Posted on 08/06/2004 7:16:23 AM PDT by diotima
"Dishonest and dishonorable" is how John McCain described the attack ad now appearing on television in several swing states, courtesy of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Dishonest because the men who appear in the ad make false claims about John Kerry's wartime conduct and decorations. Dishonorable because these men have waited three decades to publicize their slurs, with partisan motives, during a presidential campaign.
**********SNIP SNIP SNIP********************
The hired help employed by the Swift Vets committee is thoroughly partisan, too. Aside from Spaeth and Thomas Rupprath, the private detective she recommended to provide research services, the group's IRS filing names several experienced Washington political operatives. The June 30 filing shows payments to Robert A. Hahn, a right-wing Internet activist and Web designer who also runs something called the Free Republic Network (apparently an affiliate of the extremist Free Republic Web site); and to Tom Wyld, a Navy veteran and former director of public relations for the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, the lobbying arm of the National Rifle Association.
The White House has deniability, to be sure, if charged with complicity in this campaign. The question is whether its deniability is plausible -- or risible.
As for the accuracy of the Republican veterans' accusations, they can be tested against the testimony of the men who served under Kerry's command -- all of whom but one have repeatedly endorsed his courage, his decency, and his candidacy. Denigration of Kerry's record should also be measured against the sterling evaluations that he received during the actual time of his service, including by Adm. Roy Hoffman, who now chairs the Swift Boat Veterans group.
No doubt the Republicans hope that attacking Kerry will distract from important issues they would prefer not to discuss or debate. But their campaign is backfiring, as drawing fresh attention to Vietnam does not flatter the candidate who avoided service there.
PING!
"No doubt the Republicans hope that attacking Kerry will distract from important issues they would prefer not to discuss or debate."
John Kerry "REPORTING FOR DUTY"
Ping!
Suddenly I feel like a rightwing Che.
Am I allowed to blow anything up?
We do manage to pi$$ off all the right people!
Lemme get this straight:
MoveOn.org, the Media Fund and those other lefty 527 groups can smear Bush and Cheney and that's okay. So far, ONE 527 group tells us about John Kerry and that's dishonorable?
Hmm. Must be some truth to the charges if these leftist crybaby are whining this much!
We are bad and we are nationwide.
Ping!
What is this Free Republic you speak of? My,my, it's almost as if the guy's trying to marginalize FR or something. If that's the kerry defense, he is in deep. They will have to do better than this.
"experienced political operative" LOLOL!
Extremist Bump!
Salon? Salon is still around?
Hannity predicted this ... not a word about Soros. Kerry made an issue of his service in Vietnam, he opened the invitation. That Conason doesn;t like what is being discovered is tough cookies.
Real issue: Are the charges true? How about inquiring into them?
THAT'S IT, I WON'T BE PART OF AN EXTREMIST WEB SITE, ESPECIALLY IF SALON TELLS ME
In the immortal words of Cartman; "Screw you guys... I'm going home"
Like his plans for Iraq?
Like his plans for the economy?
NO, we wouldn't want to distract him from that.
Canason is either the thickest skull in (so-called) journalism, or he gets paid to be so foolish.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.