Student Bush and Kerry supporters butt heads in final days
Alex McMarron
Issue date: 11/3/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Amidst horn-honking, cheers and boos, Sen. John Kerry supporters gathered outside the McNeese State University Frazar Memorial Library to protest the screening of "Stolen Honor: Wounds that Never Heal," on Sunday, Oct. 31. The film accuses Kerry of worsening the American soldiers' ordeal by criticizing the Vietnam War. The Republicans showed the film in the Frazer Memorial Library in an attempt to sway voters. Michelle Landry, the senator of the MSU College Republicans, said the purpose of the screening was to "show people the reality of what Kerry really did in Vietnam."
The film, funded by Pennsylvania veterans and produced by a veteran and former Washington Times reporter, said that Kerry's anti-war statements during the Vietnam War were "treacherous" and had created a negative image of Vietnam veterans.
Kerry supporters, who made up seven of the 11 viewers of "Stolen Honor" at McNeese, gave the film a negative response, and Dr. Janet Allured, the director of women's studies at McNeese, said it was very inaccurate. "What they do is pretend all the ill-will towards (Vietnam) soldiers is a result of Kerry's testimony. ... Other people had to have talked about how bad it was," said Allured.
The Sinclair Broadcasting Group, owner of the largest group of television stations in the nation, planned to show the film during primetime just two weeks before the Nov. 2 election, but they decided not to air it after the Democratic National Committee filed a complaint with the Federal Electoral Commission.
"You don't expect your local TV station to be pushing a political agenda two weeks before an election. It's un-American," said Kerry spokesman Chad Clanton.
However, Lauren Gil, a junior at McNeese, said, "I don't think it ("Stolen Honor") would have swayed any voters. People can see through that bullshit."
The Democrat-supported film "Fahrenheit 9/11"also played at McNeese last Wednesday. There was a turnout of 15-20 supporters.
Both "Stolen Honor" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" were shown in an attempt to sway apathetic voters at McNeese before the upcoming election on Nov. 2. Michael Parker, a liberal arts senior who was dressed as "Uncle Kerry" in red, white, and blue, complete with top hat, said, "This election is too important not to get out there."
The film, funded by Pennsylvania veterans and produced by a veteran and former Washington Times reporter, said that Kerry's anti-war statements during the Vietnam War were "treacherous" and had created a negative image of Vietnam veterans.
Kerry supporters, who made up seven of the 11 viewers of "Stolen Honor" at McNeese, gave the film a negative response, and Dr. Janet Allured, the director of women's studies at McNeese, said it was very inaccurate. "What they do is pretend all the ill-will towards (Vietnam) soldiers is a result of Kerry's testimony. ... Other people had to have talked about how bad it was," said Allured.
The Sinclair Broadcasting Group, owner of the largest group of television stations in the nation, planned to show the film during primetime just two weeks before the Nov. 2 election, but they decided not to air it after the Democratic National Committee filed a complaint with the Federal Electoral Commission.
"You don't expect your local TV station to be pushing a political agenda two weeks before an election. It's un-American," said Kerry spokesman Chad Clanton.
However, Lauren Gil, a junior at McNeese, said, "I don't think it ("Stolen Honor") would have swayed any voters. People can see through that bullshit."
The Democrat-supported film "Fahrenheit 9/11"also played at McNeese last Wednesday. There was a turnout of 15-20 supporters.
Both "Stolen Honor" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" were shown in an attempt to sway apathetic voters at McNeese before the upcoming election on Nov. 2. Michael Parker, a liberal arts senior who was dressed as "Uncle Kerry" in red, white, and blue, complete with top hat, said, "This election is too important not to get out there."
