Kerry: "What a small man"

Showing a surprising consistency (all the way back to January 30), Senator John Kerry has said he will sign a Form 180 to have his Navy records released and called on the people who have "challenged" him to do the same with theirs (Meet the Press Transcript for Jan. 30 )

"MR. RUSSERT:  Many people who've been criticizing you have said:  Senator, if you would just do one thing and that is sign Form 180, which would allow historians and journalists complete access to all your military records.  Thus far, you have gotten the records, released them through your campaign.  They say you should not be the filter.  Sign Form 180 and let the historians...

SEN. KERRY:  I'd be happy to put the records out.  We put all the records out that I had been sent by the military.  Then at the last moment, they sent some more stuff, which had some things that weren't even relevant to the record. So when we get--I'm going to sit down with them and make sure that they are clear and I am clear as to what is in the record and what isn't in the record and we'll put it out.  I have no problem with that.

MR. RUSSERT:  Would you sign Form 180?

SEN. KERRY:  But everything, Tim...

MR. RUSSERT:  Would you sign Form 180?

SEN. KERRY:  Yes, I will.  But everything that we put in it, Tim--everything we put in--I mean, everything that was out was a full documentation of all of the medical records, all of the fitness reports.  And I'd call on those who have challenged me, let's see their records.  I want to see the records of each of those people who have put up a challenge, because some of them have some serious questions in them, and it hasn't been appropriate...

MR. RUSSERT:  So they should sign Form 180s for themselves as well?

SEN. KERRY:  You bet."

Now the Best of the Web Today" reports that yesterday's Boston Globe published a lengthy interview with Mr. Kerry in which he repeated the same demand:

Kerry also is continuing his feud with the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth:

The furor over military credentials hasn't ended with the campaign. Kerry pledged to sign Form 180, releasing all of his military records, but challenged his critics, including Bush, to do the same.

''I want them to sign it, I want [swift boat veterans] John O'Neill, Roy Hoffmann, and what's their names, the guys on the other boat," Kerry said. ''I want their records out there. They have made specific allegations about my record, I know things about their records, I want them out there. I'm willing to sign it, to put all my records out there. I'm willing to sign it, but I want them to sign it, too."

Kerry later confirmed that his decision to sign the form is not conditional on any others signing, but he expressed lingering bitterness over double standards on military service.

'Let me make this clear: My full military record has been made public," Kerry said. ''All of my medical records and all of my fitness reports, every fitness report involving each place I served, is public. Where are George Bush's still? Where are his military records? End of issue."

(emphasis added)

None of the "challengers" to Mr. Kerry's war record were running for public office, as he was. And certainly none of them made their "heroism" the focus of the campaign, as he did. All of this reveals, for the umpteenth time, what a very small man Mr. Kerry is.

And all he had to do was sign a form that will, according to him, reveal that all of his records have been released.

What a small, small man.