Posted on 08/21/2004 11:14:55 AM PDT by kattracks
WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites)'s campaign released a video Saturday comparing the controversy over Kerry's Vietnam service to attacks on John McCain during the 2000 Republican primaries.The video, sent via e-mail to supporters, says, "George Bush is up to his old tricks" and shows then-Texas Gov. Bush and Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) at a debate in February 2000.
McCain, sitting next to Bush, says that when "fringe veterans groups" attacked him at a Bush campaign function, Bush stood by and didn't say a word. McCain says a group of senators wrote Bush a letter that said: "Apologize. You should be ashamed."
McCain, also a Vietnam veteran, says Bush "really went over the line."
"I don't know how you can understand this, George, but that really hurts," McCain says.
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group funded in part by a top GOP donor in Texas, has been running ads featuring veterans who served in Vietnam at the same time as Kerry and question his wartime record.
In Roanoke, Va., on Saturday, Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards (news - web sites) called on Bush to end the ads.
"This is a moment of truth for George W. Bush," Edwards said at a Democratic rally. "We're going to see what kind of man he is and what kind of leader he is. ... We want to hear three words: Stop these ads."
Edwards said the commercials were from "people who financed the same kind of attacks against John McCain in the 2000 presidential campaign."
The Kerry campaign has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (news - web sites), alleging the Swift Boat Veterans group is coordinating its ads with the Bush campaign. The Bush campaign has denied the claim.
Sure we believe that like we believe his Vietnam service record.
What...you're surprised?
Most of us despise McCain for attacking the right at the most inorpportune times. The Kerry campaign is sinking. Look around you.
LOL, no one even wanted to put their name to this one.
This article is an example of the old saying of "whistling past the graveyard." By their actions, not their words, it is clear that the Democrats are seriously afraid of this counterattack on Kerry/Vietnam. And the whole thing is self-inflicted, because it gained traction only because of Kerry's emphasis on that subject in his acceptance speech.
The Democrats may pretend, within their own family, that this doesn't amount to much. That's what they're doing with this privately circulated video. But that isn't the way the larger universe of American citizens see it. (At least a majority of them, driven by veterans who are REALLY p*ssed off.)
Congressman Billybob
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Wishful lib daydreams!
LLS
"Now his [Bush's] credibility is tied to theirs"
and this is a problem WHY?
I'm not too sure that McCain will back up Kerry with the new SBVFT ad. He can't, without slamming other POW's. I just don't think he will do that. He may remain silent, but I don't see him supporting Kerry on this one.
I can tell you are unfazed also
Why should Bush denounce ads that are true? Has Kerry denounced the fraudulent MoveOn ads, or the lying Michael Moore film?
What do you want Bush to do? Call a press conference and say the POWs in the latest ad are a couple of filthy liars and that Kerry's a hero who never betrayed the troops or accused them of war crimes?
They do seem to like three word phrases,
Bring it on,
Stop those ads,
I'm telling Teressssa.
BWAHAHAHAAAAAAAAA
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
We're getting a strong example of what kind of "leader" Kerry is.
Kill the 1st Amendment.
Attack veterans & American POWs.
If Kerry wants to sue, why doesn't he sue for libel?
Anyone who thought their character was being unjustly attacked would do just that. He does have his records to back him up, doesn't he?
WoW! You're a "glass half empty" kind of conservative. Bush has said publicly that he disapproves the 527s, one of which is Swift Boat Vets. John O'Neill has also said that despite the Pres wanting them to stop the ads, they will continue. You need to stop reading the Dems spin, you get depressed.
So what should Bush do about it?
Oh good, I need a guy who knows the future in advance. What's gonna happen in the stock market next week? Got any good tips?
Not fazed huh?
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