Posted on 08/31/2004 12:50:55 PM PDT by rface
Last week’s column, in which I wrote about a group I called the Swift Boat Liars, generated an unprecedented e-mail response. Within hours of its publication, about 60 e-mails bleeped in my inbox, most of them questioning my veracity, sanity, patriotism or manhood - sometimes all four. If anyone had figured out how to send anthrax by e-mail, I’d be dead already.
One week and a considerable amount of soul-searching later, I must acknowledge that I erred on a couple of points. Among other things, I accused the mainstream news media of swallowing the swift vet stories whole, without critical examination. It now appears that those smears have been pretty thoroughly debunked.
I also said President George W. Bush, by refusing to denounce the smear campaign, was effectively endorsing it. Bush subsequently stepped up and said he believes John Kerry has told the truth about his Vietnam service. That’s not exactly a denunciation, but it’s good enough for me.
In retrospect, it might have been unwise to paint the Kerry-hating swift-boat veterans as politically motivated liars. Even if their accounts don’t square with military records and other available evidence, some might have been honestly mistaken. I reread "The Red Badge of Courage" over the weekend and encourage others to do the same.
Although some of their recollections might be deliberately distorted, most of the swift-boat vets sincerely believe they’re doing the right thing by trying to get Bush a second term. As they see it, the end justifies the meanness.
I'll admit, I was a naysayer. I have never been so pleased to be dead wrong. In my defense, it was the first time in my life.:-)
this clown can't even kiss my ass....he'
s a complete fool
" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"
Why won't KERRY sue the SWBT and settle the whole thing ??
Or , show his Medical Records and the 100 pages of missing Navy Records ???
The Swifties were NOT "debunked". They were attacked by Kerry, but not a single thing they said was proven to be untrue.
Future generations of journalists may someday read about Forrest as part of a case study on what killed "Old Media".
Long way to go for a weak pun.
Yet another liberal drama queen.
MAN!
Can Forrest Rose make an apology or what!
Eddie Haskell placemarker.
"A chill wind is blowing in this nation."
Jeez! What a drama queen.
"ven if their accounts don’t square with military records"
What part of "Kerry doctored reports that lead to his "official" Navy records" does this dolt not understand?
I guess padding a resume is some completely foreign concept to this person.
OK. So has this super genius figured out how Kerry got a "V" on his Silver Star yet? Until he clears that one, he's just so much hot air.
From: "TC Rider"
Subject: Forest Rose - Swift Vets
To: editor@tribmail.com
"Although some of their recollections might be deliberately distorted, most of the swift-boat vets sincerely believe they’re doing the right thing by trying to get Bush a second term."
Sir,
You still just don't get it. You obviously have not taken the time to read their book or listen to their interviews. Their work has nothing to do with electing Bush, who many of them voted against in 2000.
It has everything to do with preventing Kerry from becoming Commander in Chief. A man they think is literally, "Unfit to Command".
BTW, you forgot to mention that the Kerry campaign has backed off on Kerry's Christmas in Cambodia tale, as well as admitting that his first purple heart was fraudulently earned. How long before the rest of Kerry's tissue of lies dissolve in the Mekong Delta. All the Swift Vets have asked is for Kerry release all of his records, as Bush has done.
TC Rider
Apex, NC
Nothing more need be said here.
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