This is hard for a <40 year old to understand because their personal point of historical referrence understands communism to be no threat--something that, though not among the majority of mudcatters, was undecided 40 years ago.

DougR may be right that it's brought up just as a ploy of dirty politics but..if so..republicans have learned NOTHING in the last decade. There is no moral scandle so vile as to sway a democrat from voting democrat. The only moral, personal, or military scandle that has the possibility of gaining traction in today's politics is one involving a republican.

On the surface that may sound inflamatory but I think it's accurate. I can think of any number of shamed republicans and only one democrat (Don Rostenkowski) who ever payed a price for public scandle--maybe Hart..though he just didn't know that he could have continued..he just withdrew.

I had three older brothers drafted from '69-'72, one of whom went to VN. I would CO if given the same set of circustances, but I have the benefit of hindsight.