Most followers of John Kerry's purported Cambodian escapades have found him retailing the story of the illegal Christmas raid up until 1992. However, a reader has forwarded us a link to this June 1, 2003 Washington Post profile of Kerry by Laura Blumenfeld that demands a second look in light of the current controversy: "John Kerry: Hunter, dreamer, realist." Blumenfeld concludes the profile with a telling anecdote:

A close associate hints: There's a secret compartment in Kerry's briefcase. He carries the black attaché everywhere. Asked about it on several occasions, Kerry brushed it aside. Finally, trapped in an interview, he exhaled and clicked open his case.

"Who told you?" he demanded as he reached inside. "My friends don't know about this."

The hat was a little mildewy. The green camouflage was fading, the seams fraying.

"My good luck hat," Kerry said, happy to see it. "Given to me by a CIA guy as we went in for a special mission in Cambodia."

Kerry put on the hat, pulling the brim over his forehead. His blue button-down shirt and tie clashed with the camouflage. He pointed his finger and raised his thumb, creating an imaginary gun. He looked silly, yet suddenly his campaign message was clear: Citizen-soldier. Linking patriotism to public service. It wasn't complex after all; it was Kerry.

He smiled and aimed his finger: "Pow."

Pow? Is that what Kerry was doing with those ears of corn? Is it time to conclude that this guy leads an overactive fantasy life for an aspiring commander-in-chief?

HINDROCKET adds: I've been thinking of Kerry as the Manchurian Candidate. Is is time to start seeing him as Walter Mitty instead? And is this better, or worse? For those who may not remember exactly who Walter Mitty was, we discussed him here and here.

One more thing: Kerry was so proud of this Washington Post piece that he posted it on his campaign web site, CIA hat and all.

UPDATE: Reader Phillip Bennett writes that the linked Washington Post article "seems to have been pulled from the WaPo website. Do you get the feeling that Big Media is pretty much willing to do anything to bury this story?" Click here for the relevant page of another version of the WaPo article.

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