Posted on 08/22/2004 1:04:33 PM PDT by kattracks
Swiftboat Veterans for the Truth spokesman John O'Neill dared Sen. John Kerry on Sunday to sue him for libel if, as Kerry's presidential campaign maintains, key claims in O'Neill's book "Unifit for Command" are not true.
"I invite him to sue me for libel," O'Neill, who co-authored the overnight bestseller with Jerome Corsi, told WABC Radio's Monica Crowley. "If he was actually in Cambodia on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day he should sue me. If, in fact, those other five [Swift]boats, on March the 13, [1969], if they all fled like he did, instead of staying like he knows they did, he should sue me."O'Neill continued:
"If he didn't wound himself with a grenade - causing sort of a rice-fanny wound - and then reported it to the Navy as a water mine - if he didn't do that on March 13th should sue me."
O'Neill issued the challenge after noting that Kerry's campaign has gone to extraordinary lengths to supress the information in "Unfit for Command."
"On our first [Swiftvet] ad, he had two huge lawfirms send letters to every [TV] station, threatening to sue the stations themselves" if they ran the ad, the former Swiftboat commander told Crowley.
"The next thing he did was challenge the book's publisher, Regnery, indicating he would sue them if they continued printing the book," he added.
The bestselling author said that while Regnery declined to stop printing "Unfit," it offered to republish Kerry's 1971 book "The New Soldier," which chronicles the top Democrat's anti-war protests with a group bankrolled by Jane Fonda.
Kerry has declined to have "New Solidier" republished over the years and reportedly bought up most of the available copies in 1972, after his opponent in a congressional race used it to paint him as anti-American.
I am convinced the Swifties had everything planned out in sequential order of events of how this whole thing would play out. The Swifties, IMO, are 5 steps ahead of the Kerry campaign.
Did you see my list of criticisms..?
My problem is that I walked away from the 2nd ad not being quite sure what they were charging Kerry with. You may like the ad, but you also know the story. Someone who only watches mainstream media news knows nothing about Kerry's anti-war activities. They know nothing about VVAW. They know nothing about The New Soldier. And after seeing this ad, they still will know nothing about any of them.
So who is this ad informing, and what is it informing them of?
That "Kerry gave to the enemy for free what many POWs took torture not to say"?
What does that even mean?
Why didn't they say instead that Kerry's testimony was used as PART of the the NVA's torture program, that the Communists forced the POWs to listen to Kerry accusing them of war crimes, then tortured them until they admitted to the same sorts of crimes?
Why didn't they say instead that Kerry's "admission" gave the North Vietnamese the "justification" they were looking for to torture POWs?
The problem with the way the Swifties are running their campaign here is that they are assuming everyone knows the stories that they know. They are going about it as if all they need to do if confirm what everyone already knows is true rather than to inform an otherwise uninformed public.
The average "swing voter" who is going to possibly decide this election is amazingly uninformed, and generally doesn't make up their mind unless it is spelled out for them in simple and direct language.
I think you must be confusing the ad with what it could have been. You're reading too much of your own editorial to it, based on what you already know. Because the truth is, when you read the transcript, very little is actually said.
And that's a shame, because there is so much that could have been said.
Then just how are the people to know who or what they are voting for if no one will stand up and tell them. The mainstream media sure as hell isn't going to tell your mom about Kerry's multiple lies. Negative adds work and they is why politicians use them. That is why incumbents that have the advantage of name recognition and are already holding the office don't want outside groups running them. The truth can hurt sometimes but it is better than living alternate reality. If you or your mom don't want know the truth turn off your tv till election day and go in and vote blind.
Have you ever filed a lawsuit and then just dropped it ..?? I pretty sure it doesn't work that way.
Navy Relief would appreciate the much needed funds.
Yes, I guess it's better to just let JF'nK lie and not respond or respond "kindly" so that people don't think they're being mean.
I guess Unan doesn't understand that this is a war and wars aren't friendly or nice. We are in a battle to save our country. I myself am willing to do whatever it takes to prevent JF'nK from winning in Nov.
Then your mom is one of those who just want people to "get along" too. NO doubt she also says "both sides are wrong." If you are too afraid to join in the fight, atleast quit nagging the heros, find something positive to do...like educating your mom on what it take to stand up to bullies, how to spot the lies and that BOTH sides are NOT wrong. ONE is.
Damn the torpedoes (mines as we know them now) full speed ahead.....
You can bet your patootie it will be the first thing O'Neill brings up on the first day of discovery.
But O'Neil can take discovery and Kerry would have to testify under oath. He ought to ask Clinton how that goes.
Well .. being from Massachusetts .. I can understand why you would say that.
But .. evidently you haven't heard that a polster asked the independents in the swing states (where the ad is running) if the ad affected how they would vote .. so far 44% have said they now have doubts about Kerry .. I guess that proves your "turn people off" is only correct in that it's turning OFF KERRY VOTERS.
Thank God O'neil finally took it to them. He is so right about it all. it is surprising that nobody at Fox news brought this out. If "Unfit" is untrue, then sue him. Kerrey is a f ing commie. People on the left and on the right ought to shut their mouths about O'Neil pulling his info from the public.
Bet it's a FReeper.
I love the smell of DNC sweat in the morning. LOL
Kerry definitely won't sue; he'd have to testify and all his records and he would be exposed for the fraud he is.
Unam Sanctam
Since Aug 15, 2000
Did you just join to say that the Swift Vets are being mean?
Softball?
We didn't see the same ad.
Why would Kerry sue? He's a public figure. Even if he's 100% right, and he isn't, he'd not win. His suit would be like peeing in the wind. He'd get with stuff he doensn't want to get wet with.
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