Posted on 12/21/2004 3:55:29 PM PST by Mike Fieschko
WASHINGTON - The end of the 2004 presidential election campaign doesn't spell the end of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the well-funded alliance of former servicemen that remains dedicated to preventing Sen. John Kerry from becoming president.The group, which recently changed its name to Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth, plans to convene next month to celebrate its successes and to consider speaking out further about Kerry's military service, his anti-war activities afterward, and other issues, says William E. Franke, who ran the organization's day-to-day operations.
In his first interview about his role in the anti-Kerry group, Franke, a Navy veteran who served briefly as publisher of the old St. Louis Globe-Democrat in the 1980s, said his group succeeded in its mission to discredit Kerry and may help distribute a controversial film attacking the Massachusetts senator.
Kerry has given no indication that he might seek the Democratic nomination in 2008 and would probably encounter resistance from many in his party if he did.
Nonetheless, Franke made clear that his disdain for Kerry had not abated and that his group was keeping a wary eye on the senator's activities.
Franke offered no new evidence for his claims that Kerry misstated facts about his Vietnam service.
But he said the swift boat group's members remained frustrated, feeling that the news media did not bore in sufficiently on what he regards as unanswered questions about Kerry's service records. He added that he was troubled by a political dust-up in Kerry's home state recently that may have cost the group's public relations firm, Virginia-based Creative Response Concepts, a contract with the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.
"They have called us rag merchants and liars and scum and every name under the sun. But what he has never done is respond substantively to our accusations," said Franke. He said the group might issue more "statements" about Kerry, but he wasn't specific.
Kerry spokesman David Wade repeated assertions from the campaign that Kerry made all his military records public except for private medical records, and that even those had been viewed by a group of reporters last spring.
"This was a smear campaign led by right-wing Republicans who were willing to lie because they hated John Kerry for having spoken out against the war in Vietnam after he came home," Wade said, responding to questions in an e-mail.
"There's a reason why Franke stayed in a secure, undisclosed location during the campaign: This man had no respect for the truth. ... History already has discredited Bill Franke and his right-wing crusade. His 15 minutes of fame are over," Wade said.
The ability of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and other "527s" to operate in the future as they did this year probably will depend on Congress. The 527s, so named for the tax code provision that governs them, emerged as a force this election as a result of what critics regard as a loophole in the recent campaign finance law.
Among the criticisms are that 527s operate with no donor limits and fewer reporting requirements. One of the legislation's main sponsors, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has vowed further efforts to rein them in.
The Center for Public Integrity, a non-partisan watchdog group in Washington, reported Thursday that the 527 groups raised $434 million this year and "played a major role, perhaps a decisive role" in the election.
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth raised $27.2 million, Franke said, most of it in a three-month period starting in July.
In one measure of success, a poll in 12 battleground states taken on election night by a Republican polling firm found that the swift boat veterans' ads were far more recognizable and had more impact than ads of pro-Kerry groups.
"Most people, even Democrats, grudgingly acknowledge that those ads were hugely effective," said Charles Lewis, executive director of the Center for Public Integrity.
Franke referred to his group as "a substantive organization" and said it had a 150,000-strong donor list. He said it would be considering proposals related to veterans issues when members convene Jan. 26 in Orlando, Fla., for two days.
NEVER FORGET or FORGIVE THE TRAITOR JOHN KERRY!
Kerry SwiftBoat ping
Hmmm... when was the last time a losing candidate for the Presidency was the Candidate during the following Election?
Ping
Really? Thank you.
"Nonetheless, Franke made clear that his disdain for Kerry had not abated and that his group was keeping a wary eye on the senator's activities."
Salutes to the Truthful Spirit...
Truth is the honorable avenger.
Hallelujah - where do I sign up???
It ain't over till it's over - sign the 180, John - or go away.
Kerry has two choices...
1) Sign the 180.
2) STFU!
1) Sign the 180.
2) STFU!
I vote for #2...or, in the spirit of "Let's Make a Deal", let's find out what is behind door #3...(resign from public office immediately)
Never Forget!
Sign up here:
http://www.swiftvets.com
Semper Fi,
Kelly
Actually he could resign his Senate seat in shame (if he had any, which I doubt), or he could lose the next election. I would prefer the former, but if the later were to happen it would be pleasant.
I know the perfect solution: pass a law that only Democrat leaning 527s are legal. Isn't that the dream solution of most 'Rats?
There is no need to impeach Hanoi Kerry from the US Senate
He is there illegally!
Hanoi Kerry is in violation of
US Constitution 14th Amendment Section 3
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment14/
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President,
or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State,
who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress,
or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature,
or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States,
shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same,
or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.
But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Violation of 18 USC 2381
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00002381----000-.html
Treason
Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States,
levies war against them or adheres to their enemies,
giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere,
is guilty of treason and shall suffer death,
or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined
under this title but not less than $10,000;
and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.
Violation of 18 USC 953
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sec_18_00000953----000-.html
Private correspondence with foreign governments
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States,
directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse
with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof,
with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government
or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes
or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States,
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply,
himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents
thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained
from such government or any of its agents or subjects.
Violation of UCMJ Section 904. ART. 104.
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/ucmj2.htm
AIDING THE ENEMY
Any person who--
(1) aids, or attempts to aid, the enemy with arms, ammunition, supplies, money, or other things; or
(2) without proper authority, knowingly harbors or [protects or gives intelligence to or
communicates or corresponds with or holds any intercourse with the enemy, either directly or indirectly;
shall suffer death or such other punishment as a court-martial or military commission may direct.
Petition to Investigate and Indict
Hanoi Kerry for acts of treason
http://patriotpetitions.us/kerry/
Timeline of Hanoi Kerry
http://www.archive-news.net/Kerry/JK_timeline.html
VVAW, FBI files and John Kerry,
What stockpirate has found
http://www.freerepublic.com/~stockpirate/
Viet Nam Vets are NOT going away
until Hanoi Kerry is removed from office!
212 LINKS to Anti Kerry sites
News reports,
Viper's Vietnam Veterans Page
http://members.aol.com/ga1449ga/links/links.html
Contact your current
senators and representatives
and main stream right wing media
and find out why Hanoi Kerry still is in the US Senate.
Demand that this traitor is removed from the US Senate now!
Don't be like the silent majority in the 60's and 70's
and turn your back on America and cave in to the anti war minority.
Speak up for America today!
Distribute these url's!
EXPOSE HANOI KERRY!
Full details on these url's!
http://tonkin.spymac.net/hanoikerry1.html
There is a backup site
if the 1st url is unavailable.
http://stophanoikerry.150m.com
John Kerry isnt fit to be a Senator. If the Swiftees can defeat him in Mass. they will be doing Mass. a favor. Kerry has not signed the 180 ,if he is so squeaky clean why doesnt he? The Swift Boat vets are made up of many men who won medals one of them the CMH yet still articles insinuate they are a pack of liars.Open your records Kerry and lets see them.
Yes. I remember it. I was 9 years old.
He was a kind of pathetic figure. Especially up against Ike.
Big Swifties ~ Bump!
AMEN! I think the 180 form needs to become a loud broken record in every media, venu, opportunity.
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