Charles Shiflett Column August 29, 2004

Would You Hire This Man?

Imagine you've been given the task of screening and interviewing candidates to fill the CEO position at a very
large organization. You've reviewed the applications and resumes, performed some background checks,
and now the first of two finalists has arrived for his interview.

Good morning Mr. Kerry. Please take your seat and we'll get started. Kerry: "First I'd like to say I served in
Vietnam and received three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star." Thank you Mr. Kerry, but we'll review your work
history in a moment - plus your Vietnam service involved only four months back in the 1960's.

You realize this position involves a great deal of fiduciary responsibility and we require copies of your tax
returns and a full financial disclosure of your assets, investments, and business relationships. If chosen, it's
vital there be no real or perceived conflicts of interest. In reviewing your documents, it appears a large
amount of your financial information is missing.

Kerry: "My wife Teresa does not believe she should have to release her information." But Mr. Kerry, the
majority of your real estate, investments, and other assets are held in her name and for our purposes are
considered joint assets. We have never had a problem with prior candidates and their spouses in this
regard. Kerry: "As I said, my wife refuses to release her information. However, I did serve in Vietnam." Fine
Mr. Kerry, we'll skip that issue for now.

Looking at your work history, it shows you have served for almost two decades in the U.S. Senate. In
reviewing the congressional record, we really couldn't find any prominent legislation you authored or
championed. What would you say is your most important legislative accomplishment of the past twenty
years? Kerry: "I was one of the key Senators who backed the bill which normalized relations between the
U.S. and Vietnam."

You have been heavily criticized for not regularly attending meetings of the Senate Committee on
Intelligence. Interestingly, your own web site stated you once served as vice-chairman of the committee.
However, we've learned another senator, a Bob Kerrey, served in that position - not you. Kerry: "Just an
honest mistake." Are there any other discrepancies in your record we should know about? Kerry: "I'm not
aware of any at this time."

How about any other legislative successes? Kerry: "Did I mention I served on a Swift Boat?" Yes, thank you
Mr. Kerry. Various congressional ratings groups have you rated as the most liberal of all one hundred U.S.
Senators - even more liberal than your fellow senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy. Any comment?
Kerry: "Teddy is a mainstream politician."

Speaking of Massachusetts… prior to serving in the senate, you served as Lt. Governor to then Governor
Michael Dukakis. Media reports from that time quote you as saying that as Lt. Governor you would not help
protect the citizens of Massachusetts in the event of a nuclear war. Kerry: "Let's talk about my service in
Vietnam."

During the 1970's, you were a prominent anti-war activist and served on the executive board of Vietnam
Veterans Against the War. At a meeting of the VVAW executive committee in Kansas City in November 1971,
the group discussed a plan to assassinate U.S. Senators who were in favor of the war. In your biography,
Tour of Duty, you claimed you had resigned from the VVAW prior to this meeting. However, an FBI
surveillance file on the meeting was recently obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. It shows you
were still on the executive board and participated in that meeting. Kerry: "I don't recall. Can we talk about my
Purple Hearts now?"

Since you were there, do you believe you had an obligation to report the assassination plot to law
enforcement afterward? This was a conspiracy to commit murder and you could have been found complicit
for failure to report it? Kerry: "I didn't support the assassination plan and it was abandoned. Look, I brought
along a copy of a military commendation I received and a picture of me with my medals."

Thank you Mr. Kerry. Speaking of your Vietnam service… only one of your fellow Swift Boat commanders who
served alongside you is supporting you in your quest for this job. Most of the others have been very critical of
you. Kerry: "They are all liars. I believe the other man seeking this job put them up to it." Roughly 200 of your
fellow Swift Boat veterans have signed a letter demanding that you fully release your military records. Is there
a reason why you won't? Kerry: "No comment."

Well Mr. Kerry, we'll make a decision in a few weeks. There are obviously a number of areas of your past we
need to examine more closely. Is there anything else you'd like to say before we conclude today? Kerry: "I
served in Vietnam and have three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. I'm John Kerry and I approve this
message." I'm sure you do Mr. Kerry. Thank you. We'll be in touch.