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Swift Boat group still isn't through with Kerry Meeting In January To Focus On Vets [Jan 26 Orlando]
Kentucky.com ^ | Dec 19, 2004 | Bill Lambrecht

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.



TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; hanoikerry; notfondakerry; sedition; swiftboat; swiftboatveterans; swiftboatvets; swiftees; swifties; swiftvets; swiftvetsdotcom; traitor; treason; unfit; unfitforcommand; wintersoldierdotcom
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To: Alberta's Child

Oh boy, they are on Kerry like stink on sh!t, LOL.


41 posted on 12/21/2004 9:03:54 PM PST by Victoria Delsoul
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
and to consider speaking out further about Kerry's military service, his anti-war activities afterward, and other issues

Let's hope and pray they by-pass consider and keep on doing the job they have so bravely embarked. We need their leadership in this endeavor.

Vietnam Vet BTTT

42 posted on 12/21/2004 10:26:06 PM PST by exhaustedmomma (Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!)
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To: JLO; Mike Fieschko
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.

I see Kerry folks are STILL lying. Kerry did NOT release his military records. He NEVER did sign form 180 authorizing their release.

I HIGHLY suspect that Kerry's discharge was something OTHER that honorable.


43 posted on 12/22/2004 1:43:22 AM PST by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP! ©)
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To: JLO; Mike Fieschko
Darn fingers! That s/b "..... thaN honorable."

44 posted on 12/22/2004 1:45:46 AM PST by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP! ©)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

BTTT!!!!!!!


45 posted on 12/22/2004 3:05:46 AM PST by E.G.C.
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To: KeyLargo

Never Forget the Liar Senator Kennedy!


46 posted on 12/22/2004 6:25:40 AM PST by Wizard73 (What do you call 1000 ACLU Lawyers buried up to their neck in Snake country? Gophers!)
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To: judywillow

Bottom Line Bill has the Crew to help Hillary solve the problem Kerry might cause to her run to the white House!
Hillary and Ted in the next election! Them Against who????


47 posted on 12/22/2004 6:34:28 AM PST by Wizard73 (What do you call 1000 ACLU Lawyers buried up to their neck in Snake country? Gophers!)
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To: shubi

Post 15 lays the case out pretty clearly doesn't it.


48 posted on 12/22/2004 8:12:54 AM PST by RKV ( He who has the guns, makes the rules)
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Comment #49 Removed by Moderator

To: C210N
I know the perfect solution: pass a law that only Democrat leaning 527s are legal. Isn't that the dream solution of most 'Rats?

That's probably the "solution" McCain favors too.

50 posted on 12/22/2004 8:58:02 AM PST by Bernard Marx (Don't make the mistake of interpreting my Civility as Servility)
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To: RKV

Yep. Now why our "representatives" don't have the b@((s
to do something is the next question.


51 posted on 12/22/2004 12:01:34 PM PST by shubi (Peace through superior firepower.)
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To: Mike Fieschko

markkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


52 posted on 12/22/2004 10:45:41 PM PST by bitt
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To: Mike Fieschko

Trilled. Keep on the criminal until he pays dues.


53 posted on 01/01/2005 4:28:13 PM PST by Earthdweller (US descendant of French Protestants)
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