The Vietnam Problem

A commentator on the radio pointed out that Vietnam service has been a negative for political careers:

• Bob Kerrey's career took a severe hit when he was accused of war crimes in Vietnam.
  
• McCain's time in a POW camp was used against him by his opponents, who quietly whispered "it made him crazeee...."
• John Kerry, who volunteered, served two tours, was wounded in action - lost in part because of a concerted effort to discredit his war record. Bob Kerrey eloquently defended Kerry's service, but it didn't help much.
  

All of these guys lost to draft dodgers of various stripes. Lest we forget, Gray Davis won a bronze star in Vietnam, and lost his governorship to an Austrian film actor who in 1968 was mainlining steroids in preparation for the Mr. Europe contest.