FR Exclusive: AP SPIKES JOHN O'NEILL - SWIFT BOAT VETS STORY

Tuesday, May 4, 2004 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

The Associated Press has spiked reporting on the press conference this morning in Washington, D.C. by John O'Neill and Swift Boat Veterans for Truth where they accused fellow Vietnam veteran and Swift boat unit member Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the presumed Democratic party nominee for president, of being "unfit to be commander in chief."

The stunning revelation was confirmed by the AP's Washington bureau this evening. A spokeswoman for the AP stated that the wire service had sent a reporter to cover the press conference. However, she said the AP decided against running a news article about it because, "It does not further the anti-Kerry Vietnam veteran story any."

Call these numbers tomorrow, not tonight because you'll just get the night staff. The decision makers work the day shift. I've already called both bureaus this evening.

The phone number for the AP's Washington, D.C. bureau is (202) 776-9400.

The phone number for the AP's New York City headquarters is (212) 621-1500. Ask to speak to the president of AP as that is who the D.C. bureau chief anwers to.

[PhiKapMom]

Am the new President of the AOII Parents Club and finding out what is expected -- food for finals week is one of those tasks! Will be glad when Friday gets here!

[arasina]

You definitely don't want to miss this! Record it if you can't watch tonight. And have a box of tissue handy for some of it.

[onyx]

I'll expect a lot of your attention come Friday.

[Howlin]

He said that if Kerry was no longer the candidate, they would disappear.

[PhiKapMom]

Used to be at 10:00 CST which would be right now.

[Howlin]

Try the C=SPAN home page......watch and listen.......I bet you can get the feed there!

[PhiKapMom]

Just checked -- not at 10:00 CST anymore! Wonder if they switch in the middle of the night?

[Howlin]

Soon.......by midnight.

[Peach]

It was stunning. Their condemnation of Kerry rang true and makes Clinton look like a choirboy.

[Howlin]

What's Friday?

[Tatze]

AP decided against running a news article about it because, "It does not further the anti-Kerry Vietnam veteran story any."

But they happily report the "Bush was AWOL" line again, even though that horse was beaten to death at least twice already.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040427/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_medals_21

[deport]

I saw the latter part of it..... A little bit before the Q&A and some of the Q&A......

They really hammered Kerry and anyone thinking he's material for CinC doesn't have a clue, imo.

[PhiKapMom]

Definitely going to watch it later tonight! I have two friends that were killed in Vietnam and Kerry makes me seethe with his I am a Vietnam Vet and hero -- both killed AFTER Kerry joined the VVAW and testified!

[Jorge]

It also proves how scared the Kerry Camp is about this News Conference today

I agree. They don't know whether to promote Kerry as a Vietnam war hero, or to hope everybody forgets about the whole thing.

I am willing to bet there are FAR MORE Vets who resent what Kerry did when he came back from Vietnam than those who think he is a hero.

[Carolinamom]

These men not only served our country w/honor in the past, they serve it now w/this action and their patriotic concern for its future leadership.

[onyx]

PKM is finished with her new "duties" for this week,
and if we're lucky, she "might" find time to join us here.

[Interesting Times]

Did I ehar O'Neill correctly early in the presser when he said something liek he wanted to see Kerry withdraw as the nominee, or the dems nominate someone else. I was surprised that he'd make that statement.

That wasn't really his point. He was trying to dispel the claim that they're just partisan Republicans who want to undermine Kerry because he's a Democrat. The reason they are doing this is they don't think Kerry is fit to command, pure and simple.

[onyx]

From Vice Admirals to Seamen.
They have Kerry nailed.

[Howlin]

Frankly, I'm in a turmoil here, trying to convince myself that I didn't buy into some of the stereotypes Kerry made about people MY OWN AGE.....friends of mine, relatives.

This has hit me hard; I'm afraid I might have believed some of the crap he spewed! I'm afraid he and his merry band of thugs may have colored my perception of what went on over there.

I am greatly relieved that this is all coming out now; and I hope to God that the vets who have carried this on their shoulders for all these years will finally get their due -- and will forgive us.

[ken5050]

I undestand, and agree with you, and O'Neill..I mentioned it because it seemed like the one time in the program when he got "off message" and it was early in the program. Might have been nerves..It's one thing to say, as they all did, that they dont' want to see Kerry as CinC..It's another thing to say that the dems shoudl get a new candidate. THat's a political statement, and they're trying NOT to seem pollitical.