Ad Renews Charges of Bush-Saudi Ties

Washington Post ^ | Friday, September 24, 2004; Page A07 | Kurtz

[ironman]

She [Vice President Dianne Brandi] also turned down the latest spot from Swift Boat Veterans for Truth because it "accuses Kerry of treason, a crime punishable by death."

[USA_Soccer]

Seems like O'reilly's newfound Irish/Catholic feelings for Kerry are spreading at FoxNews :(

[PMCarey]

I'm less enamored with the Swift Vets ads now. The first was great because it was the Swifties talking about what they saw and what they knew firsthand and their faces were on the camera to back up their words. The ads that came after were the typical hit ads with the faceless voiceover. True or not, they're less effective and quite frankly, more annoying.

[Mister Baredog]

Fox seems to be in 'appeasement' mode quite a bit lately-- are they under pressure to get their ad rates up?

I think they see themselves as a "big dog" now and they have to "swing" to the "middle" to grow their network. THEY ARE WRONG and it will cost them many loyal viewers if the keep it up.

[HalleysFifth]

I don't think that they Swifty ads accuse Kerry of treason, but of betrayal. There is a difference.

That's true. John O'Neill (who is himself an attorney) explained that "treason" is a criminal charge, and that it is now too late to prosecute Kerry for it. But he still betrayed America.

[GoLightly]

Not a "news" show, but a pundit fill editorial show. It was played on Hannity & Colmes.

[MHT]

Don't worry--they'll be shown on Fox--as part of every anchor's program with a follow-up in-depth discussion about whether or not there is truth is the allegations and whether or not a broadcasting organization has a right or obligation to preview ads.

One way or another, Fox viewers will see them--and probably without charge to the Swift Vets.

[thulldud]

Technically, it's not treason because Vietnam wasn't technically a war. It was a "conflict" (remember?)

Does that sound confusing? Hey, Korea wasn't a "war" either, but a "police action"

All thanks to the house that Alger built. The end of that can't come soon enough for me.

[smith288]

Sounds like censorship to me.

Look up censorship. You apparently dont understand the meaning in terms of the first amendment.

[CharacterCounts]

This will just result in the free airing of the ads as a news item.

[USMA83]

Fownews is a business unit and can run or not run any ad they chose. It's their time they are selling. A private business can not censor, only governments do that.

[jbwbubba]

So the swiftvets aren't saying kill him. heck Bush has been accused of treason, essentially in any number of moveon and media fund ads

[sweetiepiezer]

Yeah, so what is the problem.
Treason is punishable by death.

[Graybeard58]

I've seen it a few times on Fox as a news item. It has the same effect either way.

[longtermmemmory]

link to ad?

[ml1954]

Whatever

[JDLinn]

Yeah, what's up with O'Reilly? For a "Conservative" talk show host, he sames to change colors when the TV lights hit him ... hmmm. Fox or chamelian

[HalleysFifth]

Sounds like censorship...

Censorship is exclusively a government action.

[WashStateGirl]

wow, that is SUCH a damming photo that you have posted there e.pluribus... it sure puts things in to stark relief... Communists and Kerry... HOW DARE HE do that? "Double Agent Kerry, reporting for Duty!"

[georgiegirl]

My husband and I were surprised to see CNN ads on Fox News. What's up with that?

[DallasMike]

I don't think that they Swifty ads accuse Kerry of treason, but of betrayal. There is a difference.

I have to agree. I would even say that we should go no further than saying that John Kerry did not act in the best interests of his country. Using loaded words like "treason" won't resonate well with viewers. Think of AlGore calling Bush a "traitor." All it did was make AlGore look like a nut.