That's very likely true. So what you're saying is that they're only trying to work against Kerry's being elected, they aren't really trying to help President Bush.
O'Neill has stated strongly that the group doesn't care what impact they have regarding GWB's election chances.
Paraphrasing O'Neill: If our efforts hurt the Bush campaign, that's tough. This is about getting to the truth of kerry's service and ours.
I'll try to find the direct quote on that statement.
From Drudge:
SWIFT BOAT VETERANS FOR TRUTH TO RELEASE NEW TV AD // latest television ad from Swift Boat Veterans for Truth will be released tomorrow at 10:00 am. The ad will begin airing next week in select markets... Developing...
That's fine, and as I've noted twice elsewhere on this thread, the main goal is to set the record straight about Kerry's service. But... common sense indicates that if they want to really sock it to Kerry (as someone else noted, payback is a b*tch), they're going to do it when it will most strongly affect him, and that might just be when he's running in a tight campaign for POTUS. And common-sense wise, which campaign is more likely to be negatively impacted? I doubt these guys lack for common sense.
Rephrasing a point I made earlier: if all they have to gain is a factual account of John Kerry's service in Vietnam and in particular, a clearer picture of his minimal action under hostile circumstances (which didn't merit commendations for valor), then to appear motivated only by that high regard for truth, they should have done this prior to Kerry's nomination as the Democratic candidate for POTUS. Because they have timed it as they have timed it, then many people could perceive that one of their motivations is to affect the election. And when they run most of the ads in swing states (rather than a more general canvassing of the entire U.S.) that helps strengthen an incorrect perception of their motivation(s).
That's stated about as clearly as I can.