When do we believe Kerry…and when don't we?

This election year's dilemma is not whether to believe the Democrats running for office, but when. Here are some handy guidelines:

If a former Democratic National Security Adviser and proposed Secretary of State finds highly-classified documents in his underwear criticizing Clinton's handling of terrorist plots it's politically motivated on the part of the Republicans.

If John Kerry claims he's the "Veterans' Candidate," he was just kidding when he labeled families attempting to find their relatives in Vietnam, "Dime-store Rambos, just in it for the money." He did so as chairman of the Senate Select Committee on POW-MIA issues in 1991-93, not to insult them, but to "normalize relations" with Communist Vietnam.

If John Kerry says that he's a consummate Peacenik, he was just kidding when promoting his own battle medals in Vietnam so he could go home and "testify" about the atrocities he committed.

If John Kerry brags about being a better Wartime President, he was just kidding about being a consummate Peacenik.

If John Kerry states he has a better plan for winning the War on Terror that would save American troops' lives, but he won't tell you what it is, he was just kidding about being the Veterans' Candidate.

If John Kerry tells you he's going to "punish" U.S. corporations that outsource jobs from America, he was just kidding about being married to Teresa Heinz.

When Teresa Heinz Kerry diverts part of the $4 million she's given to the Tides Foundation to fund Ruckus Society's anarchist at the Republican National Convention, she was just kidding about being married to John Kerry.

When prison photos are leaked from an ongoing military investigation, turning world opinion against America, it's good politics. When details of a criminal investigation regarding internal espionage by high-ranking Democrats are revealed, it's bad politics.

Got it…?

J.B. Stone

Whitefish