Kokesh needs to address the smears directly [Archive]

ronpaulhawaii

03-12-2010, 11:23 AM

we have been working on it from many angles. This was posted when the hate campaign first started

http://www.kokeshforcongress.com/posts/whisper-campaigns

From the absurd to the twisted, the attacks on me have been coming with increasing frequency lately, and we welcome them. When you are truly challenging the established order, there will always be a pushback. While some of the attacks of a personal nature have been disturbing, at the same time, it is very reassuring to know that we are being attacked because we have become a credible threat!

Because I have stood up for my principles and the Constitution even when it was unpopular within the Republican Party, some of my past activism is being used against me. My record has been distorted and outright lies have been fabricated to discredit me. Some bloggers have even claimed that I was never in Iraq! To set the record straight, I have confronted these attacks directly and posted my DD214 just to put the issue to rest. I have not made my military resume central to the campaign because it would not be fair to my opponents, neither of whom have ever served our country in uniform.

Some of those who have attacked me are telling voters to look me up online and have been emailing them links to sites with some of the most heinous lies and distortions. But they are playing New Mexico voters for fools, and it's not working. Most of the people who really do their homework on my record end up agreeing with me on most issues, if not becoming full converts to the Constitutional philosophy! Some of them are now among our most active supporters!

ronpaulhawaii

03-12-2010, 11:39 AM

Thanks :) - here is the second part of the above response

http://kokeshforcongress.com/accusations

1. "Adam Kokesh never served in Iraq and is a phony veteran."

False. Despite all of the photos of me in Iraq that have been posted in a variety of places online including numerous credible news outlets, some people still think the best way to discredit me is to say that I never served in Iraq. So here is my favorite photo from my time in Iraq and you can see my final DD214 at the bottom of this page.

2. "Adam Kokesh protested his country in uniform."

False. This is a gross distortion of a street theater action that I performed with a group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans on Capitol Hill to raise awareness among lawmakers whom we felt were out of touch with the reality of what was going on in Iraq. To say that this was "protesting America" is not only untrue, but unamerican. Part of what makes America great is that we know the difference between our great country and our corrupt government, and we celebrate when the American people stand up to corrupt forces in our government. While reenacting parts of our experiences in Iraq, we made it clear that we were not wearing official uniforms and that we were only representing ourselves, not the DoD, or any other branch of the government. There had already been a Supreme Court case affirming the legality of what we were doing, and we had a permit from the US Capitol Police.

3. "Adam Kokesh admitted to drug abuse on his blog."

Distortion. When I got back from Iraq and was dealing with PTSD, I occasionally turned to alcohol. Because I had the help of a number of veterans, some of whom became members of the peer support group that I started for vets with PTSD and other readjustment issues, I was able to quit drinking entirely. I was also given a number of prescription drugs by the VA to deal with anxiety and used Xanax "as needed" to deal with stress. Because lots of veterans have dealt with similar issues and we have now lost more veterans to suicide than we have to combat in the Global War on Terror, I was motivated to address these issues head on and discuss them frankly on my blog. Fortunately, I was able to help many veterans as a result.

4. "Adam Kokesh is a communist, a socialist, and a liberal!"

False. I have always had a deep-seated belief in freedom and the US Constitution. This charge comes from the fact that in the course of my activism, I have worked with people who hold a wide range of beliefs, including some from the extremes on "both sides." I am proud of the fact that I can work with people who disagree with me and stay true to my beliefs. Because I am running as a Republican, some have tried to use some of the liberals that I have worked with against me, but I am particularly proud of the fact that in the course of working with people who disagree with me, I was able to expose and even convert many of them to the philosophy of freedom! As your Congressman, I will be able to work with a wide range of people on pressing issues to further the ideals of freedom.

5. "Adam Kokesh brought a gun back from Iraq."

True. It was a war souvenir that I brought back from Iraq in violation of general order 1A as issued by CENTCOM. When it was discovered by the Marines, I was immediately straightforward with my unit commander about what happened and I took my punishment like a Marine.

6. "Adam Kokesh isn't even a Republican!"

False! This one is just silly. Those trying to pass this off are the types that believe if you don't worship the party leadership, you're not welcome in the party. Obviously, I'm not a mainstream Republican and I have had major issues with the party leadership, especially when they ignore their own base and support unconstitutional big government policies like bailouts, No Child Left Behind, and prescription drug programs. Those Republicans who believe in Ronald Reagan's advice to be the party of "big tent, smaller government" have been very welcoming of my candidacy and realize that I am just the kind of Republican who can win in this left-leaning district!

7. "Adam Kokesh broke the law by not paying taxes."

False. I have filed all necessary tax forms. For a time after I was discharged, my reportable income was below the threshold because I was in school, working with charities, and I did not file a return. I have since filed a return to get some of my taxes back and settle the issue. I have spoken out against the income tax and believe there are better ways for us to invest in our communities. I ensured I gave back to the community by founding a group home for OIF/OEF veterans, initiated a peer-to-peer counseling program for veterans, and other volunteer activities that contributed to society more effectively than the federal government. This is another one of those absurd accusations that seems to be getting around despite the fact that it would be near impossible to campaign around this large district, talking to thousands of people, with the IRS chasing me down!

8. "Adam Kokesh used inappropriate language when addressing an officer."

True. What is usually not mentioned is that I had already been discharged at the time and was no longer subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. I did use inappropriate language in defending myself when the Marine Corps Mobilization Command threatened my right to speak out as a veteran. When I met the officer in person, I was able to make amends. Many veterans came to my support during that time. "Trying to hush up and punish fellow Americans for exercising the same democratic right we're trying to instill in Iraq is not what we're all about," said Gary Kurpius, national commander of the 2.4 million-member Veterans of Foreign Wars. In some ways, I spoke from a deep frustration from not finding adequate justification for my life being on the line in Iraq. While many of them are not actively speaking out, when the vast majority of Iraq vets wanted us out years ago, I am glad that I did what I could to give our shared frustration a voice.