saw no natter what service they were in, Now if he did see that well I don't have to say much more

Honorable and heroic men take actions to stop atrocities as they witness them happening, cowards do not.

Actually he took the most honorable course of action in non-violent protesting, and speaking the terrible truth about the Vietnam war in front of the politicians that sent him there. There are many Vietnam veterans that came out during his campaign and supported him.

The right wing history revisionising smear machine has been trying to smear him like they did to McCain in 2000. In fact McCain calls Ted Sampley, the guy runs Veterans against Kerry.... well heres his own words...

Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican, called the man, Ted Sampley, "one of the most despicable people I have ever had the misfortune to encounter."

In defending Mr. Kerry, Mr. McCain ? who has campaigned for President Bush this year ? said of Mr. Sampley: "I consider him a fraud who preys on the hopes of family members of missing servicemen for his own profit. He is dishonorable, an enemy of the truth, and despite his claims, he does not speak for or represent the views of all but a few veterans."

McCain protests GOP hate campaign

 

[AEB]

Originally posted by: sMiLeYz

Originally posted by: Corn

I ask again... how could someone not find John Kerry honorable or even heroic?

Quote from DoubleL that sums up my feelings on this matter:

So what we have is Kerry said he seen this kind of thing happen and often, So either he is a lier like I think he is and used it for his protest like most the others were doing like I think he did or we have him telling the truth like so many thinks, So if he was telling the truth, Well lets just say you better hope he was lieing cause he was a LT. and in charge of his men and any men that he saw no natter what service they were in, Now if he did see that well I don't have to say much more

Honorable and heroic men take actions to stop atrocities as they witness them happening, cowards do not.

Actually he took the most honorable course of action in non-violent protesting, and speaking the terrible truth about the Vietnam war in front of the politicians that sent him there. There are many Vietnam veterans that came out during his campaign and supported him.

The right wing history revisionising smear machine has been trying to smear him like they did to McCain in 2000. In fact McCain calls Ted Sampley, the guy runs Veterans against Kerry.... well heres his own words...

Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican, called the man, Ted Sampley, "one of the most despicable people I have ever had the misfortune to encounter."

In defending Mr. Kerry, Mr. McCain ? who has campaigned for President Bush this year ? said of Mr. Sampley: "I consider him a fraud who preys on the hopes of family members of missing servicemen for his own profit. He is dishonorable, an enemy of the truth, and despite his claims, he does not speak for or represent the views of all but a few veterans."

McCain protests GOP hate campaign

Its not honerable when they are lies, read the article.

 

[sMiLeYz]

Not if the real liars are the ones attacking Kerry. Read my article.

 

[arsbanned]

I didn't even read the OP's article.

And yet you find it appropriate to respond.

Seek help.

 

[sMiLeYz]

Originally posted by: arsbanned

I didn't even read the OP's article.

And yet you find it appropriate to respond.

Seek help.

lol true...

Dari needs to see a surgeon, to surgically remove his lips from Dubya's behind.

 

[AEB]

Uhh you article doesnt say anything about this

"After Kerry's testimony, military and independent investigations found that many of the soldiers who told Kerry and others they committed such atrocities were either never in the service, never in Vietnam or couldn't provide more evidence of those horrific actions. "

Independent investigaters and the military are the REAL liars but 1 nut job from MASS is not, i get it good proof.

Ob btw this was halarious in your article smilezy!
"In a recent statement posted on his Web site, Mr. Sampley made a similar suggestion, saying: "I have personally dealt with John Kerry on the issue of U.S. P.O.W.s left behind in Vietnam. Kerry is not truthful and is not worthy of the support of U.S. veterans. Many Vietnam vets have been duped into thinking Kerry is their friend. He is not. To us, he is `Hanoi John.' "

 

[Dari]

Originally posted by: sMiLeYz

Originally posted by: arsbanned

I didn't even read the OP's article.

And yet you find it appropriate to respond.

Seek help.

lol true...

Dari needs to see a surgeon, to surgically remove his lips from Dubya's behind.

I read it after AEB's statement. Sad how you tried find heroism in such a task. It's ironic too that you see Kerry in such halo-ing light when most Vietnam Veterans hate him. But let me ask you this: Did you like Kerry before he got the gay endorsement?

 

[sMiLeYz]

Originally posted by: AEB

Ob btw this was halarious in your article smilezy!
"In a recent statement posted on his Web site, Mr. Sampley made a similar suggestion, saying: "I have personally dealt with John Kerry on the issue of U.S. P.O.W.s left behind in Vietnam. Kerry is not truthful and is not worthy of the support of U.S. veterans. Many Vietnam vets have been duped into thinking Kerry is their friend. He is not. To us, he is `Hanoi John.' "

lolololol

It's more hilarious to see you missed the entire point of my article. It's like you were watching a porno and commenting on the bad acting... the point just flew right over your head.

 

[sMiLeYz]

Originally posted by: Dari

Originally posted by: sMiLeYz

Originally posted by: arsbanned

I didn't even read the OP's article.

And yet you find it appropriate to respond.

Seek help.

lol true...

Dari needs to see a surgeon, to surgically remove his lips from Dubya's behind.

I read it after AEB's statement. Sad how you tried find heroism in such a task. It's ironic too that you see Kerry in such halo-ing light when most Vietnam Veterans hate him. But let me ask you this: Did you like Kerry before he got the gay endorsement?

ahhahahahahahaaha that is funny! Now you're calling me gay? That's after you called me stupid the other time.

I mean for a guy who rentlesslessly defends George W. Bush, while commenting about how macho, admirable, a mans man that George is; I find it pricelessly ironic you would have the nerve.

 

[Corn]

Actually he took the most honorable course of action in non-violent protesting, and speaking the terrible truth about the Vietnam war in front of the politicians that sent him there.

Absolutely not. The "most honorable course of action" should have been to attempt to stop these "atrocities" while he was witnessing them in action, or at the very least, helping to prosecute those who committed those atrocities. He did neither. There is nothing heroic about giving testimony about war crimes without fingering the individual criminals responsible for those crimes. In my opinion, if Kerry did witness atrocities as they happended and did nothing to stop them, he is as guilty as those who committed those acts--because by his inaction, those same people were free to commit those crimes again and again.

 

[sMiLeYz]

Originally posted by: Corn

Actually he took the most honorable course of action in non-violent protesting, and speaking the terrible truth about the Vietnam war in front of the politicians that sent him there.

Absolutely not. The "most honorable course of action" should have been to attempt to stop these "atrocities" while he was witnessing them in action, or at the very least, helping to prosecute those who committed those atrocities. He did neither. There is nothing heroic about giving testimony about war crimes without fingering the individual criminals responsible for those crimes. In my opinion, if Kerry did witness atrocities as they happended and did nothing to stop them, he is as guilty as those who committed those acts--because by his inaction, those same people were free to commit those crimes again and again.

I love partisan logical fallacies, he obviously is repsonsible for war crimes because he didn't speak against those who commited them... but then again he did speak out against the war crimes, so that makes him a backstabber. Blah blah blah blah...

 

[Gaard]

The prick made up those stories as a prelude to his running for office in liberal massachusetts.

Is this true?