|
|
|
|
|
NEWS - 8/24/04 14. [via Media Matters]: "Stephen Gardner has been touted by the anti-Kerry group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and by conservative hosts as a singularly authoritative critic with firsthand knowledge of Senator John Kerry's (D-MA) record in Vietnam because Gardner -- unlike all the other members of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth -- actually served on a swift boat that Kerry commanded...However...he has admitted that he -- just like the rest of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth claiming that Kerry is lying about his medals -- was not present for the incidents leading to Kerry's receipt of any medals or any of Kerry's three Purple Hearts." This means NOT A SINGLE MEMBER OF SBV actually served with Kerry during the incidents that led to Kerry's Purple Hearts, Bronze Star and Silver Star. Added to Who Served "With" Kerry page. 13. SBV's FEC-compliance work is done by a consulting firm that manages Tom Delay's Majority Leader Fund and is thus closely linked to the GOP election campaign. Added to the Bush Campaign and SBV page. 12. The Bush campaign lawyer is also the legal advisor for SBV. (eRiposte note: I have no idea whether this is legally allowed or not, but combined with all the other evidence it is at least something for the FEC to examine.) Added to Bush Campaign and SBV page. 11. President Bush has been berating ALL so-called 527 organizations and stating how they should not be allowed to run any ads - even though he supported and signed the law that lets them do it and started a 527 himself in 2000. So is he foragainst 527s? Is he foragainst free speech? Added to the Bush Campaign and SBV page. 10. SBV and its members like Lonsdale are apparently so enraged with Kerry, that Kerry "lost the war" for them and "grossly and knowingly distorted the conduct of American soldiers..."; then, how come they happily and forcefully supported Kerry back in 1996? Does that make SBV foragainst "losing the war" and foragainst "grossly and knowingly distorting the conduct of American soldiers"? SBV also says that "For more than thirty years, most Vietnam veterans kept silent as we were maligned as misfits, addicts, and baby killers. Now that a key creator of that poisonous image is seeking the Presidency we have resolved to end our silence." Well, this is absurdly false. Some of them DID speak out in 1996, in favor of Kerry! Added to Kerry - Other War Related page. 9. Back in 2000, as Bush struggled in the polls against McCain, a very similar attack occurred on McCain, followed by Bush's non-condemning "distancing" from the attackers -- with Bush referring to McCain's service as "noble". Now we should believe it is pure coincidence that suddenly a group emerges to subject Kerry to the same treatment that McCain endured AND Bush reacts similarly? Deja voodoo, anyone? Added as an EPILOGUE to The Double-Standards Game page. 8. [via reader Jules Siegel]: Ken Cordier claimed to UPI that he was not part of the Bush campaign, even though he was. Moreover, as reader Jules Siegel pointed out in an email, why is Cordier being pushed as a Swift Boat Veteran when his biography shows he was in the Air Force and had no Swift Boat duty? Added to the Other Lies or B.S. page. 7. Another Swift Boat Commander and POW Phil Butler, silent until now, stepped forward to defend Kerry from SBV's allegation that Kerry's 1971 testimony about war crimes in Vietnam was devastating to them and played to "the enemy". Butler stated that "I lived with two of the POWs who are now in that group ... and I am telling you, they are full of it. We never heard a blooming thing about John Kerry while we were there". Added to the Kerry - Other War Related page. 6. One of the SBV commanders [Rich McCann] who was portrayed as "neutral" on SBV's website, is apparently none too pleased with that portrayal. The commander, Rich McCann, has come out to support Kerry. Added to the Other Lies or B.S. page. 5. [via reader JL]: One of the Swift Boat Commanders who has recently spoken out for Kerry, Rich Baker, pointed out that he recalled a 1995 reunion of Swift boat crews in Washington at which praise for Kerry's service in Vietnam was unanimous. He deplores SBV for their partisan attacks today. Added to Kerry - Other War Related page. 4. [via Hesiod]: Another article - by Fred Kaplan in Slate - pointing out that Kerry could have very well been inside Cambodia when he claimed he was. Added to the Kerry and Cambodia page. 3. [via reader PO]: SBV member Larry Thurlow's claim that there were no shots fired at all is contradicted by his fellow SBV member Alfred French who claims that any shots fired were from U.S. soldiers. Of course, the fact that both are liars is also well documented by now. Added to the Kerry Bronze Star page. 2. New topic/menu item! Appendix C: GOP Attack Dogs, Inc. added. I start with coverage on former Senator Bob Dole and his compassionate conservatism. 1. New topic/menu item! Appendix D: The Media's "He-Said, She-Said" Game added.
NEWS - 8/23/04 1. [via reader PT]: An article by Nick Turse in History News Network, pointing out that according to classified military documents, war crimes in Vietnam were more common than is advertised by the media - which supports the past statements of Sen. John Kerry and that of others like Gen. Tommy Franks. Added to the Kerry - Other War Related page. 2. [via Hesiod]: Steve Gilliard provides more perspective that justifies why Kerry could have been in Cambodia. Added to the Kerry Cambodia page.
NEWS -
8/22/04 1. [via Various Sources]: The Swift Boat Veterans for "Truth" (SBV) is a 527 organization and any links/coordination between the Bush campaign and SBV is illegal per the campaign finance law that Bush signed. Yet, links/coordination between them have indeed been discovered, despite statements to the contrary. This includes SBV members who are part of the Bush administration or Election Committees, and Bush/GOP campaigns circulating material promoting SBV or soliciting funds for SBV. New section added to this website devoted to this topic - Bush campaign and SBV. 2. [via Digby and Political Animal]: More eyewitnesses (who were NOT on Kerry's boat) speak out against SBV and confirm Kerry's version of the events relating to the incident leading to his Bronze Star. They point out that SBV is lying and there was indeed enemy fire during Kerry's rescue of Rassman. Added to the Bronze Star page. 3. [via Josh Marshall and DailyKos]: In 2000, John Kerry was one of five Senators who came to Sen. John McCain's defense when he was falsely smeared by Veterans related to the Bush campaign. The Bush campaign mocked McCain then - now, they repeat their performance -- with Kerry instead. Added to Appendix B, The Double-Standards Game page. 4. [via Various Sources]: In 1999, Bush threatened legal action after the publication of the book "Fortunate Son" had unproven allegations against him relating to "cocaine use" and he and the media berated the author. Now, Bush mocks Kerry and refuses to condemn egregiously false attacks against Kerry in another book and TV ads. Added to Appendix B, The Double-Standards Game page.
NEWS - 8/21/04 1. [via Atrios] The reputable Joe Galloway of Knight Ridder points out the lies from SBV. Appropriate portions have been added to the Bronze Star page. 2. [via Daily Howler]: Larry Thurlow caught in yet another lie about Kerry's first purple heart. Added to the Purple Heart 1 page. 3. [via Liberal Oasis]: George Elliott caught in yet another lie about Kerry's Bronze Star. Added to the Bronze Star page. 4. [via Atrios]: SBV's claim that Kerry's wound (related to his first purple heart) was self-inflicted from firing an M-79 grenade launcher shown to be false by the Boston Globe. Added to the Purple Heart 1 page. 5. [via Atrios]: SBV's claim that William Schacte served with Kerry during the incident leading to his first purple heart and that Schacte confirms the self-inflicted nature of his wound, also shown to be false by the Boston Globe and the New York Times. Indeed, O'Neill backpedaled from this claim. Added to the Purple Heart 1 page. 6. [via Atrios]: SBV's claim that Kerry's actions that earned him a Silver Star were due to stupidity and not courage are shown to be B.S./false based on the report of another swift boat commander/eyewitness and military records. Added to the Silver Star page. 7. [via Atrios]: SBV's claim that Kerry's actions that earned him a Silver Star were based on his shooting a man in "loin cloth" and that there was no enemy fire that day are shown to be categorically false. Added to the Silver Star page. 8. [via Atrios]: SBV's claim that there was no enemy fire during the incident that led to Kerry's Bronze Star is shown to be false based on military records of Thurlow (of SBV) and Lambert and an eyewitness from another swift boat who came forward just now. Added to the Bronze Star page. 9. SBV's claim that Kerry could not have been inside Cambodia without being court-martialed is shown to be utterly false, by Gropinator, using his review of Admiral Zumwalt's son's book. Added to the Kerry and Cambodia page. 10. SBV's new ad makes it appear as if Kerry personally witnessed certain atrocities that he narrated. This is grossly misleading because Kerry was quoting others who had testified about committing atrocities. Added to the Kerry - Other War Related page. 11. SBV member French's claim that he served "with" Kerry and that Kerry was "lying" is shown to be based on claims made by other SBV members and not first-hand knowledge. French conceded he had no first hand knowledge of Kerry's record. Added to Other SBV Lies or B.S. page. |
