If one is a Republican:

President Clinton is a "draft dodger" because he consciously avoided the draft during Vietnam.

Vice-President Cheney is excused for multiple draft deferments during the same period because he had "other priorities".

Governor Bush is also OK because he got a rich boy's buy into the Air National Guard, which was touted as military service equal to John McCain's, or equal enough. "Honorable" is the word I believe was used during the campaign.

Senator Kerry volunteered for active duty, served in a combat zone, was praised by his commanding officers, and was decorated for wounds suffered in the line of duty. When he uses this piece of personal history in his campaign, to show his patriotism, he's bringing up something that's irrelevant. It was relevant when Clinton didn't go, but Kerry's voluntary service is irrelevant.

This is part of Kerry's resume.

If Bush can use his National Guard service to prove his patriotism, Kerry can do the same. Kerry can also point to comments made about his performance by his superior officers as an indicator of leadership ability. If Bush wishes to find similar comments from his superior officers, he may use those as well.

The Democrats were not the ones that turned military service into a benchmark of patriotism and a campaign issue originally. Now the Democrats have a candidate with a better war record than have the Republicans (who politicized this point when Clinton was running). The Republicans made this an issue; now they're going to have to suck it up and be gracious. Or at least suck it up.