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In one of the most-ignored stories surrounding the Swift Boat Vets flap, the head of "Veterans for Kerry" is himself a former Vietnam war protester, who has known Kerry since 1971, and worked on each of his campaigns since 1984.

"Veterans for Kerry" was started by, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of, Kerry for President. It really isn't an organization at all, but the name of the Kerry campaign's outreach program to veterans, and it's head, picked by John Kerry, was indeed a veteran, but he first met Kerry when they were both war protesters.

The head of the group, John Hurley, a semi-retired Wellesley lawyer, works full-time for the Kerry campaign, and has worked on Kerry's previous campaigns dating back to at least 1984, by his own account. He also marched in the John Kerry/VVAW-organized "Dewey Canyon III" in 1971. (The medal-tossing protest.) Read for yourself:

http://www.drredwood.com/interviews/hurley.shtml

Hurley also has reportedly made calls to try to strong-arm people into changing their recollections of Kerry's VVAW past (such as his presence at the meeting discussing the plot to assassinate Senators):

http://daily.nysun.com/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:ArticleToMail&Type=text/html&Path=NYS/2004/03/22&ID=Ar00106

He even posted this note searching for one of Kerry's crew in November, 1996
- remember this when they suggest that Kerry's this "Band of Brothers" reassembled on their own:

http://www.vietvet.org/navy005.htm

In case it's purged later, here's what it says:

Trying to locate: Delbert "Del" Sandusky
Branch of Service: Navy
Unit was: swift boats
Where served: the Delta
When served: 1969

Message is: Trying to locate Delbert Sandusky for reunion of Swift Boat 94.
Call 617-235-2287
Please contact: John Hurley
Mailing address: 78 Longfellow Rd
City, State, Zip: Wellesley, MA 02181
Or send email to John Hurley using this automatic email form BQI@AOL.com

It doesn't say, "come work for John Kerry" - it says "trying to locate... for reunion." Why would an Army vet be trying organize a reunion with a Navy guy he'd never met? Obviously, this was a political recruitment - and a dishonest one.

While Swiftvets are grilled about whether they have ever voted for a Republican, and treated like stealth political operatives, every show I've seen John Hurley appear on - from Hyannity to Hardball to Scarborough - gives a free pass to the guy who actually is a political operative.

John Hurley is a longtime Democrat activist and John Kerry supporter. He is not part of any sort of spontaneously formed veterans group in support of Kerry, and it is very dishonest to allow him to present himself as anything other than what he is. Beyond that, his first meeting with Kerry was not in the service, but in the anti-war movement - a "Band of Others" with whom Kerry's strongest loyalties, it would seem, still lie.

Very nice piece of research. I have never ceased to be amazed at the abilities of Freepers with a computer and a phone line. Fantastic.

John / Billybob

Wonder how John Hurley voted in Kanas City? May be someone in the FBI or such Knows.

Great job, getting the dirt on that war protester Hurley.

This info should be sent to Rush, Sean, Savage and all the talk shows ASAP.

I need to re-check out the New Soldier.

Wow, good work.