I am writing in response to Mary Jane Newell’s letter on Feb. 17. While I’m sure Ms. Newell’s conjecture is based on what she has been told by Fox News, the readers of the Sun Journal will hopefully focus more on facts than on the latest fallacies pushed by the Republican National Committee’s smear campaign.

It is true that Sen. Kerry spoke out against the Vietnam War and testified before Congress regarding a number of atrocities, atrocities that have been documented over the years, including a wonderful series last year by the Toledo Blade.

What is not true is that Mr. Kerry ever associated with Jane Fonda. Both the senator and Ms. Fonda have denied the rumor and a simple Google search reveals it to be untrue.

Of course, Ms. Newell and other Bush supporters are not really concerned with the truth, or else they would be more concerned with a president who ignored warnings in an Aug. 6, 2001, briefing that al-Qaida planned to hijack commercial jets. The president has also been untruthful about the extent of his National Guard service, and let’s not forget the whole weapons of mass destruction issue.

Even the smallest amount of research on the records of Kerry and Bush reveals that one has spent his life in service to his country, first as a highly decorated soldier and then as a U.S. senator, while the other has coasted by on the wings of privilege. I know which one makes me feel safer.

Michael R. Crittenden, Arlington, Va.

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