Posted on 08/26/2004 9:08:22 AM PDT by yonif
Las Cruces, N.M. -- Senator John McCain says he's "very appreciative" of a White House offer to help pursue court action against outside political ad groups.
The Arizona Republican has prodded President Bush to condemn ads from a group calling itself "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth." The group has attacked John Kerry's Vietnam record, saying he doesn't deserve his medals and shouldn't be commander-in-chief.
McCain tells The Associated Press he doesn't want the independent political groups "abolished." He says they should just "live under the same campaign finance restrictions" as other groups.
Bush called McCain from aboard Air Force One today while on his way to New Mexico. A Bush spokesman says the men spoke about the issue.
The spokesman says Bush will support McCain in court action against the ads or if that fails, work toward a legislative solution.
I don't trust McCain on this one!! If Soros is allowed to continue and the SwiftVets are forced to stop, then McCains true colors will show.
I support Pres. Bush, but I consider Free Speech (especially political speech) a paramount human right, protected by the First Amendment.
If people like the SwiftVets can't raise money to get the truth out about a fraud becoming President, I will consider emigrating to a country that does protect freedom.
Q McCain says he's fed up with these Swift Boat ads. Is the President willing to go any further than what he said the other day?
MR. McCLELLAN: Actually, thank you for bringing that up. The President, also, on board Air Force One, called Senator McCain this morning. And the President said he wanted to work together to pursue court action to shut down all the ads and activity by these shadowy 527 groups. And the President said if the court action doesn't work, then he would be willing to pursue legislative action and work with Senator McCain on that.
Q Which groups does he want to shut down?
MR. McCLELLAN: It's all the unregulated soft money activity by these 527 groups. The President thought we got rid of all of this kind of shadowy activity when he signed the campaign finance reforms into law. As you're aware, there was FEC action that has been pursued by Senator McCain, that has been pursued by us, as well. And the FEC has not acted on it. And so the President reached out to Senator McCain to say, let's work together and pursue court action to shut down all of this activity by these shadowy groups.
Q That includes the Swift Boats --
Q -- specific condemnation of the Swift Boat.
Q -- Swift Boat ones. He said, he's happy that -- he condemns all 527s --
MR. McCLELLAN: The President condemns all the ads and activity by these shadowy groups. This is unregulated soft money activity that the President thought we got rid of when he signed the campaign finance reforms into law. Senator McCain said that he thought it was a good idea for the two of them to work together to shut down this kind of activity.
Q So this includes the Swift Boat, right? You want to shut down -- Bush wants to shut down, through legal action --
MR. McCLELLAN: All, all the ads and activity by the shadowy groups. That would include everything that these shadowy groups are involved in.
Q You don't want to say "Swift Boat," is that the --
MR. McCLELLAN: I think I answered it by saying, all of the ads and activity.
Q And that would include the Swift Boat, yes?
MR. McCLELLAN: That includes everything. That includes -- I don't know how I can be more clear than that, Adam.
Q Are the Swift Boats a shadowy group?
Q But McCain said beyond that -- he called the President to condemn those specific ads. Will he condemn those --
MR. McCLELLAN: The President has condemned every ad and all the activity by these 527 groups.
Q How does he feel about what they're saying?
MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think I can be more clear, nor can the President. The President wants Senator Kerry to join us in calling for a stop to all of the ads and activity by these shadowy groups. The President has condemned all of this activity by these shadowy groups.
Q What does he mean by court action?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, pursue -- pursuing court action, working with -- and pursuing court action to shut down these -- shut down this activity by these 527 groups that are funded with unregulated soft money. This is what we thought we got rid of when the President signed the campaign finance reforms into law. And so --
Q So who files -- who files the lawsuit, then?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, and I'll try to get you a little bit more information on this, but there's -- there have been previous complaints filed against the FEC. The FEC had an opportunity to act with, I think it's within a 100-day -- 120-day period. They did not act. And so that allows those who had filed those complaints to pursue action against the FEC. I know Senator McCain had filed complaints with the FEC; we had, as well. And so the President looks forward to working with Senator McCain to pursue court action to shut down all of this activity by these shadowy groups.
Q So is the Justice Department going to get involved in this?
Q He would be the one who be going to the --
MR. McCLELLAN: He called them this morning, and we'll provide you more detail as we move forward and work together, through court action, to shut these groups down.
Q So you are asking Justice to get involved, then?
MR. McCLELLAN: Again, we'll get you more details as we move forward together. But we want to pursue court action.
Q How long was the phone call?
MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry?
Q How long was the phone call?
MR. McCLELLAN: I will try to get you the length. It was brief. And Senator McCain said he looked forward to seeing him soon. We certainly appreciate Senator McCain's strong support for the President, and look forward to hearing his remarks next week at the convention, as well.
Q -- the charge --
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes.
Q Can you tell me what the legal basis would be for taking court action?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, yes, that's why I said, if you go back, you might want to look at some of this. I'll try and get you more details on the ground. But because of the complaints -- the complaints have been pursued with the FEC, and there's a window of opportunity for the FEC to pursue action. They failed to pursue that action then. You can pursue court action following that if they don't act within that time period.
Q Okay.
MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, thank you.
Q Is it a lawsuit?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes. Yes, it would be.
Q But none of it would happen until after the election, correct? I mean, the FEC --
MR. McCLELLAN: There would be a lawsuit.
Q But the FEC can't act on this stuff until after the election.
MR. McCLELLAN: No, there have been complaints previously filed with the FEC that they did not act on to shut -- to shut down this activity.
We've got to land. Thank you.
In other words, he wants them to just "shut up!" It's never been about the money.
This is nuts!
WTF is Bush doing!?!?!?
If they Swift ads go, the Soros ones do too. Pres. Bush at this point will not stand by for another one-sided interpretation of this ridiculous law.
You can't have citizens who are not part of any political party thinking that they can run their own ads. That form of free speech is reserved exclusively for politicians.
All the usual suspects have lined up behind the movement to limit free speech.
Political Karate. Bush is using the press to attack moveon.org.
Meanwhile the book is #1, the topic is the only one out there, the Swiftvets could fail to get another ad on TV, and still Kerry is toast.
I admit this looks unconservative for Bush, but trust me, it's necessary to divert attention from evil republicans and back to Kerry.
He screwed up, he showed his true colors.
I think what Mcain is saying is Keep the swifties but change the message to John Kerry VVAW activities... and I'll tell you that is the key message and the most damaging to Kerry... Double the coverage on that add... How can Kerry complain they are his own words... What would he say they are attacking my character with what I said... Hahahahahaha...
Brilliant move!
It's time to take down McCain. He still doesn't realize why he was called out in South Carolina. If this issue sticks on Kerry, he knows he's doomed to the same fate.
ROTFLMAO
Absolutely, if the fat boy (Moore) and everyone one else can express their views then certainly these Swift Boat veterans have every right to do the same. And I proudly donated to them.
I for one hope they continue to operate just like now...we've seen the worst the dim libs at ACT and moveon have to offer and Dubya is starting to move upwards in the polls. So...in the immortal words of John F'ing Kerry: "Bring it on!".
I don't understand how these ads are illegal.
Dear Senator McCain.... This is another opportunity to step up to the plate and do what is right and in the best interests of the USA.
Kerry just got put in a corner.
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