Veteran stands by criticism of Kerry

Washington Times ^ | 8/07/04 | Charles Hurt

[kattracks]

One of the swift boat veterans included in a new television ad questioning the veracity of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam war record stands by his criticism, despite reports he had recanted, according to the group sponsoring the ad.
    "Captain George Elliott describes an article appearing in today's edition of the Boston Globe by Mike Kranish as extremely inaccurate and highly misstating his actual views," said a statement released yesterday by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group opposed to Mr. Kerry's election.
    "He reaffirms his statement in the current advertisement paid for by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Captain Elliott reaffirms his affidavit in support of that advertisement and he reaffirms his request that the ad be played."
    The Boston Globe reported yesterday that Mr. Elliott, who served as Mr. Kerry's commander during most of his 41/2 months of combat in Vietnam, had recanted his affidavit this week, saying he'd been in a hurry and made a "terrible mistake" by signing it.
    "I still don't think [Mr. Kerry] shot the [Viet Cong] in the back," Mr. Elliott reportedly told the Globe Thursday from his home. "It was a terrible mistake probably for me to sign the affidavit with those words. I'm the one in trouble here."

[snip]

A woman who answered the phone at Mr. Elliott's Delaware home yesterday referred questions to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Asked later if the statement -- which directly disputed that day's report in the Globe -- was accurate, she conferred with another person and said : "That is absolutely correct."

[GeronL]

So the liberal media lies again

They are actually making up quotes and attributing them to someone who is not on their sie

Too bad the liberal media can get away with it.

[Tom_Busch]

It's not the first time Mr. Elliott has sent mixed signals about Mr. Kerry's war record. Prior to his current criticism -- part of a searing portrayal of Mr. Kerry's service -- Mr. Elliott campaigned on behalf of Mr. Kerry in a tight 1996 Senate race. And earlier this year he told USA Today that he had "no question about" Mr. Kerry's actions that earned him the Silver Star. "This was an exemplary action," he said.

This part has me a little troubled.

[rebel_yell2]

Yeah, but it sure is providing legs for this story!!!

[Lord_MK_lives]

every one is entitled to their opinions and view and mine is as follows john kerry is a lowlife baby killer he supports abortion and he would totally mess up America if he was elected, the man has no sense of moral values he says he's for pro-life but the woman has her right to choose what kind of junk is that well thats my opinion like it or hate it Lord MK has spoken!!!!!!!

[Fedora]

BTT.

[GeronL]

well I agree with your opinion. But with punctuation.

[kattracks]

Perhaps Mr. Elliott was not aware of the full story when he did this. More about Kerry's alleged heroism has come out since his campaign to become the CIC, due to the efforts of the Swiftboat Vets.

[ambrose]

id say that punctuation is one of the most overrated things in fact id say it is silly and we dont need it at all as far as i am aware some oriental languages dont use punctuation did you know that anyway i find it interesting how this story is growing legs i expected the media to ignore this completely

[GeronL]

ithinkyoursorightthatyoudontevenknowasamatteroffactithinkspacesyesspacesarealsooveruseddoyouknowhowmuchmemoryspacestakeinatextorwordfilejusttoomanywaytoomanyinfactidsayspacesshouldbebanned

[maryz]

Perhaps Mr. Elliott was not aware of the full story when he did this.

I think it's likely Elliott just assumed (as an honest man would until he had reason to think otherwise) that the face value of Kerry's record was accurate. He was likely offended in 1971 when Kerry was performing before Congress. But when Kerry quieted down, he was willing to defend him from charges he thought unfair.

Elliott is 67 years old. I don't know what he's been doing in the intervening years, but apparently it wasn't pursuing political advantage and manipulating the media -- he clearly hasn't had much practice.

Most normal people aren't exemplars of thoroughgoing consistency, at least not in all things, and certainly not in things not of central importance to them -- too much partial knowledge, half-formed ideas, always taking in new information that shades things differently. I can't imagine he's spent the last 30-odd years brooding over Kerry.

[ambrose]

MY EYES!

[GeronL]

wellyoustarteditnexttimeiwon'tevenuseletterssothere

[onyx]

More proof of the ad's effectiveness, no? :)

[Ruth A.]

This is indeed curiouser and curioser.

[SunkenCiv]

self-ping

[SunkenCiv]

FR Exclusive: Amazon picture flub leads to inaccurate Drudge story concerning Globe writer
Amazon.com ^ | Aug 6, 2004 | myself
Posted on 08/06/2004 5:39:00 PM PDT by rwfromkansas
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1186669/posts

[kattracks]

i find it interesting how this story is growing legs i expected the media to ignore this completely

And I think they may have done just that, if it weren't for McCain adding his 2 cents.

When McCain speaks, the media prints it, because it's usually some sort of criticism with which they agree (as was his comment about the Swiftboat Vets ad). This won't just go away now.

[dawn53]

i bleeive I argee...atucally its been porevn that we don't have to have pericse sepllnig in odrer to be able to cmopreehend any word over 4 ltetres so why do we need pncututaoin

[Steven W.]

as he's said, that time he got the hard press suck-up from Kerry and he felt as long as it was only Mass. that had to put up with him that was one thing but being POTUS is another.