KERRY CAMPAIGN'S FIRST SERIOUS MISTAKE

Real Clear Politics ^ | 8/20/04 | J. McIntyre

[My2Cents]

Lehrer looked Oliphant in the eye, and said that the story is now on PBS

Good for Lehrer. He probably didn't mean it as a supportive comment for the Swiftees, but Elephant needed to be slapped down for his comment.

[MplsSteve]

The media WILL circle the wagons for Kerry when it comes to the Swift Boats issue.

Up 'til now, "circling the wagons" meant ignoring the issue completely.

Now we will see the media assume attack dog mode as today's Washington Post article indicates. There was also an article from the Los Angeles Times that went as far as to say that Kerry's war records were accurate.

Screw the media. They'll never report this story as it should.

[aruanan]

And it is his post-Vietnam antiwar record, more than anything, that has the potential to do real damage to his candidacy.

Like being part of an organization and present at the meeting in which a vote was taken on assassination of elected government officials but not reporting it to the government and later lying about not being presentt.

[My2Cents]

This is going to get much, much more interesting over the next couple of weeks.

The timing is perfect. You have to love the way Kerry's been emeshed in this controversy since his convention, and the story only seems to build. Kerry got zero bounce from this convention, and this story has resulted in reverse momentum for his campaign. The swift boat vets have been like artillery softening up a target, and the GOP convention will be like the main assault.

[JoeGar]

What is really problematic for the Kerry campaign is this will eventually segue into Kerry's antiwar conduct when he came home from Vietnam. And it is his post-Vietnam antiwar record, more than anything, that has the potential to do real damage to his candidacy.

This is what I've been hoping for. His Vietnam conduct is questionable, but his VVAW conduct is traitorous. He, in effect, backed the Communist Vietnamese against his band of brothers. That guaranteed him a place in their Hall of Heroes.

[dirtboy]

The swift boat vets have been like artillery softening up a target, and the GOP convention will be like the main assault.

At this rate, I don't know if there's going to be much left for the GOP convention to roll over.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Matthews frothing at the mouth, brings back memories of a stained blue dress.

[CyberCowboy777]

Correction, I did not source my facts:

Soros obtained U.S. citizenship in 1961. However, he describes himself as a "stateless" citizen of the world.


But you main point is correct.

[Chode]

their first mistake was thinking he was Presidential material... UNFIT FOR COMMAND!!!

[onyx]

I received UNFIT in the mail yesterday and I have already read it.
STUNNING.

[timydnuc]

Why is it that, from the media, we Nam vets are "surprisingly articulate"? I'm a Nam vet and I'm a Doctor. In my old outfit (101 Airbourne Rangers) we are all college graduates and out of our 23 remaining (still alive) members of my Nam company (we started out as 53...24 were lost in the Nam, the rest died). Of that we have 7 engineers (both chemical and physical, and pharmaceutical), 4 college professors, 2 doctors, 2 lawyers (both prosecutors, both federal), 1 veterinarian, 5 MBAs, 1 health physicist, and 1 PhD in Computer Science.

I take such offense at the media produced myth that all Nam vets are leading worthless lives. We did our jobs in combat and we did it well. All of the afore mentioned Vets we educated by the GI bill. Look at the list and you will see that the government got it's money's worth. If you'll notice there isn't a "journalist" in the bunch. Just like Nam, we carry the heavy load and don't bitch about it. We get the job done and let the crying babies scream their crap.

We get together every now and then and we talk about this. Funny thing, we are all Republicans.....wonder why?

Another funny thing: the very same a$$hole (Kerry) that spit on us now has to pay the price for it. Nam vets are coming out of our shells, and self imposed exile from the human race, to stand and deliver, one more time. Just like we did in the Nam. Believe me, this bastard has done more for me now than he did against me when he spit on me. Now I get revenge! Not just on Kerry, on the whole commie movement.

Note to Kerry: You want to be the President do you. You'll do it over my dead body. $100.00 check just went to the "swifties". We are going to beat you, you son of a bitch. Ranger phrase: "Justice is Mine sayeth the Lord, but I can't wait"!

[americanbychoice2]

O'Neill debated JFKerry 33 years ago. I don't believe Pres. Bush was in office then to direct that "smear campaign"?
They are losing it.

[MeekOneGOP]

BUMP!!

[Xenalyte]

The only question is - are the voters paying attention?

The Democrats I know would vote for the Dread Boston Salty if he were running as a liberal - and between you and me, Salty has slightly less experience than John Edwards.

[cajungirl]

You really hit the nail on the head. Kerry's smearing of VN vets is what will do him in. If he lied about his medals, heroics, etc, who will care. But for him to smear the men who went and fought is beyond the pale. My hubby resent him for that,,he was army doc in 67.

That said, is it passing strange to you all that the libs who support pornographers, open sex, every manner of perversity as well as the freedom to talk any trash they want are the ones who want to ban this book. I find that hysterical. Like it is Lady Chatterly's Lover or something. People can flaunt nudity to our kids, teach them to behave like sluts, let them be subject to all manner of perversity but not this particular truth from men who served this country.

[driftless]

I think a lot of wavering moderates and Dems are having thoughts about Kerry. They must be wondering why so many Vietnam vets choose to oppose him. They must also be thinking that the Swift Boat vets can't all be scoundrels as the Kerry campaign flunkies are implying. All we need is a little doubt about a man who is spectaculary UNqualified to be cic.

[Wolfstar]

Wow! The book must be a quick, compelling read.

[onyx]

It's not that quick -- I just couldn't put it down!
Fully sourced and documented and the photos are GOLD!

[Excuse_Me]

Nice letter. Soros is a naturalized U.S. citizen, though.

[votelife]

For all who need to see the ad, email the ad, etc:

http://humaneventsonline.com.edgesuite.net/unfit_video2.html