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Republicans' Dishonorable Charge (FR/ FRN mention: CONASON ALERT)
Salon ^ | 8/5/2004 | Joe Conason

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: ads; blahblahblah; joeconason; swiftboatveterans
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To: ken5050

I do tend to lurk over there, when things are quiet, but there's been too much going on right here.


81 posted on 08/06/2004 8:21:49 AM PDT by clyde260 (Public Enemy #1: Network News!)
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To: Drango

Salon is for sale. Maybe we can get a "right wing extremist" takeover of it going.


82 posted on 08/06/2004 8:25:31 AM PDT by mak5
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To: Lijahsbubbe

I'm surprised he doesn't have Theresa market a John Kerry doll. Pull the string and - " I served in Viet Nam.....I served in Viet Nam.....I served in Viet Nam.....I served in Viet Nam.....


What a great idea!! Wish I could do that it would make a mint.


83 posted on 08/06/2004 8:33:13 AM PDT by americanmother (Thessalonians chapter 2)
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To: diotima
"But their campaign is backfiring, . . . "

Heh heh! A lot of whistling past the cemetery these days.

84 posted on 08/06/2004 8:39:52 AM PDT by Eastbound
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To: diotima

Thanks for the ping.

Now when I update my resume, I can add a new title - Extremist.

Cool.


85 posted on 08/06/2004 8:42:11 AM PDT by Badray (Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown. RIP harpseal.)
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To: kidd

"refer to my half acre suburban Connecticut lot as "the compound"
- my four bedroom Colonial home will now be "the facilities"
- my wife and five kids will now be known as "the members"
- my 1995 Ford Escort will be know as "the vehicle" "

__________________________

LOL! I just lost him to age and severe arthritis, but I had a super friendly black Lab that I could have sent you to patrol your compound. :)

It's fun to be an extremist!


86 posted on 08/06/2004 8:51:16 AM PDT by proud American in Canada
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To: diotima

I told my daughter her 50 y/o accountant/minister mother is an "extremist". I was so proud.


She's still laughing. Go figure.


87 posted on 08/06/2004 9:00:52 AM PDT by Hi Heels
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To: goodnesswins

Amen, sister.


88 posted on 08/06/2004 9:02:11 AM PDT by Hi Heels
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To: kidd

WAIT, I have a blind pekinese named Hope. We'll rename her DEATH TEETH-wait, she only has six teeth- DEATH BREATH and make her "Special Forces".



Whip it good?? HAHAHAHahahahah...... Yeah, let's dance them to death.


89 posted on 08/06/2004 9:06:51 AM PDT by Hi Heels
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To: Hi Heels

As I was was reading this thread ,I got a phone call from my 3 year old grandson, who with his parents,is on his way to Nantucket. All he said over and over was"BUSH/CHENEY 04". I told my daughter to have him repeat this to everyone they see on the Island!


90 posted on 08/06/2004 9:11:22 AM PDT by surrey
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To: section9

Yup. Just another KLYMER!!!


91 posted on 08/06/2004 9:20:07 AM PDT by Paul Ross (Communism is a mental illness. Historical amnesia is its prerequisite.)
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To: Conspiracy Guy

. . . and when you are standing in the quietness of the
voting booth in November, pause for a moment before
you cast your ballot and consider this:

Do you really want this guy to be the Commander-in-Chief
of our military and responsible for the lives of your sons
and daughters and the security of the nation ?

92 posted on 08/06/2004 9:21:16 AM PDT by Eastbound
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To: diotima

I love the smell of napalm in the morning. Target acquired.


93 posted on 08/06/2004 9:21:40 AM PDT by combat_boots
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Comment #94 Removed by Moderator

To: diotima

Joe Conason is a rectal dishonorable discharge!


95 posted on 08/06/2004 9:22:21 AM PDT by leprechaun9
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To: NoExcusesAnymore

What are you talking about?


96 posted on 08/06/2004 9:27:10 AM PDT by diotima
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Comment #97 Removed by Moderator

To: 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..

I haven't seen this partiulcar article over there, but I've been watching them for a couple of days to see their reactions to the Swift Vets story.

As might be expected, they're digging for anything that might fit into an organizational chart for this particular "vast, right-wing conspiracy" to use/dupe/manipulate/hre these Swift Vets to go after Kerry.

Not everyone at DU is a flaming nitwit, and they will construct a good bit of propaganda. Check out this blog I found in a link over there. Scroll down past the stuff today, and see the links between John O'Neill and Chuck Colson and Dorie Koch. Everything will be thrown against the wall.

I also found these sites:

Disinfopedia - Swift Boat Veterans for Truth

Silent Partners - Swift Boat Veterans for Truth - Anti-Kerry group

U.S. Newswire - New Anti-Kerry Ad: FOX and MSNBC Roll the Tape, Don't Check Facts; Media Matters for America Posts Item Documenting Omissions

Lot's of nonsense in those links, but plenty there to fuel the Democrat hit machine.


98 posted on 08/06/2004 9:45:20 AM PDT by Sabertooth
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To: NoExcusesAnymore

You're on thin ice here. Knock it off.


99 posted on 08/06/2004 9:47:22 AM PDT by Admin Moderator
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To: Admin Moderator

What on earth for?

I don't understand this.


100 posted on 08/06/2004 9:49:22 AM PDT by NoExcusesAnymore
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