FR Exclusive Photos: Swift Boat Vets for Truth

May 4, 2004 | Kristinn

[BillF]

Kristinn, co-leader of the DC Chapter, attended part of the John O'Neill & Swift Boat Veterans for Truth press conference this morning*  (details below).   Per his request, I'm posting his photos and his captions.

CLICK ON ANY PHOTO AND A FULL SIZE VERSION OF THE PHOTO SHOULD APPEAR.  (Thumbnail photos hyperlinked to full versions)

John O'Neill with Accuracy in Media's Roger Aronoff	John Kerry's 'other' brothers in arms.
John O'Neill reviews his remarks before the press conference begins.	Ditto, Kerry circled in red in photo.
Baba Booey, Howard Stern and Jackie Martling trying to pick up chicks at college (circa 1971.)	Another photo enlargement of those halcyon days.
Press packed in back of room. Interesting Times seated in middle.	Last photo before start of press conference.

* Here is the initial report and thread from Kristinn's telephone report via Armymarinemom this morning:

Quick Report from John O'Neill-Swift Boat Veteran Press Conference

na | 5/4/2004 | Amrymarinemom

Posted on 05/04/2004 7:22:10 AM PDT by armymarinemom

Kirstinn just call in a quick report from the press conference. He could only stay for the first ten minutes. The Press room was packed to overflowing with at least twelve news video cameras and dozens of reporters. Also in attendance were a couple dozen swift boat veterans to speak at the press conference.

O'Neal said that Kerry spoke with Admiral Hoffman, the chairman of the group, for forty five minutes trying to talk him out of doing this. O'Neal said that the swift boat Captains beleive that Kerry is unfit for Commander in Chief and that is their sole reason for speaking out. He stated that if Kerry is dropped out of the Democratic nomination and is replaced that the group will go away. The group also demanded that Kerry sign the two page release to disclose his full medical records. If he can spend fifty to 100 million on his campaign he can take time to fill out a two page form. When asked for a show of hands for those who served with Kerry about a dozen raised their hands. The group said that they have also received nasty messages accusing them of being alcoholics.

The front of the room was filled with enlarged black and white photographs. One was a photo used by the Kerry campaign and one was possibly the photo from the cover of The New Soldier. Photos were provided by Free Republic's Wintersoldier.com. Kristinn spoke briefly with O'Neal and he had very nice things to say about Free Republic. [click here for the rest of that thread]

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thank You
I saw the C-Span2 Press Conference
It will repeat
These men stood up for what they believe in.
That Hanoi Kerry is unfit to be Commander in Chief.
I am both proud and honored to have served with them at the same time period.

[PGalt]

Thanks

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

I have no idea how long it lasts, but it is good stuff.

[The Bandit]

Will there be transcripts available?

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

I'm not sure about a transcript. If you find one please let me know.

This is sad stuff. Are you watching?

[The Bandit]

I was watching while working, unfortuantly my little TV in my office has no volume so couldn't listen in and CSPAN-2 wasn't broadcasting CC, so I was out of luck.

[devolve]

Should be C-Span videotapes available

[BJungNan]

Post a note with "FR pics" that FR must be referenced in all usage. With thousands of citizen reporters, FR needs credit if one of the lame stream media lifts it.

[BillF]

Pinging some of the people who posted to related threads.

[Mo1]

Nice pictures of the press .. Do ya think they'll claim they were at the press conference and that's why the didn't report on this story?

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Thanks. Bookmarked it yesterday right after you posted it!

[tgslTakoma]

FR Exclusive: AP SPIKES JOHN O'NEILL - SWIFT BOAT VETS STORY

Get on that thread, and call AP in the morning and give'em . . . heck.

[SuzanneC]

I hope you saw this.

[Miss Marple]

Discussion on Fox now.

[Angelwood]

What did they report on Fox about the Swift Boat Vets for Truth?

[Miss Marple]

It was a very small segment, and pretty weak. Brian Kilmeade started giving it a lot of hype and sounded really indignant about Kerry. Then ED said that there were a lot of Bush supporters among these guys and that she honored anyone who served in Vietnam (missing the whole point of what this is about). Steve said that they were entitled to their opinion. Short clip of O'Neill saying Kerry wasn't fit to serve. However, ED did bring up Kerry taking a movie camera to Vietnam with him and wondered why he did that (although she called it a video camera).

Do you have any contact with these guys? There were a couple who were very effective, especially the guy who was a criminal prosecutor (can't remember his name...will have to go back and read the live thread).

They need to be hitting local talk radio shows and local papers. The national media is obviously freezing them out. Although I was glad to see this was covered in the Boston Globe and the Washington Times.

[Angelwood]

Thanks for compiling all these related threads in one place. Kristinn took some great photos.

The Washington Times has a story and photo on page 4 related to this press conference. Veteran Joe Ponder is at the podium and the large photo with Kerry's picture circled is shown at an angle. The text of the story says that 12 of the 18 men in this photo have signed the letter that the group circulated. The letter says that Kerry "betrayed them in 1971 and to this day by saying he witnessed atrocities and war crimes during his time in combat." 200 swift boat veterans have signed the letter.

[YaYa123]

Yes I saw this thread, and knew, just knew the mainstream media couldn't ignore the importance of so many Kerry commanders coming out against him.

Wrong!!

This morning on IMUS, Craig Crawford Editor of HOTLINE, told Imus that none of these men coming forward actually served with Kerry. He said this "event" was put on by the same group that maligned McCain in SC., that the White House disavows link to the group, but they are pro-Bush. Crawford completely dissed the significance of this as anything but a political attack by pro-Bush forces.

Paul Begala came on later and repeated to Imus that this was the same group responsible for attacking McCain so viciously in SC in 2000.

Imus has been in love with Craig Crawford for awhile now, so he fully accepted everything Crawford said as gospel.

[SpinyNorman]

The NYTimes buried this in an article about Kerry's new commercial blitz. Haven't checked today's edition (I get them for free by the way!)