McCain condemns anti-Kerry ads, calls on White House to follow suit

Boston Globe ^ | 5 August 2004 | Ron Fournier

[demlosers]

WASHINGTON (AP) Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry's military service ''dishonest and dishonorable'' and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as well.

''It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me,'' McCain said in an interview with The Associated Press, referring to his bitter Republican primary fight with President Bush.

[americanmother]

You posted on 31 just what I was thinking. I have a friend that was a POW. He is very unhappy with Kerry and McCain.

[bondjamesbond]

Senator McCain knows that Senator Kerry is a member of the same club. He will defend Kerry against this sort of thing reflexively.

Senators McCain and Kerry have copyrighted the word "Vietnam", and they are the only two veterans in the United States authorized to talk about it, don'tcha know...

[dennisw]

There is no logic to McCain's premise.

Who needs logic when your   ego is out of control???

I think once McCain got out of that NV prison he promised himself he would do whatever he damn well pleased since he had paid his dues in suffering.

[montag813]

''It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me,'' McCain said

HUH? Did I miss this? When did anyone run ads accusing McCain of faking being a prisoner of war? Faking his wounds? Exaggerating his time in captivity? When did anyone run ANY ads criticizing his experience in Vietnam???

[Lijahsbubbe]

''It reopens all the old wounds of the Vietnam War, which I spent the last 35 years trying to heal,'' he said."

Me, me, me, I, I, I. It's all about McCain. He singlehandedly tried to heal the nation. Hurl.

[cricket]

GEEZZZZZZZZZ, I wonder when he is going to call Lurch to tell him to SHUT the Boss, Hollywood and the mediaWHORES up?!! I'll be waiting with bated breath!

Worth repeating this question. . .

[demlosers]

From the Toronto Star:


Aug. 5, 2004. 11:00 AM

McCain condemns anti-Kerry ads

RON FOURNIER
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry's military service "dishonest and dishonourable" and urged the White House today to condemn it as well.

"It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me," McCain said in an interview with The Associated Press, referring to his bitter Republican primary fight with President Bush.

The 60-second ad features Vietnam veterans who accuse the Democratic presidential nominee of lying about his decorated Vietnam War record and betraying his fellow veterans by later opposing the conflict.

"When the chips were down, you could not count on John Kerry," one of the veterans, Larry Thurlow, says in the ad.

The ad, scheduled to air in a few markets in Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin, was produced by Stevens, Reed, Curcio and Potham, the same team that produced McCain's ads in 2000.

"I wish they hadn't done it," McCain said of his former advisers. "I don't know if they knew all the facts."

Asked if the White House knew about the ad or helped find financing for it, McCain said, "I hope not, but I don't know. But I think the Bush campaign should specifically condemn the ad."

Later, McCain said the Bush campaign has denied any involvement and added, "I can't believe the president would pull such a cheap stunt."

The White House did not immediately address McCain's call that they repudiate the spot.

Steve Schmidt, a spokesperson for the Bush-Cheney campaign, said Kerry's record and statements on the war on terrorism — not his service in Vietnam — are fair game. "The Bush campaign never has and will never question John Kerry's service in Vietnam," he said.

In 2000, Bush's supporters sponsored a rumour campaign against McCain in the South Carolina primary, helping Bush win the primary and the nomination. McCain's supporters have never forgiven the Bush team.

McCain said that's all in the past to him, but he's speaking out against the anti-Kerry ad because he believes it's bad for the political system. "It reopens all the old wounds of the Vietnam War, which I spent the last 35 years trying to heal," he said.

"I deplore this kind of politics. I think the ad is dishonest and dishonourable. 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 honourably in Vietnam. I think George Bush served honourably in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War."

McCain himself spent more than five years in a Vietnam prisoner of war camp. A bona fide war hero, McCain, like Kerry, used his war record as the foundation of his presidential campaign.

The Kerry campaign has denounced the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, saying none of the men in the ad served on the boat that Kerry commanded. The leader of the group, retired Adm. Roy Hoffmann, said none of the 13 veterans in the commercial served on Kerry's boat but rather were in other swiftboats within 50 yards of Kerry's.

Jim Rassmann, an Army veteran who was saved by Kerry, said there were only six crewmates who served with Kerry on his boat. Five support his candidacy and one is deceased.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1091702801829&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968705899037

[Don Joe]

The President will decline to comment and let Americans decide for themselves.

*sigh*

A pity the other side won't allow "Americans to decide for themseoves."

"Ladies an' gennulmun, in dis cornah, The DNC Spin Machine, itchin' fer a fight! And in dis cornah, The Gentleman Republicans. Da GA's trainah tells me his boy's gonna do nothin' 'cept stand there and take it! Da bookies are sayin' dis is gonna be an innerestin' fite. Shoaht, an' innerestin!"

WHEN will our side learn that when ONE side is pushing, pushing, pushing, embracing the concept of aggression, and the other side insists on "being a gentleman", the outcome will be... certain.

We like to pride ourselves in believing in things like "self-defense", the "RKBA", and standing up to terrorists when they square off against us.

So WHY is it that in pretty much every political battle, we insist on standing there and absorbing one kick to the groin after another, refusing to fight back?

I may never really understand it, although I do have an "uneducated opinion" on the matter. And if nothing else, my OWN "lessons learned" (i.e., "don't lean on a bent reed", not to was biblical) help me avoid the disappointment that the GOP so handily delivers to us. (PLEASE let's not forget that the last presidential election was 1. The exception, and 2. As "skin of the teeth" as it gets!)

[Publius6961]

Was McPain also in Viet Nam only four months?

[montag813]

A better ad would have been to show all of the men saying that they supported the President because of his outstanding leadership.

The ad rocks until the line that Kerry "is not a war hero". That crosses the line into sounding like clear partisanship and sour grapes. It is unneccessary and ought to be cut.

[SE Mom]

"Call McCain's office and ask why his fellow Vietnam veterans are not afforded freedom of speech."


McCain, John - (R - AZ) Class III
241 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-2235
Web Form: mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=Contact.Home

[cricket]

There will never be a win-win for the Repubs and certainly not GW; on a recommendation from McCain.

[nicksaunt]

Bingo. You nailed it mama, excellent points.

[sc2_ct]

Isn't the Administration prevented from getting involved with 527 advertisements due to the MCCAIN Campaign Finance Reform B.S.? What a hypocrit!

[dennisw]

I'm convinced now more than ever, that McCain comes out on these controversial issues just for the face time. He's a publicity hound who loves having the press fawn all over him.

Charles Rangel (half black, half Puerto Rican BTW) is the same. Another egomaniac who loves to be in the center of controversy such as saying we need a draft. And Hannity had this jackass on numerous times to bask in the glow of the TV lights and cameras

[kinsman redeemer]

I thought about this a few minutes ago... Zell is not being held hostage by the DIMocRATS.

[Lijahsbubbe]

If you want to get to know John Kerry, spend 3 minutes with those who served with them"...

John Edward's words. Let's not forget them.

[NeoCaveman]

The Manchurian Candidate defending the Frenchurian Candidate.

[Badeye]

"I served a year in RVN. I worked with wounded and had questions about Kerry's medals. When I had patients with 3 wounds getting one Purple Heart I wondered how in heck Kerry could get 3 for his visits to clinics. Kerry certainly kicked the crust off his history in RVN. I do not think the Democrats had any idea there are so many of us that just plain canot stand the SOB because we consider him a weasel and disgusting turncoat puke?"

I was in service from 77 - 81 (Navy). I'm very careful to keep in mind "a vet is a vet is a vet". But I have questions about Kerry's service, primarily due to his constant hyping of it.

I think you have to lend quite a bit of weight to the observation that out of the 23 pictured with Kerry in Nam, only one is voting for him.

[Jim_Curtis]

...called an ad criticizing John Kerry's military service ''dishonest and dishonorable''

For McCain to call these vets dishonorable liars would be some pretty harsh slander unless he can back it up. If he can back up his claim, he should do it today and alert Bush to the evidence that these vets are "dishonest and dishonorable" rather than just asking the president to blindly join in with him on this accusation. It is possible that they planted a rat for the purpose of discrediting the entire group at a later time. Democrats are forward thinking when it comes to deception.