Posted on 08/05/2004 2:31:25 PM PDT by Grig
HUMAN EVENTS has obtained a copy of a letter which lawyers for the Democratic National Committee and John Kerry have sent to television station managers attempting to suppress the blistering anti-Kerry TV spot created by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and first reported here on HumanEventsOnline.com.
The letter claims the ad is "false" and "libelous" and suggests, in not-so-subtle terms, that TV stations should use their "legal authority" to refuse any requests for advertising airtime, stating that "because your station has this freedom [to refuse the ad], and because it is not a 'use' of your facilities by a clearly identified candidate, your station is responsible for the false and libelous charges made by this sponsor" (emphasis added).
As their first piece of evidence of the ad's supposed lies, the DNC/Kerry lawyers claim that the veterans in the ad "purport to have served on Senator Kerry's SWIFT Boat in Vietnam" but, "in fact, not a single one of the men who pretend to have served with Senator Kerry was actually a crewmate of Senator Kerry's." The problem is that none of these men claimed to have served on Kerry's SWIFT Boat. They simply said they "served with John Kerry" -- and they did.
The letter goes on to make several more misleading statements about the advertisement, in an attempt to protect Kerry's "war hero" record. Read the full text below.
IF someone on EITHER side were to try to run ads with blatant lies, then they deserve to be shut down -
Truth is fair game!
And the rats are just getting warmed up.
Ummmm .. Aren't these men the same men in the picture that Kerry USED FOR HIS AD AND CONVENTION MOVIE????
The Great One (Mark Levin) has one of these guys on right now. WABC online for anyone who wants to listen.
No doubt that the ad will turn some off. However, the truly open minded will be stimulated enough to buy or learn about the contents of the group's upcoming book. I know I'm buying it as soon as it is available. Besides, open minded people are going to wonder why sKerry is behaving so defensively. Defensive people tend to have a good reason for being defensive.
I just viewed the Ad and it is stronger than death, Kerry is sunk!
" In fact, not a single one of the men who pretend to have served with Senator Kerry was actually a crewmate of Senator Kerry's"
They only claimed they served with him, and they did.
"and the man pretending to be his doctor was not."
He only claimed he treated the wound, not that he was Kerry's doctor.
"Not a single on of these men served on either of Senator Kerry's two SWIFT Boats (PCF 44 & PCF 94). "
Misdirection. They served with Kerry and Kerry knows it. Kerry uses a group photo that includes them to parade his service in Vietnam.
"Further, the "doctor" who appears in the ad, Louis Letson,"
Hmmmmmmm.... The name in the ad is LEWIS, not Louis.
"was not the doctor who actually signed Senator Kerry's sick call sheet. In fact, another physician actually signed Senator Kerry's sick call sheet. Letson is not listed on any document as having treated Senator Kerry after the December 2, 1968 firefight."
How about you release all your military records so we can check that out?
"The statements made by the phoney "crewmates" and "doctor" who appear in the advertisement are also totally, demonstrably and unequivocally false, and libellous."
So sue them, if you dare. You cetainly give them grounds to sue you in this letter.
"These are serious allegations of actual crimes - specifically, of lying to the United States Government in the conduct of its official business. "
Yup, and the charges will stick.
"And yet these reckless charges of criminal conduct are offered without support or authentication"
Just wait for the book.
"Your station is not obligated to accept this advertisement for broadcast nor is it required to account in any way for its decision to reject such an advertisement."
Except to your viewers.
The issue here is not how the Swifties funded their website. The issue, and the goal of all good journalists, should be the truth. The Navy keeps records of injuries to its officers and riverine engagements that allegedly involve 5,000 yards of enemy fire. These records will show whether the Senator did in fact have a severe bleeding wound on his arm, as he claims, or a mere contusion, as the Swifties claim. The records will also contain reports of the extent of damage to the vessels involved in the engagement and of injuries to other personnel. These reports will lend credence to the claims of the Swifties or those of the Senator. The Senator's medical records will clarify whether he was injured by shrapnel or flying rice or both, the extent and nature of his injuries, and who his treating physicians were. The commendation records will show who recommended the Senator for the Bronze Star and the information on which that recommendation was based.
If there is a shred of integrity left in American media, our national news organizations will pursue these records with at least the avidity they demonstrated when one aging, retired officer mentioned to one journalist that he did not recall seeing George Bush during his service in Alabama.
John Kerry has made four months in Vietnam a defining theme in his political career. His claims in this regard are now subject to a credible challenge by more than 200 men who served in his unit. We need the truth. We can handle the truth.
The Sick Call sheet was signed HM-1 a Hospital Mate, the Dr. clarified that this morning on Neal Boortz. The Dr. described the wound perfectly.
A "make sure you see the faxes here" Ping
:)
The one where they "tactically" discuss that they will drop calling the communist gooks "Viet Cong" or "North Vietnamese". Oh nooooooo...they had better switch their propaganda (to be more palatable to dumb Americans) by calling communist forces and communist governments the "PRG" and the "DRV". What drivel! What a bunch of TRAITORS!!!
BUMP!
Try here:
http://www.swiftvets.com/
I really, really, really, wish these two idiots would have sent one of my client's this letter.
Precisely! These lawyers should be sued by the vets.
I think it has escaped a lot of people that the guys in the video are, for the more part, people who are in the photo on the Kerry site.
Send a FAX to the ambulance chasing POS
I was mulling some of the principles myself: truth being a defense, public figure. Wondering, frankly, if Kerry can't sue as a public figure (absent malice - no, not that kind), how can he or his agents sue a third party who doesn't represent the ad as theirs or who add a disclaimer? I haven't litigated libel so.....
But with regard to the tactic being used, surely those of us with some legal training and experience can step up to the plate and offer these guys some help, hey?
I saw some of it on Hannity & Colmes last night. If the word got out, the "s" would hit the fan all over America. The Kerry camp will probably be able to squash it with the help of the media . . . or spin the story to make Kerry look good.
Swift Boat Veterans For Truth Responds To Senator McCain
Thu Aug 05 2004 17:10:20 ET
"Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has more than 250 members, many of whom were wounded or highly decorated in Vietnam.
We purchased with our blood and service the right to be heard, to set the record straight about our unit, and to tell the truth about John Kerry's military service record.
We respect Senator McCain's right to express his opinion and we hope he extends to us the same respect and courtesy, particularly since we served with John Kerry, we knew him well and Senator McCain did not."
Rear Admiral Roy Hoffmann (ret.), Founder and Chairman of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.
I say we need to fully support these guys -- McCain needs to shut the hell up.
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