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Bush pulls a Swift one-He has Kerry caught in a dilemma on soft-money attack ads
New York Daily News ^ | 8/25/04 | Zev Chafets

Posted on 08/25/2004 2:39:01 AM PDT by kattracks

Everybody knows President Bush is a bass fisherman. But the President has spent most of August reeling in a more exotic specimen: the Giant New England Slack-Jaw.

Years from now, when tales of the catch are told around GOP campfires, small boys will marvel at how the supposedly intelligent Kerryfish swallowed Bush's bait, hook, line and sinker.

Slack-jaw season started in January, when John Kerry won the Iowa caucuses with help from a band of Vietnam character witnesses. At the time, Bush realized three simple truths:

1) Kerry would be his Democratic opponent. 2) The theme of Kerry's campaign would be his heroic military service. 3) Kerry would fund his campaign largely with so-called 527 soft money put up by anti-Bush billionaires who until then had been flirting with Howard Dean.

On May 4, a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth held a press conference in Washington, denouncing Kerry. It is possible Bush was taken by surprise by this. It is also possible the moon's made of blue cheese.

Still, it is highly doubtful that Bush put the Swifties up to their attack. He didn't need to. They obviously hate Kerry's guts. All the President had to do was sit quietly and watch. Patience is the fisherman's friend.

Some of the Swiftie charges against Kerry's war record are highly debatable. Others - that Kerry invented a "life-changing" experience in Cambodia or that he slandered U.S. troops when he came home from the war - are matters of public record.

Either way, one thing is indisputable: The allegations have done Kerry a great deal of harm.

It took him a surprisingly long time to realize that. When he did, he tried to get off the hook in awkward ways - dispatching lawyers to scare TV stations into censoring Swiftie ads, pressuring bookstores to ban the Swiftie bible, "Unfit to Command," even appealing to the toothless Federal Election Commission to make his erstwhile comrades-in-arms shut up. But to no avail.

Finally Kerry demanded that Bush himself step in and silence the Swifties. It was a moment Bush had been waiting for.

On Monday, down in Crawford, Tex., Dubya hitched up his jeans, sauntered out to a press conference and allowed as to how he'd be glad to help his worthy opponent. But, just to be fair, he said, let's shut down the negative campaigning by all 527 groups. Goodbye, Swifties. So long, MoveOn. Just say the word, Sen. Kerry, and we'll take all the nasty dollars out of politics.

But Kerry hasn't said that word. He probably can't. His entire campaign finance structure is predicated on 527 money. Of the top 10 soft donors, nine are Kerry supporters. Combined, they have already raised more than $100 million for the Democrats. The Swifties, by contrast, have raised much less than 1% of that. For Bush, soft money is just a dab of Texas perfume; for Kerry, it's oxygen.

So, the President comes off as the champion of upright McCain-Feingold reform, while Kerry is stuck with George Soros & Co. If the senator cuts off his billionaire backers, he suffocates. If he sticks with Soros, et al., he's stuck with the Swifties, too. That's a hook Kerry can wriggle on until Nov. 2. Then Bush will throw him back.

The 43rd President is often said by his critics to be a dunce. Maybe. But in politics, as in fishing, you don't have to be a genius. You just have to be smarter than the fish.

Originally published on August 25, 2004



TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 527; 527groups; ads; campaignfinance; kerry; moveon; soros
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To: PROUDAMREP
British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declared "Peace in our time" after visiting Hitler in Munich. Six monthes later Hitler invaded Chechoslavakia. Chamberlain was ripped later by Parliament and was replaced by Churchill.

In other words Chamberlain was a kiss-ass coward who was afraid to confront the gathering storm that was Hitler.

41 posted on 08/25/2004 5:18:39 AM PDT by normy (Just cause you think you can box, doesn't mean you're ready to climb in the ring with Ali.)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub; Radix; Kathy in Alaska; MoJo2001; LaDivaLoca; Fawnn; Bethbg79; ...
If the senator cuts off his billionaire backers, he suffocates. If he sticks with Soros, et al., he's stuck with the Swifties, too.

Looks like kerry is stuck in a very bad situation ping. This is one issue that will take its toll on the john/john ticket. They can't have it their way, without hurting the campaign.

42 posted on 08/25/2004 5:45:28 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952 (kerry and the RATs can't stand facts or truth.)
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To: kattracks
Superb short piece...wonder if the "fish" has read it??

Also wonder if Soros & Co. have read it??

43 posted on 08/25/2004 5:50:00 AM PDT by Logic n' Reason (Don't piss down my back and tell me it's rainin')
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To: kattracks
The 43rd President is often said by his critics to be a dunce. Maybe. But in politics, as in fishing, you don't have to be a genius. You just have to be smarter than the fish.

Ow!!

44 posted on 08/25/2004 5:53:00 AM PDT by VadeRetro
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To: kattracks

Ah, yes, the Munster-fish.


45 posted on 08/25/2004 5:56:39 AM PDT by Marysecretary (GOD is STILL in control, even if Bush loses in 2004!)
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To: beyond the sea
But only intelligent observers will realize this. Too bad there aren't enough voters who fit that category. That's the real problem!

Oh, the voters will undoubtedly hear about it.

That little nugget about "9 out of 10 top soft money donors are Kerry supporters" is probably going to find itself in one of the splendid "Kerry says ... Kerry does" ads. (See his position on campaign finance reform.)

46 posted on 08/25/2004 6:00:56 AM PDT by r9etb
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To: VadeRetro

The Swifies are not the only group that is standing up and fighting John Kerry.
We at catholicsagainstkerry.com are putting up radio spots that will explain the threat to Catholic values that Kerry really is.
We need your help.
Please come to our site and please donate to this radio project. You can be part of history by doing this.
Even a small donation will help.
Thank you


47 posted on 08/25/2004 6:04:13 AM PDT by jmaroneps37 ( Kerry's not "one of us": catholicsagainstkerry.com. needs your help.)
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To: kattracks
"But in politics, as in fishing, you don't have to be a genius. You just have to be smarter than the fish."

Heh

48 posted on 08/25/2004 6:06:15 AM PDT by MNnice
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To: kattracks

"So, the President comes off as the champion of upright McCain-Feingold reform, while Kerry is stuck with George Soros & Co. If the senator cuts off his billionaire backers, he suffocates. If he sticks with Soros, et al., he's stuck with the Swifties, too. That's a hook Kerry can wriggle on until Nov. 2. Then Bush will throw him back. "

Nails it. And you know the President will say something about the 527's at the Convention in prime time, saying we should stop them all.

The contrast between that and Kerry's position, which seems to be ban pro Bush 527's, won't be lost on average Americans.


49 posted on 08/25/2004 6:11:24 AM PDT by Badeye ("Review Kerry's voting record")
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To: kattracks

"...Kerry looks worn down."

Dubya looks great. I bet he sleeps well at night.


50 posted on 08/25/2004 6:14:11 AM PDT by keats5
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To: kattracks

Excellent!!!


51 posted on 08/25/2004 6:14:58 AM PDT by mathluv (Protect my grandchildren's future. Vote for Bush/Cheney '04.)
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To: TaxRelief

Ping for a good article.


52 posted on 08/25/2004 6:19:06 AM PDT by Constitution Day (...Reporting live from the Holy Barbecue City of Wilson, NC...)
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To: PeaceBeWithYou

Thanks for the ping! Good article.

A good Bass fisherman always waits patiently... for the fish to be caught HOOK, LINE, and SINKER

:o)


53 posted on 08/25/2004 6:21:23 AM PDT by Txslady
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To: Chieftain

Uurah

Nice sticker (the one in the bottom right corner) :)


54 posted on 08/25/2004 6:44:51 AM PDT by Leatherneck_MT (Goodnight Chesty, wherever you may be.)
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To: bondjamesbond

Oh, Mr. Bond, I simply MUST remember that! What a neat party trick! That's work around the water cooler, too!

Just gotta remember my lines, that's all...


55 posted on 08/25/2004 6:55:23 AM PDT by Old Sarge (ZOT 'em all, let MOD sort 'em out!)
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To: Belisaurius
Nicely said, Mr. Chavets

Except this piece of shrapnel..that flew out of Chavets mouth.

"The 43rd President is often said by his critics to be a dunce. Maybe."

56 posted on 08/25/2004 7:01:48 AM PDT by Osage Orange ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good"- Hillary Clinton)
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To: Michael121
Kerry sent a story to a humane society club saying he had a dog on the boats and it went MIA when a MINE blew up a boat..... so there was no MINE????

Huh?

CA....

57 posted on 08/25/2004 8:02:01 AM PDT by Chances Are (Whew! It seems I've once again found that silly grin!)
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To: tutstar
YES! You can watch the 71 debate between O'Neill and Kerry on CSPAN.com and after seeing it the other day I told hubby these guys have never liked Kerry. I heard a news report something to the effect "why have the swift vets waited until now?" Hello!! O'Neill took Kerry to the mat over 30 years ago and he ain't backing down now!

Exactly, Heck, Garry Trudeau didn't like Kerry back then, as his Doonesbury comic strips from the time show him to view Kerry as an arrogant jerk.

58 posted on 08/25/2004 11:11:29 AM PDT by NYCVirago
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To: kattracks

I have said this about GWB more then once, "He has been to lucky to be lucky." Just because we Texans talk slow and butcher the english language like a yearling calf it does not mean we think slow.


59 posted on 08/25/2004 11:26:37 AM PDT by TXBSAFH (Bandwidth is too good for these (L)users.)
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To: PeaceBeWithYou

Thanks for the ping :)


60 posted on 08/26/2004 4:38:04 PM PDT by dixie267
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