Republicans' Dishonorable Charge (FR/ FRN mention: CONASON ALERT)

Salon ^ | 8/5/2004 | Joe Conason

[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.

[cpprfld]

Yeah, we are extremist.

[CaptRon]

I guess it's official. We're extremists. Daaaaaaaaaaaaaangerous extremists. I know it's true because Joe Conason said it.

[diotima]

Ping!

[Rebelbase]

The only thing keeping Salon alive this year has been the democratic primaries and the election.

[AppyPappy]

If John Kerry wants to run on his Vietnam record, let him do it.

Wipe your chin, Conason.

[Badeye]

Extremist website? ROFL!

Thats too funny.

[blu]

We need tee shirts and posters. We need to be on the walls of every dorm room in America! I mean, all the cool extremists have their own "line", we should have one too.

suggested verbage: "FreeRepublic....where the Truth hurts Democrats"----"FreeRepublic...extremely for Truth, Justice and the American Way of Life"---and my favorite: "FreeRepublic---we don't need no steeenkin' Flip Flops!"

[Delphinium]

Yes I am a right wing extremist.

I am extreme about Life Liberty and property.

I am not ahamed of it and none of should be.

[jimt]

This is pretty limp for Joe Conason. The truth is hurting.

[CaptRon]

I feel, so...so...extreme!

[diotima]

You don't get it. Democrats can work for and fund leftist oriented projects. Conservatives CANNOT work for and fund anything. If they do, they become the story.

[Hunble]

"You only receive flak, when you are over the target."

[faithincowboys]

Conason is such a twerp.

Bush has already been kicked in the balls for his time in the NG.

Kerry only served four months-- got dubious Purple Hearts and bugged out early. That should interest Conason.

Kerry lied to get his medals, wiggled out of serving a full tour, tossed his medals, slandered his fellow vets and now he is running on the glory of his 4 months in Nam. Sorry, Joe, but the state of Texas doesn't have the amount of cow sh*t that the Kerry campaign has.

[Lijahsbubbe]

should also be measured against the sterling evaluations

Yes, let's measure and see if the Swift Boat Veterans' accusations seem contrary to the character of the John Kerry we know. The one who throws fake medals over the wall, and saves the real ones for display. The one who uses botox. The one who marries into money and pretends to be a commoner.

Seems as though the assessments of the Swift Boat Veterans jibe very well with the Kerry we know.

[ken5050]

Just a tad curious..has anyone waded over into the DU swamp to see what they're saying about this..They MUST be going bananas..

[NeoCaveman]

"experienced political operative" LOLOL!

Credentials are easy to come by these days just ask John Francois Kerry.

[cpprfld]

I think that the Kerry campaign is ignoring this and hoping it will blow over.

[diotima]

I don't read DU. Maybe we can find someone to "take one for the team" and have a look.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Tell them to threaten me.

Leaving on His Jet Plane


JohnDenver

All his records sealed, he’s ready to go.
He’s flipped and flopped, as we well know.
But we must now wake up,
And say goodbye.
Now the light is shining,
It’s a new morn.
His bus is waiting,
He’s holding corn.



Already he’s so funny,
I could cry.


So wave bye, don’t look at me,
Turn around and really flee.
Told you that, you really need to go.



He’s leaving, on his jet plane.
We all hope, he won’t be back again.
Oh John, we wish you’d go.



There’s so many times, he’s lied, we found.
We all just wish, he would leave town.
The words he says, they don’t mean a thing.
Everything he says, a lie to you.
As he flips and flops a time or two.
When he leaves town, much sunshine it will bring.



So wave bye, don’t look at me,
Turn now and really flee.
Told him that, he really needs to go.



We all hope, he won’t be back again.
Oh John, we wish you’d go.

Now the time has passed we’re tired of you.
Please be gone we won’t miss you.
We’ll hold the door, you get on your way.
Think about the time will come.
You will see that you are dumb.



We’ll recall the day we got to say.



So wave bye, don’t look at me,
Turn now and really flee.
Told him that, he really needs to go.



He’s leaving, on his jet plane.
We all hope, he won’t be back again.
Oh John, we wish you’d go.




Conspiracy Guy aka 8/6/2004

[ken5050]

Neither do I..about 3 years ago..Dog was always talking about how he went there often, to reconoitter..so I checked it out..never, ever, again..