MSM to the rescue, I guess they were waiting to gather dirt.

[FishForLunch]

EMPIRE STRIKES BACK AGAINST ANTI-KERRY VETS

More than 3 weeks after the DRUDGE REPORT began shooting up flares warning of an impending campaign battle surrounding former Vietnam veterans who would not support John Kerry for president -- the media empire strikes back!

In a series of world exclusives beginning in late July, this space outlined and detailed the coming book UNFIT FOR COMMAND -- a book which now sits at the top of the charts -- and the top of Friday's NY TIMES.

TIMES editor Bill Keller has reserved the lead of Page One for "the story of how swift boat veterans with a grievance were found by Republicans looking to tarnish Kerry's image," newsroom sources tell DRUDGE.

"A modern day tale of the creation of a political attack machine," declares TIMES reporter Jim Ruttenburg.

The TIMES plans to piggyback on comments made by John Kerry on Thursday against allegations that he exaggerated his combat record in Vietnam.

Kerry accused President Bush of using a Republican front group "to do his dirty work."

"Some of the veterans have recanted their stories and made charges that military records prove untrue," the TIMES explains in its 3,500-world splash, which has been previewed by DRUDGE.

[LRB]

Makes sense because they're liberal and Kerry is the only major liberal candidate. However it's a shame how journalist integrity has been abandoned for partisanship reporting.

[FishForLunch]

The Washington Post, NY times are furiously trying to change the subject. Why dont the file a freedom of information act on Kerry's records and get the facts and solve this once and for all. Are they afraid the swift vets allegations maybe true?

[LRB]

Originally posted by: FishForLunch
The Washington Post, NY times are furiously trying to change the subject. Why dont the file a freedom of information act on Kerry's records and get the facts and solve this once and for all. Are they afraid the swift vets allegations maybe true?

They only can get a portion of Kerry's records through the freedom of information act. Kerry needs to sign a release before all of his records can be obtained by the MSM. However the MSM should be asking Kerry why he won't sign the release. They should be asking Kerry if he was in Cambodia on Chritmas Eve 1968 or any other time during his service in Vietnam. They should be demanding details of when if he says he was in Cambodia, who was with him, etc. They should be doing background checks on Kerry's "band of brothers" as well as the swiftvets. They should ask Kerry flat out if he wrote the afteraction report where he won his bronze star. They should be doing a lot of things that they aren't.

[madape]

You are allowed to say anything you want in America... just as long as you say nice things about Democrats.

[dude1394]

Or they will try to shove you a big fat lawsuit. Where are all of the civil-libertarians screaming about censorship? Free-speech? If it were bush mavdog would be screaming bloody murder.

[Mavdog]

Where is this "big fat lawsuit" you are so fond of mentioning that doesn't exist? If there were plans or an active legal campaign against the SwiftAttack Vets how did their book get up to the top of the best seller list?

There is no "censorship". They have the right to say what they want no matter how bitter and unsupported it may be. I feel that in the end it is they who will be looked down on for their petty attacks.

[dude1394]

You are right, my bad, it's not a lawsuit...It's an FEC complaint trying to get the ads taken off the air and the previousl threat of a lawsuit to the television stations. But this is an effort at censoring the swifties.

A few hours after he spoke, the Kerry campaign filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission that alleged the group behind the ad was illegally coordinating its efforts with the Bush-Cheney campaign. It cited "recent press reports" and the group's own statements. The Bush campaign denied the allegation.

Now I'm not so sure, the wapo ad had this as their headline.

Group to Air Ad Attacking Kerry's 1971 Testimony
Democrats Counter on TV And With Legal Challenge

So I don't know if the complaint is in the form of a legal brief or not.

[LRB]

Like usually Kerry has nothing in his bag with this complaint. Essentially he's saying that they must be coordinating with Bush because they're talking bad about him (Kerry). Of course they're probably judge shopping trying to find a democrat judge.

[Mavdog]

Here's the article from DMN. It appears that if the complaint is upheld there are fines.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Kerry campaign files complaint over swift boat ad
Group challenging his account of Vietnam service issues new spot


09:03 PM CDT on Friday, August 20, 2004

Staff and Wire Reports


WASHINGTON – The battle over John Kerry's Vietnam service escalated again Friday, as the group challenging him issued a new ad and his campaign fired back with a federal complaint.

The fight grew ever testier, as White House press secretary Scott McClellan accused Mr. Kerry of "losing his cool," which he said "should not be an excuse for him to lash out at the president with false and baseless attacks."

In a blistering response that questioned President Bush's immediate response to the Sept. 11 attacks, Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said: "Mr. McClellan needs to understand that John Kerry is not the type of leader who will sit and read My Pet Goat to a group of second-graders while America is under attack. John Kerry is a fighter, and he doesn't tolerate lies from others."

In a filing before the Federal Election Commission, the Kerry campaign alleged that Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is airing inaccurate television ads and illegally coordinating with President Bush's campaign and the Republican National Committee.

The complaint asks that each of the parties be fined and forced to repay "illegal contributions." The campaign alleges that the Swift Boat Veterans is a front group for the Bush campaign.

The Bush campaign, which filed a similar complaint against the Kerry campaign and left-leaning groups this year, called the Kerry accusation "frivolous."

The Kerry campaign released a copy of a flier they said was being distributed at a Bush-Cheney campaign office in Florida. It advertises a rally that it says is sponsored by the Swift Boat veterans, the campaign and local Republicans.


New ad

The Swift Boat Veterans, whose first ad accused Mr. Kerry of lying about his Vietnam record and whose members contend Mr. Kerry did not deserve his service medals, began airing a second spot Friday. It features quotes from Mr. Kerry's 1971 testimony before a Senate committee, in which he alleged atrocities were committed by U.S. troops. Former prisoners of war describe the harm they think Mr. Kerry's words did.

"He betrayed us in the past. How could we be loyal to him now?" Ken Cordier, a Dallas resident and retired Air Force colonel who was a POW in North Vietnam for seven years, asks in the ad.

Mr. Kerry has said that while he regrets some of the harsh language he used in his statement to the committee, he remains proud of his opposition to the war.

The Democratic Party countered with a costly round of ads designed to buttress Mr. Kerry's credentials to be commander in chief.

It features retired Air Force Gen. Merrill McPeak saying he had endorsed Mr. Bush four years ago but was backing Mr. Kerry now.

"Nothing is more important to me than protecting America," says Gen. McPeak, a fighter pilot in Vietnam who rose to become Air Force chief of staff during the first Persian Gulf War in 1991.

"John Kerry has the strength and common sense we need in a commander in chief," he says in the ad.


What the polls show

The unusual late-August maneuvering highlighted the closeness of the race for the White House and came as polls offered evidence that the questioning of Kerry's medal-winning service in the Vietnam War – allegations that he strongly condemned this week as lies – were taking a political toll.

That message is sharply at odds with the image portrayed in the anti-Kerry ad – the one the Massachusetts senator denounced on Thursday when he said Bush was relying on front groups to "do his dirty work."

The day of bruising punches followed Mr. Kerry's first public remarks about the Swift Boat Veterans ad Thursday. The candidate accused the group of performing the Bush campaign's "dirty work" and called on the president to denounce the ad. Mr. Bush has declined to do so specifically but has called on Mr. Kerry to condemn all ads by outside groups.

Mr. McClellan said again Friday that there was no connection between the campaign or the administration and the Swift Boat Veterans.

"We've already said we weren't involved in any way in these ads," he said. "We've made that clear."

Asked about the relationship between Bob Perry, a major financial supporter of the anti-Kerry group that paid for the ad, and Karl Rove, Mr. Bush's top political adviser, Mr. McClellan said: "I mean, they know each other. I know that."

But, he quickly added, "that still shouldn't be used to draw any connection there, because we have not been involved in this ad whatsoever."

Mr. McClellan also accused the Kerry campaign of sanctioning the same type of attack ads by outside groups that it is accusing the president of approving.

"I mean, where has the Kerry campaign been for the last year while more than $62 million in funding through these shadowy groups have been used to negatively attack the president?" he asked.

Mr. Kerry has condemned one ad in particular, a MoveOn.org response to the Swift Boat Veterans that mentioned Mr. Bush's disputed National Guard record. Mr. Kerry himself has danced around direct criticism of Mr. Bush's stateside service, but his aides and supporters were ramping up their attacks.

"Maybe if George Bush had seen combat up close, his hired-gun mouthpiece wouldn't be so flip about the dishonest and dishonorable attack funded by the president's Texas pals," Kerry spokesman David Wade said.

[kg_veteran]

The filing of a complaint with the FEC is an act of desperation.

[dude1394]

So mavdog, time to step up... Do you condemn or condone your candidates actions here?

[LRB]

In a blistering response that questioned President Bush's immediate response to the Sept. 11 attacks, Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said: "Mr. McClellan needs to understand that John Kerry is not the type of leader who will sit and read My Pet Goat to a group of second-graders while America is under attack. "

That's right, John Kerry would have sat there in stunned silence in from of a group of 2nd graders to stunned to know what to do. Of possibly Kerry would have bolted from the room and fled to the safest place he could find, like he did on the March 1969 mine explosion incident. It is almost a given certainty that Kerry would not have cooly finished up with the 2nd graders while reviewing in his mind the best action to take and then promptly doing it. Nor is it likely that Kerry would have had the courage to return to Washington immediately after the attacks against advice from the Secret Service and his own political advisors in a brave effort to calm Americans and not give into the fear that our enemies tried to instill in us. Kerry is a rank opportunist and has been shown to be such for the past 35+ years by his actions. He is also a coward when faced with actual life threatening events as evidenced by the reports that are now filling up the blogs accross the internet by the men who were there and say his actions in the face of enemy fire.

[dude1394]

who the hell knows what kerry would do? not me and certainly not stephanie cutter.

[Mavdog]

Originally posted by: dude1394
So mavdog, time to step up... Do you condemn or condone your candidates actions here?

All political parties should follw the rules. If there is an active involvement by either party with a org (527?) that is prohibited, the regulations should be enforced. period.

[dude1394]

Originally posted by: Mavdog

All political parties should follw the rules. If there is an active involvement by either party with a org (527?) that is prohibited, the regulations should be enforced. period.

Very well done, md.. Very nuanced, and beside the point of the question. Do you condemn or condone your candidates actions here?

[Mavdog]

No"nuance", and a direct answer. If there is a violation, it should be pursued. I do not condemn the complaint, and if the repubs make a complaint on a similar charge I would not condemn them either.

[LRB]

Dude if you're expecting an straight answer to a direct question from Mavdog, or Kerry for that matter, don't. It's a complete waste fo time. Neither are capable of answering a yes/no question with a direct and straight answer. Kerry would rather remain what's behind curtain #3 and keep people guessing at what he is than raise the curtain and have himself revealed as the sorry jackass he is. I guess you really can't blame him too much though. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

[Mavdog]

Originally posted by: LRB
Dude if you're expecting an straight answer to a direct question from Mavdog, or Kerry for that matter, don't. It's a complete waste fo time. Neither are capable of answering a yes/no question with a direct and straight answer. Kerry would rather remain what's behind curtain #3 and keep people guessing at what he is than raise the curtain and have himself revealed as the sorry jackass he is. I guess you really can't blame him too much though. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

gee, guess you're wrong again...[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[dude1394]

Originally posted by: Mavdog
No"nuance", and a direct answer. If there is a violation, it should be pursued. I do not condemn the complaint, and if the repubs make a complaint on a similar charge I would not condemn them either.

So if bush posted a complaint against michael moore and moveon.com you would be ok. Allright, a good for you.

Now next question..
- What would the NYTimes, Wapo, LATimes have to say about it in your opinion?

[kg_veteran]

LRB - It's out of line, IMO, to call Kerry a coward. However, the response by his spokesperson was completely reprehensible...

In a blistering response that questioned President Bush's immediate response to the Sept. 11 attacks, Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said: "Mr. McClellan needs to understand that John Kerry is not the type of leader who will sit and read My Pet Goat to a group of second-graders while America is under attack. "

What a bitter and desperate comment.

[LRB]

KG I can understand your point of view on Kerry, but in my mind he meets the definition of a coward. Dictionary.com defines cowards as "One who shows ignoble fear in the face of danger or pain." Kerry's actions now when he's faced with the pain of the truth coming out are certainly ignoble IMO. Further more many of his actions in Vietnam as reported by witnesses appear to be very ignoble as well. I cited the example of Kerry being the only boat to flee in the mine explosion on March 1968. It also appears that Kerry wrote the report which ignobly covered up the truth and altered facts to make Kerry's actions appear to be heroic instead of timid and fearful. Certainly deserting your comarades in arms in a time of crisis would be cowardly in my book. I also feel it was cowardly the way he gamed the system to 1st garner 3 purple hearts and then use a loophole written for men with far more severe of injuries than Kerry's to escape his combat committment. Kerry might not be a total craven coward, but he certainly appears to at least be the garden variety of coward to me.

[dude1394]

I don't know whether kerry was a coward in 'nam or not, i doubt it, but again I don't know. One thing I do know is that he does not get a pass on having to explain the charges being brought by what seems like reasonable men (every bit as much decorated and many times more so with longer terms in combat).

Nor does the media get to pick and choose what they decide to report on based on their partisanship (they can, but it brands them as democrat operatives).

So he may/may not be a coward, he's going to have to open up the records to prove it, since every third word out of his mouth has referenced 'nam for about 30 years now, he'd damn well better stand up and defend it with some fact. Not trying the smearing campaign, in THAT he's being a coward.

[Drbio]

Happiness is Kerry in a full desperation filled retreat.......[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]