Too late - the bastrids in the press already got their headline.
No, it's not too late. On the contrary, this underscores Kerry's deceit and in fact pushes the story even farther into the public consciousness. The ads will continue and now the vets will demand and be granted (yes, they will be granted--certainly not wall to wall, but they WILL be given) interviews and airtime to set the record straight.
You'll see. This was a huge miscalculation by the Kerry camp--and it was the Kerry camp as the author of the Globe lie-filled piece is a Kerry biographer and he's been with the Kerry campaign as they travel. There isn't one doubt in my mind this attack on Elliott was crafted in conjunction with the Kerry people. Unlike the Bush people who really are not affiliated one little bit with the Swiftvets.
And, they had to know the savage attack they would come under, for what they are attempting to do is destroy the candidacy of the Democratic party. But none of us could know how quickly the media would, in unison, jump in to help Kerry destroy the credibility of these brave men.
Pundits, anchors, talking heads and reporters spent all day yesterday putting out the official talking point, that these men weren't even on Kerry's boat. No one bothered to challenge that silly statement and tell viewers they never claimed to be. Keith Oberman of MSNBC was totally dismissive of these men. Susan Estrich was almost out of control in her anger, and Ron Reagan discredited them too.
Unbelieveably, today on CNN Crossfire, Donna Brazille said these were the same men who came out against John McCain and Max Cleland in 2000. She and Ann Lewis were almost in orbit, fiercely and irrationally making charges against these veterans.
But don't worry, if my husband is right, the courage these men had in Viet Nam is still with them. And I think the over the top reaction they've gotten from the Kerry camp will backfire on him.
the one thing disappointing to me is how tepid the support they got from Brit Hume last night. Even Pat Buchanan called for an independent investigation into the charges, with Kerry having to face the issue squarely under questioning by someone like Tim Russert.
But I think FOXNews lacks courage itself. They are under such attack themselves, they don't want to give the left any ammunition to use against them, and voicing support for the swiftboat vets would certainly get criticism.