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Posted on 08/28/2004 12:25:47 PM PDT by ambrose
Posted on Sat, Aug. 28, 2004
Protest staged at home of anti-Kerry ad backer
KRISTEN HAYS
Associated Press
NASSAU BAY, Texas - Nearly 40 protesters gathered Saturday at the suburban Houston home of the chief financial backer of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth's television ad criticizing Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's military record.
But the elusive Bob J. Perry didn't appear to be at his Nassau Bay home and didn't answer three doorbell rings by several veterans seeking to hand-deliver a letter asking him to stop supporting the swift boat veterans group.
"We deeply resent what he's doing to the veterans," said Richard Zaner, a 70-year-old veteran of the Korean War who lives in the same suburb as Perry, founder of Texas homebuilding giant Perry Homes and the top GOP contributor in the state.
The letter, written by James Rine, 57, a retired U.S. Army captain who served in the Vietnam era, said, "I feel that honest political debate is our patriotic duty. I also feel interference with that debate by the injection of lies is nothing sort of sedition." Zaner and several other veterans also signed the letter, which they left at the door.
When a next-door neighbor who didn't identify himself gruffly ordered the men to "Get off the property," they complied and joined the pro-Kerry protesters, whose chants included, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, your stinkin' ad has got to go."
A Nassau Bay policeman parked nearby didn't interfere with the peaceful action.
Bill Miller, Perry's spokesman, said this week that Perry provided at least $100,000 to help found the group at the request of his friend John O'Neill, a Houston attorney who co-wrote "Unfit for Command," a new book which questions Kerry's military service. Miller also said Perry, who doesn't grant interviews, was in Mexico this week.
The ads, which ran in three key swing states earlier this month, challenged Kerry's wartime service in Vietnam for which he received five medals. The ads said Kerry didn't deserve his Purple Hearts, lied to get his Bronze Star and Silver Star and unfairly labeled all veterans in testimony about atrocities in Vietnam to Congress in 1971.
The Kerry campaign says the veterans group is a front for President Bush's re-election campaign. Kerry, a Navy swift boat skipper during the war, said criticism of his decorated service in Vietnam has "become so petty it's almost pathetic in a way." Bush denounced the ads Monday after they were no longer on the air.
In Texas, Perry has given more than $5.2 million to state candidates and committees since 2000, according to Texans for Public Justice, a nonpartisan group that tracks campaign contributions.
In the 2002 election cycle, Perry was the state's largest individual contributor to the Texas Republican Party ($905,000) and to the campaigns of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst ($115,000) and Attorney General Greg Abbott, who got $387,500 from Perry and $150,000 from Perry's wife, Doylene.
Republican Gov. Rick Perry - who is no relation to the homebuilder - has received $225,000 from Perry since 2001.
But Bob Perry shuns publicity and doesn't hobnob with the social or political elite.
Sharon McNamara, a Kerry supporter who lives across the street from Perry, confirmed that he is reclusive. She also noted she had a brother who served in Vietnam and died after being exposed to Agent Orange, and she supported Kerry and the protesters.
"We never see them coming and going," she said. "Occasionally I'll see him ride a bike around the neighborhood. I hope his plan to fund this kind of smear campaign will backfire."
"But the elusive Bob J. Perry didn't appear to be at his Nassau Bay home and didn't answer three doorbell rings by several veterans seeking to hand-deliver a letter asking him to stop supporting the swift boat veterans group. "
They are really getting desperate!
Really pathetic..
Ooh boy! So when are we going to sit outside soros' home and whine?
DemoThugs...
You've got to be elusive is you're part of the Bush propaganda machine!!! Baa-baaaa-baaaaammmmmmm...... ;)
Wow!! This thing is really "eatin' their dinner" isn't it? The Prez in all the smear attacks against him has never reacted like this. I think we've hit a nerve.
I thought Perry has also given $$ to Sheila Jackson Lee in the past for her campaign..
What next? a "boat people for Kerry" or "orphans for Kerry" parade. Pathetic.
Whats with all these hand delivered letters? Don't they trust the Pony Express?
"...seeking to hand-deliver a letter asking him to stop supporting the swift boat veterans group."
It really IS true about leftist idiots; symbols count for more than substance.
You know, I say this often, but our side really has to toughen up in the face ofthese jokers in the years ahead. One reason they are so bold is that wehave consistently dropped the ball in holding them accountable for their behavior.
It's time to change.
Hey Bob
Maybe you should invest a couple of bucks in a fence!!
Keeps out the riff raff and crazy neighbors
Someone needs to teach the dumokrats about this thing called the "Post Office".
To print out and wear as a Campaign Button, go HERE. Over 2,500 hits as of 8/28! Feel free to reuse this anywhere you wish..."We deeply resent what he's doing to the veterans," said Richard Zaner, a 70-year-old veteran of the Korean War who lives in the same suburb as Perry, founder of Texas homebuilding giant Perry Homes and the top GOP contributor in the state.
The letter, written by James Rine, 57, a retired U.S. Army captain who served in the Vietnam era, said, "I feel that honest political debate is our patriotic duty. I also feel interference with that debate by the injection of lies is nothing sort of sedition." Zaner and several other veterans also signed the letter, which they left at the door.
Hanoi John seems to be able to get some veterans - in their twos and threes - to protest the feeling of others veterans in their thousands. It ain’t gonna work.
bump TO SUPPORT THE NEW SWIFT VETS AD AND GEORGE BUSH... http://swift2.he.net/~swift2/gardner2.mpg
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