Kerry Campaign Won't Fire MoveOn Staffer

NewsMax .com ^ | 8/22/04 | Carl Limbacher

[kattracks]

The Kerry campaign is gloating this weekend over the resignation of Bush Cheney volunteer, former Vietnam War POW Ken Cordier, who's featured in the latest Swiftboat ad - saying it proves illegal coordination between the Swiftvets' 527 group and the official Bush campaign.

But Kerry has no plans to fire Zach Exley, a key campaign staffer who served as the organizing director for MoveOn.org throughout the presidential primaries. What's more, MoveOn, whose sole mission is to defeat President Bush in November, maintains that Exley is allowed to "communicate" with the 527 group even as he works for the Democratic nominee.

"Col. Cordier did not inform the campaign of his involvement in the advertisement," the Bush campaign said in a statement late Saturday. "Because of his involvement [in the ad] Col. Cordier will no longer participate as a volunteer for Bush-Cheney '04."

But there's no doubt that Kerry knew all about Exley's background when he hired him.

In April the Kerry for President Web site proudly announced: "Zach Exley joins the [Kerry] Internet team as Director of Online Communications and Online Organizing. He was previously the director of special projects for the MoveOn.org."

Exley claims he won't communicate with MoveOn until after the election, but when he teamed up with Kerry, MoveOn's executive director, Eli Pariser, acknowledged that Exley will be able to make use of "what he's got in his head."

And a statement issued by MoveOn when Exley signed on with team Kerry insisted, "federal election rules permit some forms of communication" between Exley and the liberal 527.

As for the ideas that Exley has "got in his head" and will now be sharing with the Kerry campaign, his past credits include a political parody site that portrayed Bush as a crack user.

[smonk]

if this isn't "coordination", and this a violation of mccain/feingold, then they should strike the silly worthless damn law off the books.

of course, it's up to the FEC to decide, and they're about the most useless organization since the UN.

[Dianna]

I agree with your strategy points, Dianna, but the person I was posting to was insisting this was proof of illegal activity by the Bush/Cheney campaign and having encountered this poster on another thread I mocked him via sarcasm.

LOL! Well, I can certainly understand that!

[staytrue]

You should see the DNC add that does not say "vote for Kerry" but does have a large sign that says "kerry for president".

The DNC is not supposed to coordinate with the kerry campaign after the democrat convention.

[sarasota]

Bend the rules, break the rules, it matters not to these people. Reminds me of Hollywood and the the media in general. I hope not all of us are their "captive audience".

[SunkenCiv]

there's no doubt that Kerry knew all about Exley's background when he hired him.

I'd expect the 527 hearings conducted in 2005 and beyond by the Democrat majorities in both houses and endorsed by President John Kerry will get to the bottom of it.

George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent

[greyfox]

Let's call a schmuk a schmuk. John Kerry is a schmuk!

GF

[timestax]

Senator sKerry is the #1 HYPOCRIT !

[timestax]

Senator sKerry is the #1 Hypocrite !!

[timestax]

BTTT

[Dahoser]

What about the effing Republican party? (Pardon my french but I'm as aggravated as you are.) Where is one Senator, one Congressman, a mayor even, out there screaming about this? Everytime anything comes up, a perp walk parade of RATS from the House and Senate heads to the nearest microphone to register outrage and horror. Our side? Our side? Puddling the floor somewhere in fear. I'm disgusted.