Live thread: Nightline doing segment on swift vets!

ABC ^ | Me

[Callahan]

Live! Nightline is doing a story on the Kerry Vietnam controversy. I notice the correspondent is Jake Tapper, formerly a liberal reporter for Salon. We'll see...

[Graymatter]

>>Actually she was pretty hot, especially after viewing all those old codgers.

There's something of timeless truth in what you say. ;)

[Brytani]

ROFLMAO - my husband and I are dying over this - when is the next installment coming out?!?!?!

[Jenya]

Great letter! Every point driven home eloquently.

[GOPrincess]

That is one heck of a great letter!

[xm177e2]

Another hit piece masked as being objective. The go into great detail about the contributions and "sinister" links to the GOP, but they barely mention the contributors to the anti-Bush 527 groups. They make a big deal out of $500,000 for the Swifties and yet don't mention the many millions supporting MoveOn.org and ACT.

Actually, they did mention MoveOn.org's attack ads against Bush's service in the TANG, and how some Republicans say there is a double standard there.

[xm177e2]

The fact is that vets support Bush 58% to 35%.

And Nightline claimed they were evenly divided. I don't know what numbers NL used, or if NL was referring only to Vietnam Vets, but I would like to see it addressed.

[raygun]

Done.

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RE: Nightline episode that aired Mon 9 Aug 04

The facts are that upon John Kerry's return from Vietnam, he called his brothers-in-arms baby killers and committers of war atrocities, hooked up with infamous Hanoi Jane Fonda, became instrumental in organizing demonstrations against the war, lied to Congress (simultaneously maligning America), went to Paris and negotiated with the Communist enemy for America's surrender, and then told Congress and America that to get out of Vietnam America had to essentially surrender. As a result our POW's got beat up with the demonstration propaganda and his Congressional testimony. Subsequently John Kerry is filmed throwing his medals over the White House fence to disgrace America (when questioned about the medals hanging on his office wall and that incident he stated "Oh, those weren't my medals"), AND FINALLY RUNS FOR PRESIDENT AS A WAR HERO!

I'm unsure who has the greater amount of brain damage: Kerry or the program editor responsible for Nightline.

The main stream media attempted to ignore the allegations made by the Swift Boat Veterans, but the issue wouldn't go away. Now the leftist media has had to move to plan-B. Distort and condemn the opposition. The idea isn't to bring the Truth to the American public but to stop the momentum of the Swiftee's.

I think all of the media is scared; "Unfit For Command" is #1 seller on Amazon.com and it doesn't come out until Tuesday. Will 60 Minutes do an interview with the Swifties coinciding with the release of the book? The media just gushed about the Clinton's books.

Back in April the Swift Boat Veterens Against Kerry gave a news conference that was crammed with journalist and television cameras. Not a peep from ABC or Nightline. No contrast is made during the huge media outcry - Nightline not merely a small part therein - concerning the deplorable actions of a few soldiers at Abu-Graib, and Chemical Ali's killing of 3000 prisoners in one day at Abu-Graib! Nor Saddam Hussein's practice of putting prisoner's into meat grinders feet first so they could hear themselves scream before they die. Or mass graves discovered containing about 180 thousand bodies.

The anti-Bush bias of the main-stream media (which includes ABC) is clearly obvious (especially considereing a Kerry campaign ad was shown during this Nightline episode).

Almost 1/2 the show was focused on contributions and "sinister" links to the GOP. A smear attempt against the swift vets was made by claiming their spokesperson is married to a guy who ran for leutenant governor of Texas while Bush was governor. Good grief. But barely a peep of contributors to the anti-Bush 527 groups. A big deal was made about $500,000 for the Swifties but the $62 million spent by MoveOn.org and ACT against Bush (not even including the anti-Bush capaign ad Farenheit 911) was completely ignored. Interesting that Nightline remained utterly silent regarding the George Soros' connection with the DNC and John Kerry and his wife, nor that George Soros actually WORKS with Kerry's wife in running a PAC that supports all sort of socialist groups.

If the pro-Kerry media's line of attack concerning the Swift Boat veterans fails, then its time to play hardball. Start dredging up every piece of info they can about the veterans while simultaneously trying to link Bush. Its obvious that the latter is being done, but the former will be the first sign of desperation.

If Nightline had even the slightest intentions of playing this story half-way fair, Kerry would have been ripped to shreds tonight. This was one of the most startling unfair pieces of journalism in world history.

I'm simply in awe.

Bush is standing on his 4 years as POTUS. In comparision Kerry decided that he is going to duck his 20 year Senate record and stand only on his 4 controversial months in Nam.

At first blush, the fact that Kerry only served four months should raise eyebrows. The fact that he obviously lied about being in Cambodia should inspire further scrutiny. Moreover he lays blame on a president who wasn't even in office, or claims a threat that wasn't even in existance at the time (the Khmer Rouge weren't even formed until 1970). The fact that he was never hurt and won't release his full medical records tends to make the Swifties look very credible.

The fact that he has redefined a bad war (that's what he called it) into the second coming of the Revolutionary War is insane.

Nightline felt it not necessary to put a swift boat vet up against a Kerry supporting swift boat vet, instead two talking media heads; but then the story would've been about the events in Viet Nam. Instead everything was reported BUT what happened there. Things emminently lacking in the program:

Commanding officers asking Kerry to leave the theater.

No eyewitness accounts.

Chocolate chip cookie eating before the mine collision.

No mention that Kerry's full medical record has NOT been made public (despite a huge media outcry concerning missing records with respect to George Bush's ANG service).

But Nightline felt it essential that all the DNC talking points were thoroughly covered.

I was especially amused, and I'm sure a lot of other folks watched this chuckled, at the motley crew of Pro Kerry vets that was presented to the viewers -- seemingly outnumber the veterens who have problems with John Kerry's service. You absolutely know that's counter to all the polls. A Gallup Poll shows almost 60% of veterans are AGAINST Kerry. While Kerry trots out the same 5 or 7 Swiftee supporters, the fact of the matter is that there's a declaration signed by 250 of his immediate peer's including the entire chain of command that was above him, stating he's unfit for commander in chief.

The truth of the matter is this isn't about Kerry's active duty service vs Bush's ANG service (another thing convieniantly brought up, albeit entirely neglecting John Heinz service in the ANG). Kerry’s insulting statements about the National Guard - and the media's parroting of them - show an utter ignoarance of both parties regarding the capabilities of that branch of the military. For example, many Air Guard pilots went to Vietnam through the Palace Alert program and many also died stateside in F-102 accidents.

What Nightline in particular, and the media in general have absolutely no comprehension of is the issue isn't about what Kerry says his service was, but if what he says it was actually is true. Furthermore, this is about Kerry's vicious, slanderous antiwar activities and his present "I fought for God and Country" pose on the campaign trail. Anyone who has ever been afraid knows exactly what Kerry was doing in Vietnam, the difference is, this guy chose a liars way out; that is his prerogative... and it is legitamate. What isn't legitimate is that he wants to now lead..... He didn't want to lead then.

He said at the DNC convention "He's reporting for duty." Considering he missed 70% of Senate votes over the course of his career shows me that he's no different now either.

I understand that ABC was distributing eMail telling people to have patience....that they would actually look in to the Kerry issue like they did Bush. ABC is a bunch of liars and most despicably deceitful. What a nasty, dishonest piece of "journalism" this episode was, and broadcast emminently without shame under the guise of "balance".

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ABC disclaimer:

Due to the large volume of e-mail that Nightline receives daily, we are not able to respond individually to every viewer question and concern.

Please be assured, however, that your e-mails are being read by the Nightline staff and your comments are appreciated.

[xm177e2]

Why did they pick McCloskey? Or McCain?

Both are decorated war heroes who lost Republican primaries for president to men who didn't fight in combat. They are qualified to talk about what it means to be a veteran running for office.

[xm177e2]

I give Nightline an F on handling the issue.

No way. This was solid C- material. They interviewed pro-SBVfT vets without distorting what they said and they gave anti-Kerry people a chance to speak, like the reporter from the CSM--even though she didn't get to say much.

They failed, however, to look into any of the substance of the charges. They only had 30 minutes, but this was the most important part of the ad (not who's paying for it, but it's actual content!). They also didn't mention how Kerry's lawyers were trying to prevent SBVfT from getting TV stations to run their ads, or the dishonesty in the letters from Kerry's lawyers. That would have been a lot more interesting than looking into who paid for it or if it was legitimate to even run the ads in the first place.

In NightLine's defense, the SBVfT have made this information available on their website (and in their book, I presume), but not in the ads they are running.

I think NightLine could redeem itself if in a week or two's time it looked into the specifics of just one of the four contested medals, and interviewed both SBVfT and Kerry campaign staff in detail, without getting distracted by side issues like finance or what other veterans think about politics in general. A tight, laser-like focus on just a single medal would be much more interesting than the mostly superficial program that was on tonight.

I said before this episode aired that Jake Tapper has the capacity to report decently, honestly, and fairly. I think he did okay. He probably had to fight ultra-liberal ABC tooth and nail to get as many anti-Kerry people on as he did (after all, he wants to protect his reputation for fairness). There's more to it than just getting them on the show--he has to make sure what they said was translated fairly for the cameras, and I think he achieved that. I don't think the SBVfT will complain about this segment on their website or anywhere else; they probably think it went pretty well.

[xm177e2]

They make a big deal out of $500,000 for the Swifties

Actually, it was just $100,000. Not a tremendous sum of money for a political campaign (just look at how much MoveOn.com has!)

[GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY]

I just think it was all fluff and no real substance.. that's why it gets an F.

[cartoonistx]

I just sent the following e-mail to Nightline after the hatchet-job they gave the SBVFT tonight!:

How dare anyone question John Kerry about his service! How dare they ask to see his military records to once and for all answer the nasty critics of his obvious heroism! How dare they ask him to explain how he could have been sent to Cambodia illegally by, persumably, then president-elect Nixon in December of 1968 as he has stated on numerous occasions over the past 30 years when even his shipmates deny it ever happened! How dare Nightline ignore the contents of the critics' charges (detailed in the Unfit For Duty book that you allude to but obviously didn't read) while questioning their motives and funding! How dare anyone believe that a man who would lie about his war-time exploits might just lie about his future intentions and agenda! How dare we resist the urge to just hand over the Presidency to Sen. Kerry without so much as a passing glance at the truth of his claim of valor and courage that he insists qualify him to be commander-in-chief!

[kabar]

Actually, it was just $100,000. Not a tremendous sum of money for a political campaign (just look at how much MoveOn.com has!)

Actually, they did mention the $500,000 in ad buys. The $100,000 came from one donor, but the funding for the group is more than that with the insinuation it was from Reps.

[alnick]

Yes, it's biased, but there was one titbit that was new info that needs to be dealt with. One of the swiftvets in the ad campaigned FOR Kerry in the past, and praised him for his service in 'Nam.

That came up after their May press conference. He came forward back when Kerry was running for the senate and was being accused of war crimes. He felt that particular accusation was unfair at the time, so he came forward. Remember, it's their position that the war crimes accusations BY Kerry were unfair. That he came forward and said he didn't see any war crimes is consistent with the swifties' position of today.

[kabar]

Both are decorated war heroes who lost Republican primaries for president to men who didn't fight in combat. They are qualified to talk about what it means to be a veteran running for office.

That's your take. It is obvious to me that they used them to slant the story. McCain calls the SBVFT's ad "dishonest and dishonorable" and relates what is happening to Kerry to what happened to him in South Carolina. Nightline implies as much by mentioning that the spokesperson for SBVFT was also working for Bush in the South Carolina primary. McCain wants to put Vietnam behind us and impugns the motives of the SBVFT. Advantage Kerry.

McCloskey is another disgruntled GOP war hero who believes that military service need not be a criterion for office and points to how it cuts both ways, e.g., the Dole/Clinton and McGovern/Nixon races and yes his own race against Nixon. However, McCloskey does feel that it is important to have a President who has heard a shot fired in anger so that they are not so quick to get into a war. Advantage Kerry

My point is that they could have selected a Duke Cunningham or a Sam Johnson or a Jerimiah Denton to speak as politicans who also happen to be Vietnam war heroes. It is no accident that Nightline didn't use them. They knew that their take on Kerry's service may be different than the "Can't we all get along" message of McCain and McCloskey.

Why didn't they select Bob Kerrey who lost to Clinton? Because they wanted to slam Nixon and Bush. Or to George Bush 41 or Bob Dole who lost to Clinton in the Presidential race? Nixon and Bush did serve their countries in wartime as a naval officer and Air National Guardsman respectively. They were/are veterans.

You mention that the reason is that, "Both are decorated war heroes who lost Republican primaries for president to men who didn't fight in combat." Why pick people who ran in GOP primaries? We are involved in the Presidential race, not a primary. The bottom line is that this is a hit piece and the people selected to be in it were done so for a reason, i.e., to slam the SBVFT and Bush and support Kerry.

[kabar]

And Nightline claimed they were evenly divided. I don't know what numbers NL used, or if NL was referring only to Vietnam Vets, but I would like to see it addressed.

I would venture an educated guess that the percentage of Vietnam veterans against Kerry is even higher than veterans as a whole. We were the ones slandered and affected by Kerry's antiwar activities with the radical VVAW, his association with Fonda and Ramsey Clark, and his meetings with the Vietnamese communists in Paris. To say that it is "evenly divided" is a transparent lie. The fact that they would use a leftist journalist like Halberstram to comment on Vietnam says it all.

[michaelt]

Great letter.

[kinsman redeemer]

Excellent!

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

"Kerry and his ilk love to put down Bush for his service in the National Guard. Someone needs to remind him that THK's favorite husband did the same."

Beautiful point!

[beyond the sea]

I hate the liberal media.

I TOTALLY AGREE! The mainstream media is the most destructive, ruthless force in the country. Anyone who thinks that we won the Cold War is mistaken. Thanks to the socialists' and communists' ongoing fatal influence and participation in our schools, media (news and entertainment), and judgeships, etc., the Cold War has been LOST. These folks are tearing the country down from within, just as they promised they would, and we are doing little about it but lamenting.

I say we organize a march to the steps of the Senate to protest Kerry, and illuminate what the Swift Boat Vets say.

This is not just action to help G.W. Bush, but it must be an effort to clense the country of a huge dangerous FRAUD, John Effin Kerry.

The March on the Senate (to symbolically ask Kerry about the Swift Boat Vets' claims) could be done in late October. I think it would make a great impression on voters. I'll even try to squeeze into my old fatigues. What do you say?