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Nightline covers the Swift Boat story again
ABC News Nightline | 8/19/2004 | Gerry Holmes

Posted on 08/19/2004 2:23:36 PM PDT by ArcLight

Nightline Daily E-Mail August 19, 2004

TONIGHT'S FOCUS: It sounds like John Kerry has decided that the pushing and criticism have just gone too far. Today he sounded angry as he took President Bush on. He was referring to the campaign ad funded by a Republican group that attacks the veracity of John Kerry's war record. Kerry accused the President of letting others do "his dirty work" and invoked the President's own words "bring it on" to challenge him to a one on one debate on their respective war records. The President has not responded. So what happened to make Kerry so mad? And why did he do it now?

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A Republican-funded campaign ad disputing John Kerry's war record has been airing in a few battle ground states since the beginning of the month. The ad consists of interviews with Vietnam veterans, some who served with Kerry and have supported him in the past. They all say he's lying about his record. Today, the Washington Post broke news with documents that directly contradict one of those veteran's assertions against Kerry in one of the ads. Meanwhile, the President is being accused of not being willing to condemn these specific ads while continuing to say that he won't criticize John Kerry's war service for this country.

But the story has continued to grow and it seems to have reached a peak level. It's the lead topic on talk radio and the cable stations and is taking on a life of its own. This has led some senior members of the Democratic Party to push John Kerry to hit back, saying that his strategy of just letting the attacks happen was not working. So today, in front of a room full of firefighters, John Kerry switched tactics and turned to his own wartime service and experience to announce his next move. "More than 30 years ago I learned an important lesson. When you're under attack the best thing to do is turn your boat into the attack. That's what I intend to do today." Anchor Chris Bury bring us an anatomy of a story fueled by the media. How did it get so big so quickly?

So why did he do it? Did he take a lesson from Michael Dukakis who didn't counter attack in his bid for the Presidency? Why now, at this point in the campaign? Has it really reached a point where not responding would harm his candidacy? And what's the effect on the voter? Chris Bury talks to campaign reporters about how we got here and what might happen next.

I hope you'll join us.

Gerry Holmes and the Nightline Staff

Nightline Offices

ABC News Washington Bureau


TOPICS: Announcements; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abcnews; cambodia; kerry; mediashillsforkerry; sitzpinkler; sitzpinklerkerry; swiftboat; swiftboatveterans
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To: Lopeover; All

"Yup! Even though we know that there is a very close relationship between Kerry and these groups."




Well, now...that would have to depend upon what the definition of "close" is...

"Close" as in his wife's contribution to his campaign...
"Close" as in the entire DNC and Democrat senators going to a screening of F911 all at once...
"Close" as in F'n JK using talking points right out of "2 Million Cheeseburgers Served" Moore's propaganda piece...
"Close" as in Michael "Billions Served" Moore receiving four seats of honor next to former (de)Pres(s)ident Carter at the DNC Convention...

Hey...I just report...you decide.


101 posted on 08/19/2004 3:52:37 PM PDT by Christian4Bush (I approve this message: character and integrity matter. Bush/Cheney '04)
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To: Bonaparte
I predict that Nightline's favorite DNC talking point will be the bogus, "but they weren't on Kerry's boat," defense.


102 posted on 08/19/2004 3:52:44 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: ArcLight
A Republican-funded campaign ad

Has Night Line ever mentioned a DemocRAT-funded campaign ad?

103 posted on 08/19/2004 3:57:26 PM PDT by jackbill
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To: Christian4Bush

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...


104 posted on 08/19/2004 4:07:58 PM PDT by jimbo123
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To: RVN Airplane Driver
Mis-read your intent...sorry
I'm sure glad I read this reply before I responded to the other reply. Flameworthy drawers would've been requisite.
My apologies for wording it in such a manner to be so easily misconstrued.
105 posted on 08/19/2004 4:55:43 PM PDT by philman_36
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To: ArcLight

Where's the story about how Kerry has allowed 527 groups to spend tens of millions attacking Bush? I guess that's not worthy of a Nightline show.


106 posted on 08/19/2004 5:23:55 PM PDT by NYCVirago
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To: Lancey Howard

LOLOL!


107 posted on 08/19/2004 11:08:24 PM PDT by Bonaparte
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To: wideawake
Bush needs to get out there and say: "There are a number of ads out there targeted at me which I feel distort my record, but they are being broadcast by 527s. I'm not holding Senator Kerry responsible for the ads, even though they are funded by Senator's Kerry's contributors. There is no reason for Senator Kerry to blame me for ads that I have nothing to do with. He should address the people who are criticizing his war record. I'm not criticizing him on his wartime service, but on his record in Congress."

You are hired. The only trouble is you have to get the nit wits handling the Bush campaign out of there first.

108 posted on 08/19/2004 11:11:28 PM PDT by BJungNan (Stop Spam - Do NOT buy from junk email.)
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To: wideawake

You must send that to Karen Hughes, RIGHT NOW! Excellent!


109 posted on 08/19/2004 11:13:22 PM PDT by hobson
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To: Steven W.
Check this out:

KERRY CAMP FRETS OVER CAMBODIA TALE

110 posted on 08/19/2004 11:23:51 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: ArcLight
Donate to keep this story going at Swiftvets.com
111 posted on 08/19/2004 11:36:08 PM PDT by america-rules (It's US or THEM so what part don't you understand ?)
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To: Steven W.

However, the MSM is doing an excellent job of performing triage on the patient. He has a very good chance of survival.


112 posted on 08/20/2004 6:25:38 AM PDT by gathersnomoss
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To: ArcLight

All Freepers check out the new swift boat ad.
If this doesn't move you, I'm questioning your patriotism.
http://humaneventsonline.com.edgesuite.net/unfit_video2.html


113 posted on 08/20/2004 8:30:14 AM PDT by votelife (Calling abortion a women's issue is like calling war a men's issue!)
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