Human Events Exclusive: DEMS' SCARE TACTICS-Trying to Scare Stations Out of Airing Anti-Kerry Ad

Human Events Online ^ | August 5, 2004 | Human Events

[hinterlander]

Lawyers for the DNC and Kerry-Edwards sent this letter to television station managers, claiming the Swift Boat Veterans For Truth ad is "false" and "libelous." Click here for the full letter (can't be pasted into Free Republic window).

[narby]

There's a science to making people think and feel what the author wants them to feel. Michael Moore plays the propaganda card well on contextualizing, intentional omissions hard to spot, manipulation of cause and effect, framing.

What defines propaganda is telling "truths" in such a way as to make someone believe a falsehood. I believe what these guys are saying, so I believe that they are in fact attempting to communicate a truth by saying truthful things.

If a fellow pilot in Geo. Bush's squadron said he "served with Bush", no one would make the case that he didn't, simply because there's only one seat in an F-102 so he certainly couldn't have FLOWN with Geo. Bush.

Same here. The boats hold 6 people, but the bases and chow halls where these people lived certainly had more than 6 people. These guys "served with" Kerry, absolutely.

[Gerasimov]

Thanks for posting the very bottom of the letter!
I'm hopping offline to make a couple phone calls to the DNC goons who signed this!

[CA Conservative]

What's the term used when one files a lawsuit, or threatens to file a lawsuit, just to take away your right of free speech? Is is a SLAM? a SLAMM? What's the term?

I think you are referring to a SLAPP suit - a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation - a suit designed to muzzle opposition by threatening to bankrupt the person with litigation costs. Even if the person filing knows they can't win on the merits, if they have deep pockets, they can ruin the defendant financially.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The servers in Fresno must be getting warm.....Got to break at 3 PM my time so I can see what Britt has to say about all of this....

I pinged a ton of people but you're the first to say anything back, so there seem to be a lot of heavy hitters here that aren't aware of this flareup as yet....

[fight_truth_decay]

Let's see if the ads are run. Let's hope the truth is on our side.

However, I do believe the American public are victims of brainwashing. Some more than others..highly sophisticated and that's damn scary! We have a microwave mentality..that is why bumper sticker rhetoric simply and carefully scripted is so effective.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

A quick glance at the responses being posted at the kindergarten side of the schoolhouse,

You have a nice way with words.....ROFL!!!!

[GretchenM]

OMGosh, you read the text and could fall off the chair laughing. One man "pretending to be the doctor who treated Senator Kerry [emphasis mine] for one of his injuries... " ... "the men who pretend to have served with Senator Kerry" ... "the statements made by the phony 'crewmates' and 'doctor' [...] are false and libelous."

The letter claims (cough) that Kerry didn't lie before the Senate. (cough cough)

"Your station is responsible for the false and libelous charges made by this sponsor. ... you have an overriding duty 'to protect the public from false, misleading or deceptive advertising.'" [Now why can't that apply to news coverage?]

"Your station may not responsibly air this advertisement."

Here's hoping the TV stations' attorneys are all over this to bring the execs' heads back to front and center. As the Good Book says, the first man to tell his side of the story sounds right, till you hear the second man.

[mcg1969]

Hannity reading this fax on the air NOW.

[backhoe]

542 replies · 17,515+ views

I suspect the silence from others may be from avidly following the several posts... I think Screw 'em & Sue 'em 2004's campaign just imploded and melted down, simultaneously. Time will tell!

[Quix]

Thanks.

You may find my recent post above interesting.

SKERRY could easily disprove--to a point--if the docs were authentic--a fair amount by his releasing of all his NAVY records.

If he is stating the truth, why not release the records!

Cheeky sob.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

30 to 1 ratio.....I always figured about a 7 to 1 ratio, I mean why lurk when you can throw in your own two cents worth even if its nothing more than "I agree".....

[exhaustedmomma]

My husband was in special op's in VN, AND CAMBODIA. I asked him the other night about something I read on another thread about Kerry being in Cambodia... I am glad you posted the link to the other thread! I will read it closely and share it with him. Good find, the Nixon stuff!!
My question is why the Kerry team lawyers are saying libel. I understand they are saying the Vets are lying. The FCC statements were odd. Seems to having something to do with false advertisement. I just don't understand where they will take this legally. I suppose the intent is to have the ads pulled. I assume they consider some may not do that and more than likely, everybody is scrambling to decipher what the legal angles are... thus, drawing more attention to it. *Note: T. Kerry stated she would only pull from her money IF things got ugly and nasty. I wondered then, what an odd thing to say and what could she possibly use her money for?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Screw 'em & Sue 'em 2004's.....too long for a keyword....maybe a tagline....

[mewzilla]

Screw 'em & Sue 'em

Boy, that's an apt moniker...

[labard1]

"Suing the media orgs that run it...NOT THE PEOPLE SAYING IT"

Correction: this letter merely THREATENS to sue, it doesn't actually institute a lawsuit. The goal of the letter is to provide cover to media that doesn't want to run the ads, and to intimidate those who don't have any strong position on the issue.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

She already funds a lot via the Tidewaters Foundation who are behind a lot of Leftist stuff....

it has been discussed on many threads....

[cake_crumb]

There is one question I'm trying to find the answer to:

Were the Swift Boat Vets for Truth served??

If not, it means Kerry knows he has no case and the whole thing slides dangerously close to racketeering. Or at least racketeering's first cousin. In this case, the profit return is the presidency of the United States instead of cash.

[DoctorZIn]

This article has been posted to DoctorZin’s New News Blog!

[mewzilla]

If they're alleging libel, why not file a libel suit? I bloody well would...if the allegations were untrue...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That should have been the Tides Foundation.

See this:

Teresa Heinz Kerry: Bag Lady for the Radical Left