Courage

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Once upon a time, combat-veterans-turned-politicians tried to impugn the character of their draft-dodging opponents by drawing attention to their selfish, unpatriotic behavior during wartime.

No more. Now the tables are turned.

Saxby Chambliss, GOP Senate nominee in Georgia is trying to trash the character of incumbent Senator Max Clelland. Here's how Jeff Berry tells it:

In a recent press release, Chambliss accused his opponent of "breaking his oath to protect and defend the Constitution" because Cleland had voted "yes" on a routine Chemical Weapons Treaty amendment allowing inspectors from neighboring nations like Syria and Iran to serve on U.N. inspection teams in Iraq.

For those of you unfamiliar with Senator Clelland, he is a Vietnam vet, a recipient of the Bronze and Silver stars. He lost his legs and and his right arm in a grenade explosion during the siege of Khe Sanh after he volunteered to serve his country as an Army officer. Berry continues:

Saxby Chambliss had a bad knee. In fact, his knee is so bad he told his draft board on two occasions in the 1960s that he was unable to serve in the military during the Vietnam War. This was after he'd already sought a student deferment so he could attend law school.