The caveat emperor

The Boston Globe

America Held Hostage: Day 114

John Kerry met with the Boston Globe's editorial board yesterday, and was asked the question that's on everyone's mind, or at least the mind of everyone who gets his kicks by cruelly tormenting ex-presidential candidates. Columnist Joan Vennochi has the story:

John Kerry is releasing all his military records--but then again, he isn't. . . . The former Democratic presidential nominee was asked if had signed Form SF 180, authorizing the Department of Defense to grant access to all his military records.

''I have signed it," Kerry said. Then, he added that his staff was ''still going through it" and ''very, very shortly, you will have a chance to see it."

The devil is usually in the details. With Kerry, it's also in the dodges and digressions. After the interview, Kerry's communications director, David Wade, was asked to clarify when Kerry signed SF 180 and when public access would be granted. Kerry drifted over to join the conversation, immediately raising the confusion level. He did not answer the question of when he signed the form or when the entire record will be made public.

Several e-mails later, Wade conveyed the following information: On Friday, May 20, Kerry obtained a copy of Form 180 and signed it. ''The next step is to send it to the Navy, which will happen in the next few days. The Navy will then send out the records," e-mailed Wade. Kerry first said he would sign Form 180 when pressed by Tim Russert during a Jan. 30 appearance on ''Meet the Press."

Kerry reiterated that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth did not tell the truth about him, and said: "The truth in its entirety will come out . . . the truth will come out."

After all this waiting, it better be good.

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