Posted on 06/22/2008 11:27:28 AM PDT by neverdem
For most people, “Swift boat” has become a political verb, a synonym for the kind of attack that helped destroy the presidential campaign of Senator John Kerry in 2004.
But for a group of Vietnam veterans at the center of the attacks, it is still a fresh fight.
On Friday, the group, who served with Mr. Kerry in Vietnam, sent a letter to T. Boone Pickens, the billionaire Texas oilman who helped finance the 2004 attack advertisements, taking him up on a challenge he issued last November: that he would give $1 million to anyone who could disprove a single charge the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth made against Mr. Kerry.
The letter-writers served alongside Mr. Kerry during the events that the Swift boat group insisted he had embellished or made up to win his military decorations.
Identifying themselves as “patriotic, concerned veterans” they say the accusations of the Swift boat group damaged their reputations and deeply affected their families, “tarnished the sacrifices we made, called into question the medals we were awarded and challenged the very authenticity of our service.”
The group is working with Mr. Kerry, who himself seized on the challenge soon after Mr. Pickens made it at an American Spectator dinner. In a letter, he offered to meet with Mr. Pickens to rebut the charges. Mr. Pickens wrote back to say that he was good for his money, but that Mr. Kerry would have to provide his military record, the journal he kept in Vietnam and movies and tapes made in his tours there.
Mr. Pickens also qualified his challenge, saying he meant that someone would have to prove false things in the group’s television advertisements — putting aside a best-selling book and extensive news media interviews that attracted the bulk of the attention. He challenged...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I would bet that his discharge was changed when Carter was prez.
I support The swift boat vets 100%
I prolly was responsible for the sale of 2 dozen of the books.
I know I bought 2 myself.
I gotta say that since then I have distanced myself from Jerome Corsi.
The book worked and I believe its all true, but it was some ugly stuff and all McCain is saying is dont go there.
McCain’s response to the Kerry/SBVFT simply points out what even other Republican Senators have mentioned -—
McCain can NOT be trusted.
McCain is for McCain before McCain is for ANYTHING else.
McCain is arrogant with a short temper.
McCain was 100% for Illegal Aliens until he saw it was too damaging to his political career.
McCain has broken most promises or oathes known to have been made.
I haven’t forgotten that it was McCain teamed up with Kerry in the Senate - that WHITEWASHED Communist Vietnam’s POW/MIA record and compliance with revealing ALL THAT WAS KNOWN by the Communists..... Kerry’s family benefited financially by virtue of his relative being awarded a lucrative contract by the Communists once the Senate gave them a “clean bill of health”.......
During the hearings - there were reports that McCain showed more respect to his former captors than to the families of the unaccounted for POW/MIA..
For a vet of the era -— this is too tough a pill to swallow.
Why should we now trust him anymore that Obama?
Is McCain the lesser of evils?
Will McCain keep his promise to pursue the war against Militant Islam?
Will McCain be able to seat Judges we would find acceptable??
Will McCain be able to keep these promises — even if he meant them - in a Democrat controlled Congress..?
It’s a crap shoot at best....
If we’re headed for 4 years of chaos, pandemonium and ruin -— there is some rational for letting the Democrats have the White House and take full credit...
It took the disaster of Carter’s administration to turn the Congress and Nation around the last time......
Cool! This battle won't end until effinkerry is political dust.
I dont want to see Carter repeated times 1000.
I joined during the hostage crisis and prayed that the idiot would figure out that we wanted to get the job done.
I was a dumb kid.
We cant afford to let Obama have the supreme court and the house and the senate
This thread is getting lively.
“It’s a crap shoot at best....”
I’ll take those odds.
Do you remember how bad it was back then?
The entire country was self loathing.
My suspicion is that Kerry's fellow officers at the time (i.e, those who became the SBVFT) demanded he leave the unit -- since they didn't trust him in a combat situation.
They may have suggested -- or Kerry might have conceived -- the notion of claiming a third PH in order to not just depart the unit in dishonor, but to get out of Dodge clean.
Kerry managed it somehow...and was gone from the unit.
I'm inclined toward this version of events because of everybody's future actions. Upon returning to the states, Kerry immediately turned on his fellows in the military -- as if he had revenge in mind. He has remained adamantly anti-military ever since.
Moreover, his fellow officers remained mum about events -- according him honor, though he returned none. But once Kerry became a candidate for the Presidency...the SBVT gathered almost immediately. Tellingly, O'Neill and about half of the group had developed strong ties to the Democrat party over the previous thirty years -- which they foreswore as being of less importance than stopping a man like Kerry.
I believe these men know more about Kerry and his circumstances than they are willing to tell...
I wasn't aware that anyone asked you to...
My post was simply to call your attention to a FACTUAL episode in McCain past - that flawed him severely in many folks opinion...
McCain did in FACT come to Kerry's defense - and made indefensible comments about the truthfulness and honor of DOZENS of Swift Boat men and Officers who KNEW the truth about Kerry....
If after knowing the truth - McCain is still your man -- then so be it..
But don't be blind in your support...
At least acknowledge the man has his flaws - and they are significant....
At least KNOW what you're buying.
Lets elect McCain and hold the ol boys feet to the fire
In a very roundabout way...
“I deplore this kind of politics,” McCain said. “I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable. As it is, none of these individuals served on the boat (Kerry) commanded. Many of his crew have testified to his courage under fire. I think John Kerry served honorably in Vietnam. I think George Bush served honorably in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War.”
If its dishonest, he just called the swiftees liars!
I think you’re parsing words
You know what gang? Lets just quit!
Call it a day! We cant win. We’re LOSERS.
Sigh.... That felt good but its gonna suck in the morning...
Notice too -- that the Admiral didn't call McCain a liar, nor did the Admiral call the White House or Senate and ask them to muzzle McCain....
Once again - the Admiral showed what CLASS and TRUTH and the freedom to speak the TRUTH are all about...
Unfortunately, in this case - McCain wouldn't have known the truth if it had bitten him in the ass.
The 1st Amendment is important to McCain -- ONLY when he is speaking.... The rights of others, apparently requires his permission...
No, when Kerry reported in-country, he went to essentially a training command, Coastal Division 14. He spent one month there before being transferred to Coastal Division 11 for three months. You are right that people didn't trust him. He spent a total of about 4 and one-half months in country.
If you haven't read Unfit for Command, you should.
I think you have the first part of that correct
If it was a BCD, (bad conduct discharge) or less than honorable, his discharge papers may not show it...
Around the time he got out they stopped puting the type of discharge on the DD214 because it effected the guy’s future and followed him into civilian life...college loans..jobs etc..
More clarity from someone please ???
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