Kennedy decries Healey's "Swiftboating" of Patrick

Boston.com / AP ^ | 10/07/2006 | Glen Johnson

[Panerai]

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy accused Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey of engaging in "gutter politics" in her campaign against Democrat Deval Patrick, declaring Saturday, "Make no mistake about it, this is swiftboating."

The Massachusetts Democrat, appearing with his party's gubernatorial nominee in Hyannis, did not specify the reason for his criticism. But it came at the end of a week during which Healey criticized Patrick for supporting the parole of a convicted rapist, and during which she began airing a television commercial criticizing Patrick for helping a cop killer get his death sentence reduced to life imprisonment.

"I've been in this business a long time, and I've seen this movie before," said a text of Kennedy's remarks. "When you can't compete in the marketplace of ideas, when you don't have a positive vision to offer, then you become desperate and resort to the politics of fear and smear. That's a game plan straight out of the Karl Rove playbook, and, in her desperation, Kerry Healey is following it to a tee. Frankly, that kind of gutter politics is not worthy of the lieutenant governor and will be rejected by the people of Massachusetts."

The senator, who himself is up for re-election this fall, added, "Make no mistake about it, this is swiftboating," he said, referring to ads attacking the military record of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., during the 2004 presidential campaign. The ads were run by a group called "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth."

[surrey]

Boy, I sure hope so. Listening to Scott Allen Miller say that the majority of MA residents don't support most of Patrick's ideas but plan to vote for him boggles the mind.

I can't help but wonder that when polled they say they will vote for him so they appear to be "tolerant" but know that when they get in the voting booth pull the lever for Healey.

[Ole Okie]

What does The Whale know about boating? He think a Lincoln is a boat, doesn't he?

Submarine Commander Edward M. Kennedy thought a Oldsmobile 88 was a boat.

He abandoned ship when it came to him that he was wrong.

But the crew didn't get the "Abandon Ship" order.

Or S.C. Edward M. failed to give the alarm.

But after all, he is a Kennedy.

[3niner]

The thing that these jerks don't seem to understand is that "swiftboating" means a group of people in a position to know the truth, telling the truth about a liar.

[Shadow Deamon]

"Make no mistake about it, this is swiftboating."

Oh yeah, I vaguely remember that evil tactic... it's the one where you expose a demoncrap to the truth and watch them burst into flame like a vampire exposed to sunlight.

[pankot]

What does that tell you about the people of Massachusetts?

[elcid1970]

That's why we call them "Massholes"!!

;^)

[VeniVidiVici]

"I've never had a real job. I've been a politician my whole life. I should know dirty politics when I see it."

[BenLurkin]

Apparetnly so...

"criticized Patrick for supporting the parole of a convicted rapist, and ... criticizing Patrick for helping a cop killer get his death sentence reduced to life imprisonment."

[Hoodat]

Hey, it ain't like he drowned a girl . . .

[COBOL2Java]

"I've been in this business a long time, and I've seen this movie before," said a text of Kennedy's remarks. "

That's what the "text" said of his remarks. In reality, Ted's remarks came out more like "Aggghhbbb, abah [urp], aharadah, arrrrrh!"

[sgtbono2002]

There arent enough negative adjectives to describe them.

[CT]

SWIFTBOATING: The act or acts of disseminating verified facts and information in a manner so compelling that eventhough the media ignores such facts they are sufficiently able to reach daylight and prevail over lies told by those trying to suppress such facts.

[seamusnh]

Deval Patrick:
- Supports nstate tuition for illegal aliens
- Supports driver's licenses for illegal aliens
- Stated he will not comply with the voter's mandate to roll the income tax back to 5.0%. He wants to focus on property taxes. Hey Deval, that is not your call.
- Worked to get a cop killer's death sentence reduced. Cop killer will be eligible for parole
- Contributed $5000 and wrote letters on behalf of convicted rapist. The $5k paid for DNA testing that proved the guy was guilty.

Those are the facts. You can call it swiftboating if you like, but those are the facts....

If you thought Obama was the darling of the liberals, wait to see what happens if Deval is elected. A young articulate black governor... Future presidential timber for sure...