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Pressure tests the strength of men and material. Under pressure some men become great leaders, while others crumble. Under pressure some materials gain in strength and beauty, like carbon fusing into diamond, while others crumble into dust.

John Kerry is crumbling.

The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth are causing havoc within the Kerry campaign. When this story first broke I predicted that it was big trouble for Kerry. Indeed, it has become the focus of the campaign, and Kerry is not handling it well at all.

Over 250 Vietnam veterans have joined the group, and all have questioned one or more of Kerry's statements about Vietnam and/or his conduct there.

Kerry's response has been revealing to say the least.

Instead of addressing the substance of the complaints against him Kerry has chosen to attack the integrity of the men who made them (why does he question their patriotism?) and launch legal assaults on their Constitutional right to free speech.

Remember that the stories of the Swift Boat Veterans have not changed. We cannot say the same about John Kerry's stories. He claimed to be in Cambodia during Christmas of 1968 but when that was revealed to be a lie he changed it to "near Cambodia". He claimed that when a boat was hit by a mine, all the boats fled except for his, and when that was shown to be a lie he admitted that his boat was the only one that fled. How many other stories will be revealed to be lies in the future? What is clear is that his claims to be a fearless leader when under pressure are demonstrably false, whether in real time or retrospect. America does not need a leader who flees at the first sign of trouble.

It is bad enough that his past claims have proved to be untrustworthy. To make a bad situation worse Kerry has resorted to attacking those who have revealed his past stories to be lies. Is this how Kerry would run America? Would any political opposition to his programs be met with libel, slander and legal attacks? Is that why he picked a lawyer as his running mate?

John Kerry had the chance to define himself as a man of integrity and honor over this issue. Instead he has shown his true colors: he is a man without honor.

John Kerry has crumbled under the pressure.

It is a good thing voters have seen this now, instead of after he became President. While America's enemies would love to see a man who crumbles under pressure become President, the voters are too wise to make that choice. An America at war needs a strong leader. That man is not John Kerry.

Pressure tests the strength of men and material.

Instead of addressing the substance of the complaints against him Kerry has chosen to attack the integrity of the men who made them.

John Kerry has crumbled under the pressure.

An America at war needs a strong leader. That man is not John Kerry.