Posted on 05/17/2004 11:16:21 AM PDT by jmstein7
Twelve out of a group of nineteen Vietnam swift boat veterans pictured in Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign literature demanded on Monday that he stop misrepresenting them as supporters.
"Many of us don't want to be included in that picture because we have a rather unsavory feeling about this fellow," Kerry swift boatmate Bob Elder told nationally syndicated radio host Linda Chavez.
Citing the top Democrat's anti-war activities after he returned from Vietnam, Elder told Chavez, "We regard the fact that he rallied the American public against his fellow comrades in arms as basically a betrayal of all of us."
Swift boat veteran Bill Shumadine, who's also pictured in the campaign literature, told the Liberty Broadcasting host that he didn't want to be associated with Kerry in any way, calling his conduct after the war "very offensive."
"Having my picture there it appears that I somehow support his cause," Shumadine explained, adding, "It's not something that I'm proud to be associated with."
Elder, Shumadine and ten others have banded together in a group they call "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth," which includes more than 220 Vietnam veterans who served in Kerry's unit.
Of the remaining six veterans pictured in the photograph, "one is deceased and three do not wish to be involved in any manner; only two of the 19 are believed to support Kerry," the group said in a Monday press release.
"His use of a photograph with his 18 comrades with knowledge that 12 of them condemn him . . . is a complete misrepresentation to the public and a total fraud," Shumadine added.
Elder told Chavez that the group of twelve included not only Kerry's boat mates, but two of his superior officers who joined in condemning Democratic presidential candidate.
He noted also that at a press conference Friday in Washington, the group was joined by Jim Zumwalt, son of the late Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, former chief of naval operations during the Vietnam war.
"Even Jim Zumwalt, on his father's behalf, joined us in condemning the activities of John, saying they do not make this man a fit candidate for Commander in Chief," Elder told Chavez.
In an open letter to Kerry included with the press release, the group said, "We did not give permission for you to use a photo including our image, nor do we support you. . . We join our fellow Swiftees who believe that someone who heaped scorn and lies on his own unit for his personal political gain is not fit to be Commander in Chief."
Does anybody have a copy of the picture.
lol ... if it was about bush it would be.
What do you want to bet that Kerry doesn't give a "flying swift boat" about the truth?
The Swift Boat vets relayed to friends after the news conference that the Kerry campaign threatened to have their tax exempt status revoked if they went public. This has been completely missed or covered up by journalists. Remember at the start of the news conference, when one of the guys said, "you don't mess with (or threaten) Swiftees!" ??? That is to what he referred. They created a sub-organization to keep themselves within legal limits.
Ping
What's missing from this news item is a response from Kerry's campaign, or any mention that a response was requested.
Excellent.
"Good for them! I hope they get heard by the general public soon."
A full front photo in the link given in post #30. But it's rather small.
Here it is a bit bigger. Notice he's the one in the middle, holding up his limp wrist, lol. Shame on me for saying that...nah.
Actually, it's 8.7%. Two of 19 officers in the photo, and none of the four who were out on patrol.
2 of 23 overall, and they both work for the Kerry campaign...
Click here for more details...
Some of those photos belong to the Navy - they can be used for anything. That's how HCI wound up using Travis' photo in an anti-gun ad.
bttt!
Maybe, but it's still a sleazy lie.
Dude, it was funny as all heck. Especially given EFAD.
It would go like this.
The first photo is one in which John Kerry is pictured with the men he served with. The next picture excludes those who oppose Kerry's candidacy.
"They could make a great anti Kerry ad out of this situation.
It would go like this.
The first photo is one in which John Kerry is pictured with the men he served with. The next picture excludes those who oppose Kerry's candidacy."
Where is Registered anyways?
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