By Matt Hurley for the TIB Network:
Stephanie Cutter of Kerry/Edwards released a lengthy statement that was, as usual, high on rhetoric and low on substance. Here is the real message of the release:
A group falsely labeled "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" is trying to smear John Kerry's military service and the service of those who served in great danger with him on the Navy's Swift Boats. This group of "Swift Veterans for Bush," isn't interested in the truth - and they're not telling the truth. Thirty years ago, official Navy reports documented John Kerry's service in Vietnam and Navy commanders decorated him for his service. Thirty-five years ago, this was the truth, and it's still the truth today.
Matt's Chat
If you read the entire release, you will see that, as usual, Kerry/Edwards are engaging in personal attacks rather than dealing with the specifics of what the Swifties are charging.
They continue to smear President Bush with this nonsense as well:
This truth knows no party labels. In fact, Republican Senator John McCain called the television ad run by these Bush supporters 'dishonest and dishonorable,' and called on President Bush to condemn it. Nearly two weeks later, the President still refuses to join Sen. McCain in setting the record straight - just as he refused to disavow or condemn hateful and vicious attacks on Sen. McCain's military record during the Republican primary in South Carolina in 2000.Bush/Cheney is not going to step on the free speech rights of ANY American. If they did, then A$hcroft's AmeriKKKa would indeed be a reality. There hasn't been a crack down on MoveOn.org has there? All this proves is that there is still a problem with campaign finance. We know who to blame for that don't we: Sen. John McCain. (And remember, folks, I was a McCain supporter in 2000.)
I take strong exception to this statement:
John Kerry made a commitment today to the American people. He said Republican lies about his military service record will not stop him from fighting for jobs, health care, and America's security. These are the issues that really matter to the American people, and that's why John Kerry's going to keep fighting for them.The Swifties are not out there as Republicans. They are out there as Vietnam veterans who have legitimate concerns about a candidate for President of the United States.
Rather than smearing them and the President, why doesn't John Kerry just release his records. He won't because that will expose his lies. "Christmas in Cambodia" has already been retracted by Kerry/Edwards. The "Magic Hat" is well on its way to be exposed as a sham. The Swifties have proven themselves as being right on at least two of the stories Kerry has used to pad his resume. If the media will actually check John Kerry out instead of giving him a free pass, the truth will come out. Are they interested in defending the integrity of America? I think we all know the answer to that...
1:55PM Update
This statement by John Kerry at a rally is despicable:
"Over the last week or so, a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has been attacking me. Of course, this group isn't interested in the truth - and they're not telling the truth. They didn't even exist until I won the nomination for president.
"But here's what you really need to know about them. They're funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Republican contributor out of Texas. They're a front for the Bush campaign. And the fact that the president won't denounce what they're up to tells you everything you need to know - he wants them to do his dirty work.
"Thirty years ago, official Navy reports documented my service in Vietnam and awarded me the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Thirty years ago, this was the plain truth. It still is. And I still carry the shrapnel in my leg from a wound in Vietnam.
"As firefighters you risk your lives every day. You know what it's like to see the truth in the moment. You're proud of what you've done - and so am I.
"Of course, the president keeps telling people he would never question my service to our country. Instead, he watches as a Republican-funded attack group does just that. Well, if he wants to have a debate about our service in Vietnam, here is my answer: 'Bring it on.'
"I'm not going to let anyone question my commitment to defending America then, now, or ever. And I'm not going to let anyone attack the sacrifice and courage of the men who saw battle with me.
"And let me make this commitment today: their lies about my record will not stop me from fighting for jobs, health care, and our security - the issues that really matter to the American people."
More Matt's Chat
He was for "Bring. It. On." before he was against it, apparently. Because the Swifties are bringing it and he's running from their allegations with smears and distortions. His staff has already had to retract "Christmas in Cambodia" so Johnny's record on his record isn't all that and a bag of chips...and for the record, this isn't President Bush out there making these allegations, it is a group of Kerry's "Band of Brothers." Also, for the record, it isn't Ed Gillespie, chairman of the Republican Party either. Compare and contrast with John Kerry's and Terry McAwful's statements about the "Bush AWOL" non-story.
The funny thing is that the more John Kerry and his campaign engage in this nonsense, the more traction the story is going to get. Why not just release his records, admit to being a pathological liar, and get it over with? Just asking...
8/20 Update
Jason of Generation Why? has a great post summarizing the facts of 527's and just who is a front group for who. Hint: People in glass houses shouldn't throw boulders.
Mark's Remarks
I just love this crap. The press is joining the clown twins in this charade. It is nothing more than censorship. This from the party that claims to be defending people's rights (just the rights to kill babies and curse and such) but yet they want to silence people who bled for this country from expressing their views. What a crock. The Kerry campaign threatened TV stations with lawsuits, thankfully most of the stations ignored them. However, I just came from Barnes and Noble, where another patron and I were asking about the Swifties book, Unfit for Command. She claimed they had it but were out because the publisher only printed 85,000 copies. This flies in the face of the publisher's releases and the information on the radio today, that there were between 200,000 and 500,000 copies printed. Of course, knowing this I asked the woman if I could see her information on the distribution of the book, and she sputtered and then said, we can order it. I told her no thanks, that I would rather order it from Amazon than to buy it from a place that is kowtowing to Kerry.
The efforts by the Kerry campaign are insidious and against the very principles of civil rights the Left claims to cherish, but we know the truth. Kerry and his Leftist friends want Socialism, and socialism comes with the price of freedom. Kerry's attempts at censorship smack at McCarthyism, Red Scare, etc. It is shameful. And it raises this interesting issue: Bush never complained or asked for censorship of the Bush hating books or the AWOL situation or the moveon.org ads, he let the facts be revealed and opened his records; Kerry, on the other hand continues to cover up, sending out smear merchants to discredit the Swifties, misrepresenting his own service in the Senate, in addition to not releasing full records even though some of his accounts (Christmas in Cambodia) have been discredited and debunked. Why is he being so hateful and so vociferous in seeking to shout out these vets? Does he think they don't deserve the right to speak their minds? Does he believe that Americans shouldn't be free to decide for themselves? And, is there really something to the Swifties' Claims and is he hiding something? Interesting, Bush was more respective of disagreeing opinions than Kerry is showing. So much for the Dims being for free speech, eh?
