Kerry Threatens TV Stations Over Swift Boat Ad (Letter Contains "Obvious Lie"; BIG Kerry Stumble!)

National Review Online ^ | 8/5/04 | Jim Geraghty

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Human Events reports that the DNC and the Kerry campaign are writing to television stations, stating that the Swift Boat ads is is "false" and "libelous" and that "your station may not responsibly air this advertisement."

At least one of their points in the letter is an obvious lie: "The advertisement contains statements by men who purport to have served on Senator John Kerry's SWIFT [sic] boat in Vietnam and one statement by a man pretending to be the doctor who treated Senator Kerry for one of his injuries."

Horsepucky.

Every vet in the ad says, "I served with John Kerry," but not one of them claims to have been in his boat. Most of the men are other swiftboat captains. They've been open and clear in their statements that they served in other swift boats operating within 50 yards on Kerry's side, and their statements are their observations on serving alongside him, not under him.

NR's own Byron York had the scoop on Louis Letson, the doctor, months ago. The Kerry letter insists that Letson is a "phony" because he didn't sign Kerry's sick call sheet.

The Los Angeles Times looked at the who-signed-the-form controversy back in May:

"Meehan questioned Letson's role, saying a J.C. Carreon signed Kerry's medical report of the wound. "This gentleman is not the man who is on the report," he said.

Letson said that Carreon, a lower-ranked "hospitalman," was "present at the time and he, in fact, made the entry into Lt. Kerry's medical record."

Bad move, Team Kerry. The letter from the lawyers turns this into a bigger story, and the argument that these men are "phony" doesn't seem all that strong.

[weegee]

Well I've personally been the lightning rod drawing two ZOTted newbies today. Both claiming to be vets (one claiming to be a Vietnam Veteran Against The War).

I can handle "the pressure" though.

In fact, I responded to their comments with facts and citations.

[CaraM]

Ah ... I'm really not looking forward to disliking anyone more than hated Clinton.

I know what you mean. I had the same feeling in 2000 against Al Gore, but then Algore disappeared and my old familiar disgust of Clinton remained the same as ever. Hopefully Kerry will vanish from sight after November. :)

[CaraM]

swiftvets.com is down, checkoout swiftvets.org - wha???

not much there to look at???

[hellinahandcart]

I'm assuming that these guys saw this coming and were prepared.

I saw this group's press conference months ago on C-SPAN, and they said they were prepared for negative fallout.

One of them said being called a liar would be easier to endure than the other slanders they've have to live with already, from Kerry.

I thought they were being truthful throughout that press conference, and since I think so, I don't care who it hurts. These men served notice quite some time ago of their intentions, and NOBODY has the right to shut them up now.

[mtntop3]

" Clinton lied for 8 years plus and won 2 elections. Our knowledge and the public perceptions are 2 different things. People hear that Kerry's war service is being trashed, McCain is angry, Bush dirty trick, etc. I agree with Krauthammer - nothing good for the GOP/Bush will come out of this."

We do not know what will ultimately "come out of this". We each do not know if we will be even alive tomorrow.

But, despite all our limitations, we do know this: a group of fine men who served their country honorably and well in the Vietnam war have come forward in all conscience because they cannot tolerate the thought of a lying, cheating, traitorious individual becoming commander in chief and having the lives of our men and women in the armed forces in his forever putrid hands and, indeed, all our lives.

How can decent, honorable men NOT do this? They have no choice because they ARE honorable men. Will we be honorable in moving to support them? Or are we mere observers - neuterized, chattering voyeurs - of the passing scene?

[proudofthesouth]

He's the Vietnam equivalent of Frank Burns of MASH fame!

[hellinahandcart]

There is a certain contingent on this forum that's mortally afraid of getting mud on their tassled loafers.

Bush is right to distance himself from the ad, and the vets are right to go ahead with this NO MATTER WHAT. People need to learn to deal with that and stop cringing and trembling about it.

[hershey]

Wow. You nailed that one, but good.

[P-Marlowe]

Isn't Kerry intimately affiliated with the DNC, as though they were his employers? I'm not convinced they dont have standing to represent Kerry.

If he is, then both Kerry and the DNC are in violation of the Federal Elections rules. Kerry as a person and as a candidate MUST be separate from the DNC. Indeed the Kerry Edwards campaign must be separate from the DNC. The DNC can support Kerry, but they cannot act on his behalf in a personal matter. That would be improper.

Here you have a lawyer for an organization that by law must be independent of the candidate threatening lawsuits on the candidate's PERSONAL behalf in order to frighten media outlets into squelching a advertisement.

If the republicans tried this, all hell would break loose. Since it is the democrats doing it, they will get the media's support.

[over3Owithabrain]

But, despite all our limitations, we do know this: a group of fine men who served their country honorably and well in the Vietnam war have come forward in all conscience because they cannot tolerate the thought of a lying, cheating, traitorious individual becoming commander in chief and having the lives of our men and women in the armed forces in his forever putrid hands and, indeed, all our lives. How can decent, honorable men NOT do this? They have no choice because they ARE honorable men.

As were all Clinton's female victims to one extent or another. My point is political not personal towards these fine soldiers. They could have possibly derailed Kerry when he ran a close race against Weld in Mass., or better yet in the Dem. primaries earlier this year, if their aim was simply to keep him out of power. That said, they have every right to air their views. But what if public perception being as it is, their complaints actually backfire and help Kerry beat Bush? Then their goal is not reached by their own actions. If anything, this should have been handled differently - if ANY of this touches Bush or turns out hyped, lied, or exaggerated, Kerry wins.

JMO, but I'm a big believer in momentum - Bush has been gaining it slowly but surely. Kerry's convention was a bust with little or no bounce. Lurch is doing just fine ruining his own chances, why throw him a life preserver?

[SierraWasp]

Hit 'em again... harder... HARDER!!!

[Afronaut]

Bush was a deserter and was drunk the whole time in ALABAMA.

Who told me that?

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

He's [sKerry] the Vietnam equivalent of Frank Burns of MASH fame!

How dare you malign Frank Burns. Frank served in country far longer than four months. And Frank's girlfriend would kiss him.

[ducks1944]

We need to lock and load and fire all we have. It's time we fight back and do it now. I have read on here time and time again we need to fight back. I say loud and often. I believe the men and hope they do not back off. I would love to read what these men sent to the TV Station. Let all get off our behinds and fight now. If what Rush said they will fight in every state, so get ready BRING IT ON ! ! For GOD and Country ! !

[I_dmc]

I can't help but think of the fates of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. I'm sure those that appear in the ad are quite aware of what their fate will be, after seeing the fate of those that dared to be a threat to the Clinton's politics by telling the truth.

[Mike Fieschko]

SWIFT is an acronym. --I've forgotten for what exactly.

shallow water inshore fast tactical

[John Valentine]

...NOBODY has the right to shut them up now.

I couldn't agree with you more. Very forcefully said.

[pnz1]

Where was S. Estrich on Hannity getting her numbers of supporters from the crew?

[NoBullZone]

Note also that the White House was called on to denounce the ad; but Michael Moore was a guest in the Presidential Box at the Democratic Convention. Did anyone hear any Democratic politician denounce the libel of F 9/11. No, I thought not.

[goldstategop]

They've obviously felt threatened by the Swift Boat vets. If there's no smoke there, the Kerry/Edwards campaign and the DNC should studiously ignore the charges to avoid conferring credibility on them. If they're false, sue the people responsible for the ad. Instead they make bogus threats to stifle the truth lest it puts paid to John F*ckin's political career. Now if he's a war hero, all he has to do is tell the the truth. But he chooses to sic legal hounds on guys he served with in Vietnam. Whatta guy!