Posted on 08/06/2004 6:50:20 AM PDT by FlyLow
WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- The Democratic National Committee quickly responded to ads that began airing this week which question Sen. John Kerry's (D-MA) military record. Lawyers for the DNC and the Kerry campaign sent a letter to station managers across the country advising them that their stations could be held "responsible for the false and libelous charges" made in the ads.
Several members of over 250 Vietnam veterans who make up a group known as Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (web site) appear in the ad, claiming that Kerry lied about certain aspects of his four months of combat duty. One of the veterans in the ad says that Kerry didn't deserve one of the three Purple Hearts that enabled him to return early to the United States.
Many of the group were wounded in combat or are highly decorated veterans themselves. They are resisting the attempt by Democrats to suppress their side of the story.
Rear Admiral Roy Hoffmann (ret.), founder and chairman of the organization, said, "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."
The ad campaign comes in advance of the August 15 release of a book written by another member of the group, John O'Neill. His book, "Unfit for Command," argues that Kerry's conduct in Vietnam as well as his anti-war activities following his early out disqualify him from being commander-in-chief. O'Neill debated Kerry on the Dick Cavett Show in 1971 about the Vietnam War.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, told the Associated Press that he thought the ads went too far.
Hoffmann responded, "We respect Sen. 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."
Still, the Arizona Republican urged the White House to disavow the ads that he called "dishonest and dishonorable." But McCain had harsh words for his future senate colleague in 1973 when he wrote an article for the U.S. News & World Report. McCain said that the communist captors who held him at the infamous Hanoi Hilton for five years tried to demoralize him with the public statements of Kerry and other Democrats including Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) who talked of war crimes committed by U.S. soldiers.
McCain said, "All through this period [they] were bombarding us with anti-war quotes from people in high places back in Washington. This was the most effective propaganda they had to use against us."
The White House denied any involvement in the ad or the 527 group that produced it.
White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said, "We have not and we will not question Senator Kerry's service in Vietnam."
"The president has been on the receiving end of more than $62 million in negative attacks from shadowy groups," McClellan added. "The president is calling for an immediate cessation to all the unregulated soft money activity."
McClellan was referring to the ads from 527 groups like MoveOn.org that have waged a brutal and relentless anti-Bush campaign for nearly a year. Billionaire financier George Soros has contributed $15 million to these groups for the specific purpose of driving Bush from the White House.
He said, "I think that this is another example of the problem with the unregulated soft money activity that is going on. The president thought he got rid of this kind of unregulated soft money when he signed the bipartisan campaign finance reforms into law."
But the Federal Election Commission failed to deal with the loophole in the law when it had the opportunity earlier this year. Vice chairman Ellen Weintraub, a former Democratic counsel to the House Ethics Committee who was chosen for the commission by Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), recommended against taking action before the November election. The FEC's inaction led to massive amounts of "soft money" flowing into the 527 groups that are virtually unregulated.
This is the first legal action suggested from either party in regard to statements made by 527s. Earlier this year, the MoveOn.org web site featured a commercial where Adolf Hitler morphs into President Bush. The Republican National Committee complained about the ad, but no legal action was taken.
A copy of the DNC letter to station managers can be found at Human Events Online (web site).
Additional information about Kerry's anti-war activities can be found at WinterSoldier.com (web site).
Do we need to bring back out the "crying baby" Democratic logo from 2000??
The Rats just cannot stand the truth being told and will do anything in their power to put a stop to it.
Democrats believe in free speech for themselves, porn peddlers, filth like Michael Moore and assorted hollywood filth. For the rest of us, free political speech is a no-no. What jerks.
Unfit for Duty
A revealing incident about John Kerry that shows what this man’s character is about is the section in John Kerry’s autobiography about Christmas in Cambodia 1968. During that time Cambodia was a neutral country and it was a violation of international law to conduct operations and wage a war in Cambodian territory. Kerry tells a story in great detail in his autobiography “Tour of Duty” about being sent to conduct operations in Cambodia on Christmas Eve 1968. He later tells the same tale on the floor of the Senate. During the telling of this Christmas tale about being ordered to conduct illegal operations in Cambodia in 1968 he demonizes Richard Nixon. He was a young lieutenant following orders from an immoral Commander in Chief and his superior officers that passed the order on to Lt. Kerry. He knew it was wrong but dutifully followed orders. He goes on to claim that this incident was a turning point in his life. It was an incident that led him to oppose Richard Nixon and the entire Viet Nam War.
There are two flaws in this story. The first flaw in the story is the steadfast denial by any member of Kerry’s unit that they ever got within fifty miles of Cambodia. The revealing fact about Kerry’s character is while he demonized Nixon for ordering him to conduct the illegal operation on Christmas Eve 1968; Richard Nixon would not take office for three more weeks. Lyndon Johnson was President of the United States on December 25th 1968.
Do you think there is a possibility that John Kerry will make an apology to his superior officers, to his Senate colleagues and correct his denunciation of Richard Nixon? Probably not, John Kerry is a liar and an opportunist.
That is different, Democrats do not mind seeing the distortion of Truth by Moore, because it serves their purpose...But the TRUTH from the Swift Boat Veterans, they want to cover up, in the cloak of darkness.
Link to yesterday's Freerublic postings concerning this topic;
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1185696/posts
hey, freepers. you people rock! The spin on this story has been unbelievable. Is it even being reported on TV?
So what's changed?
Is McCain shacking up with Rodney "Can't we all just get along" King?
Many political pundits have state Kerry basically has a "glass jaw politically" meaning he cant' handle any type of negative comments directed his way.
When I consider the thousands of hours of Bush Bashing thats been broadcast for the last 18 months....I can't help but note what a complete and total wuss Kerry is.
If there was ever a question as to which man is tougher mentally and politically, Kerry just inadvertently supplied the answer.
Wrong moment in history for a guy that wants to be "sensitive" towards those that want to kill us all, Conservative or Liberal, Democrat or Republican, Libertarian or Independent, Black or White, Those of Faith or those that have none, male of female.
Sick Teraaaayza on them!
Ye shall know the truth! And the truth shall make ye mad!.....
It's being reported as partisan lies financed by Bush supporters. They say the vets didn't serve on Kerry's boat, or under him, or whatever, and don't mention that they were his SUPERIOR officers. They act like Kerry hardly knew the swifties who are against him, yet they are the very guys pictured in Kerry's website who Kerry claims are his "band of brothers". They mention that all of Kerry's "shipmates" butone support him - true, but all his superiors but one DON'T. Do you suppose they're ALL partisan Republicans? All 19 of them? They asked Kerry to remove the picture months ago, but he refused. Welcome to FR.
Below is a copy of the E Mail I sent to Dick Morris about his interview on Bill OReily No Spin Zone.
"In your interview last night with Bill on the No Spin Zone you missed something that is very critical to the motivation of the Swift Boat Vets.
1. The United States Forces never lost one major battle in Vietnam.
2. The NVA regulars were devastated during the Tet Offensive.
3. General Giap (Commander of North Vietnamese Forces) wrote in his memoirs that after the Tet Offensive they considered the war lost and were considering halting the war. In his memoirs he also says the reason they did not pull out was the anti war protests in the United States. General Giap said their protests were essential for the North Vietnam victory in the war.
4.John Kerry was the leader of the anti war protests.
The anger many Vets feel for John Kerry is the fact he is the figurehead of the group that lead to our defeat in Vietnam. The United States was not defeated on the battle field but by television and the slanted coverage they gave the war, and the war protests. When they see John Kerry they also see their dead comrades in arms. They are bitter and angry because they served with honor and bravery and also buried their dead comrades, while John Kerry was calling them war criminals, rapists, murderers and worse. When they look at John Kerry they also ask themselves how many of their comrades died because of his actions and lies. They are angry and they deserve to be angry.
PS
Why in the hell do you think the War Museum in Saigon has a picture of John Kerry and explanations of the importance of the anti war protests. Mr. Morris you are a brilliant political stratagist. You totally missed the motivation of these people. Just as the media chooses to ignor Vietnam Vet Protestors at most of John Kerry's political stops. They hate him with a visceral white hot rage that has nothing to do with being Democrat, Republican or Independent.
Charles Dunifer"
He is in the same boat Hitlary. She HATES any criticism of her. Indicative of a shallow minded, egotisical maniac.
They can dish it out, but they sure can't take it. Crybaby, slimeball liberal-demokkkRATs.
Since most of the libtards have NEVER served on active duty, they have no idea that senior officers usually see their people on a weekly, if not, a daily basis. They knew that Hanoi John was damaged goods. Character flaws come out QUICKLY in streesful environments and sKerry is chock full of them!
Morris isa lot of things..including a toe-sucker, but he isn't brilliant...by a long shot..he has ONE god...today's most recent poll...and remember where he developed his poltical skills..
Totally empty threat from an empty suit.
Kerry is very much within the legal definition of a "public person", and in order to prove libel, Kerry's lawyers would have to prove that they knowingly lied, or showed a callous disregard for the truth. The publicity that would be generated from such a charge would be devastating to Kerry.
This old "vast rightwing conspiracy" charge every time somebody criticizes a Democrat has worn pretty thin... and after the whacking that Bush has taken from Kerry's surrogates like Michael Moore, Kerry is in a pretty weak position to complain that these other vets aren't being fair.
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