John Kerry personally denounced both the "Hitler" ad and the recent MoveOn.org ad which questions Bush's service. In fact, MoveOn.org pulled the "Hitler" ad from its website almost immediately, didn't it? To say that they solicited it may be true insofar as they wanted people from across the country to submit their ads to the site, but I'm pretty positive they didn't ask anyone for that specific ad.

So far I haven't heard Pres. Bush condemn either of the Swift Boat Vet ads, and I very much doubt he will. This leaves the impression that he's perfectly happy having John Kerry's war service questioned, contrary to his public statements that he and his people will never question that service.

Using this as an excuse to attack 527s *in general* is not an answer to the question of how Mr. Bush feels about SBVFT's two ads, despite it being all the Republican mouthpieces can say when asked direct questions about how Mr. Bush feels.

Jon | Email | Homepage | 08.21.04 - 7:47 am | #

It was convenient of Kerry to denounce the 527s only AFTER they came after him. He was pretty content with them before that.

Bush denounced 527s BEFORE the Swifties' ad hit the air. Bush said Kerry's service is honorable - yet Kerry questions Bush's.

Besides, if Kerry is going to make vietnam the centerpiece of his campaign, why shouldn't it be fair game for questioning?

See, this has been Kerry's plan all along - use Vietnam as his centerpiece so he can attack anyone who "dares question a 5 medal war hero"....

One has to wonder why a party who heavily supported a draft dodger is now so concerned about the value of military service as a basis for the Presidency.

One also has to wonder why Kerry thinks his service is so commendable now when, in 1971, he thought of himself as a war criminal being duped by the corrupt American establishment....

It's all a matter of convenience. Now Bush signed CFR to clean up the campaign trails, and the Democrats have used the 527 loophole to trash the hell out of him. Kerry opposition decided to use the same loophole and now what goes around is coming back around.

Bush denounced ALL 527s...that would include the Swifties. I find it ironic that Kerry is filing a lawsuit about this when Bush is tough enough to suck it up like a man and deal with the issues head on. Kerry's also calling for a book banning by publishers - what a champion of free speech.

If Kerry is so adamant about his legitimate heroic status, he could file a form 180 and release his military records....afterall, it's the centerpiece of his campaign - according to him. Why is he touting something he's refusing to prove?

TexasRainmaker | Email | Homepage | 08.21.04 - 8:54 am | #

As they say, the proof is in the pudding. poor John is out of pudding. His angry response is more character revealing than any ad could be.
Attempts to thwart airing the ads by sending letters to the networks telling them not to air it, contacting the publisher to withhold the book, trying to dodge the swiftvet claims and instead turn it into a challenge against Bush's record all lead this reader to believe Kerry is hiding from the truth. Sign the 180, request release of attendance at closed intelligence committee meetings. Behave like an honest man.

Pat in NC | Email | Homepage | 08.21.04 - 12:42 pm | #

Great site and great point. If the first post is any indication, there is little reasoned argument contra.

I know first hand that even if the Bush campaign tried to get the SVETS to stop, they would not. This is personal, not business (to steal a Godfather figure of speech).

Message to Terry and his minions: BRING IT ON!!!!!

vnjagvet | Email | Homepage | 08.21.04 - 1:05 pm | #

By the way, Jon, as evidence that Kerry's "denouncing of moveon.org's ads" is simply lip service, why don't we revisit what Debra Deshong, a spokeswoman for the KERRY campaign, said just THIS WEEK:

"What MoveOn.org is doing is perfectly fine, while what the Swift Boat Veterans are doing is "dishonest" and "dishonorable."

Sound like "denouncing to you"? I can only assume you just don't know what that word means.

And let's also check out who joined Kerry's very own campaign on April 16, 2004....

From JohnKerry.com:

"Zach Exley joins the Internet team as Director of Online Communications and Online Organizing. He was previously the director of special projects for the MoveOn.org"

In addition, Kerry's campaign website has no problem touting articles about the moveon.org ads. Again, from his own campaign website:

While Kerry has not been on the air anywhere since locking up the Democratic nomination March 2, two liberal interest groups - the Media Fund and the MoveOn.org Voter Fund - have been, assailing the president and serving as the Democrats' answer to Bush.

Is that the way Kerry "denounces" things? His own campaign website says that "while Kerry hasn't been on the air", some liberals groups are "assailing the president and serving as the Democrats' answer to Bush"

Talk about surrogates doing your dirty work. Now that I've shown you what Kerry's campaign actually said about the moveon.org ads, now that I've shown you the Kerry campaign hired moveon.org folks and now that I've shown you what the official Kerry campaign website does to indirectly promote the activities of the surrogate 527s - why don't you go to www.GeorgeWBush.com, Bush's official campaign site and tell me what you find about the Swiftboat vets or their ads.

TexasRainmaker | Email | Homepage | 08.21.04 - 2:29 pm | #

My full and open response to Jon can be found here.

TexasRainmaker | Email | Homepage | 08.21.04 - 6:27 pm | #

When will liberals ever research things?

All they do is what Rick Klau does on his web blog. Ignore you when you say something with evidence backed up or change the subject.

As of yet Rick Klau has STILL not accepted my offer and posted up positive things about John Kerry. Yet he supports John Kerry? Only because Rick Klau loves dem free lunches.

Jeff MacMillan | Email | Homepage | 08.21.04 - 11:44 pm | #

To be candid, Jeff, I know Rick personally. He's a good guy and supports liberal causes. I think he's one of the few original liberals left in the world. He honestly debates issues.

As for his support of Kerry, I think that goes back to my statement above. The modern Democrat party has been hijacked by the Loony left and this puts liberals like Rick (and other liberal friends) in a tough spot...continue to support the platform or support the qacky characters they run on the tickets.

To be fair, if you look at Rick's site, you'll see the majority of his posts deal with positive messages about liberal candidates (mostly in IL).

TexasRainmaker | Email | Homepage | 08.22.04 - 8:12 am | #

So in other words, support a guy who goes completely against the grain of every moral fiber in your body? That makes a lot of sense. What about Tammy Bruce or Zell Miller? Both are high profile Democrats who have retained their party affiliation, yet continue to blast these psychos who have taken over the Democratic party and turned it into a Bizarro-Commie Freakshow. We really ARE living in an Orwell novel.

As for Kerry's "Bring it on!" it reminds me of the lion from the Wizard of Oz, "Puht em up, Puht em up!" Either that or Thurston Howell III from Gilligan's Island. "Oh loook Lovey, they're piiicking on me again. Terayza, cooome heeelp me!"

Kavalia | Email | Homepage | 08.22.04 - 12:49 pm | #