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April 01, 2009

I Actually Did Sign the SF-180, Before I Didn't Sign It

Earlier this month, we reported that it had been 100 days since John Kerry promised to sign Standard Form 180 (SF-180). The Boston Globe is reporting that according to Senator Kerry, he has signed it.

During an interview yesterday with Globe editorial writers and columnists, the former Democratic presidential nominee was asked if had signed Form SF 180, authorizing the Department of Defense to grant access to all his military records.

''I have signed it," Kerry said. Then, he added that his staff was ''still going through it" and ''very, very shortly, you will have a chance to see it."

The devil is usually in the details. With Kerry, it's also in the dodges and digressions. After the interview, Kerry's communications director, David Wade, was asked to clarify when Kerry signed SF 180 and when public access would be granted. Kerry drifted over to join the conversation, immediately raising the confusion level. He did not answer the question of when he signed the form or when the entire record will be made public.

This all just doesn't make much sense. If his staff is still going through it (implying that the form is not all in order), why on earth would he sign it? You don't sign a check until the payee and the amount are written, and with good reason. Why sign the SF-180 if you don't really mean it to be filed and your records subsequently opened?

In all likelihood, the form is not signed, this is merely a "see, I fulfilled my promise, I signed the form!" moment, all without really signing the form. This is a sneaky delay tactic. Soon, we'll hear that there was some issue with the form, or a staff member lost it, or some ridiculous excuse, and it will be another 100 days before the next one is "signed."

No one is falling for it.

Hat tip: Blogs For Bush

Posted by Aaron at April 1, 2009 12:00 AM

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