Posted on 08/10/2004 8:29:00 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Let me get this straight. When military veterans want to speak out about their Vietnam War experiences, they are threatened with legal action, but when a Hollywood slob makes a highly suspect "documentary" ridiculing the president of the United States, he is honored for his work.
Since the release of Michael Moore’s "Fahrenheit 9/11," we have heard nothing but cheers from liberal politicos, the major media, and Hollywood entertainment moguls. Cries of foul from conservatives about the brazen Bush-bashing have fallen on deaf ears as far as the mainstream media.
Now that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth want to tell of their own Vietnam experiences, which incidentally do not jive with Kerry’s recollections, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has issued implied threats of lawsuits to media that may choose to run the ads.
The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth launched a Web site in May and began to collect funds so that they could tell of their experiences with Kerry in Vietnam. Although some who would contribute were known Republicans, the veterans were careful to distance themselves from the Republican Party. This was their personal project.
In the words of Larry Bailey, president of another organization, Vietnam Vets for the Truth, LLC (June 23 Wilson County News), they have "for 33 years bristled at the mention of John Kerry’s name because of the lies he told at the so-called "Winter Soldier" hearings in 1971." ( www.wintersoldier.com)
Veterans’ stories are of their own experiences; whereas, the fact that Moore edited and pieced together snippets from here and there in order to create an illusion that illustrates a point he wanted to make — and then boldly declares that anyone who disagrees with him is an idiot — is ludicrous, to say the least. Yet Moore was allowed to present his work as a documentary and was even rewarded by his peers.
Now, in response to the veterans’ statements of their experiences in the form of paid advertisements, we get this: According to a faxed letter (available at humaneventsonline.com) from legal counsel for the DNC and Kerry, the veterans’ ad is labeled "false" and "libelous" and strongly suggests that TV stations should use their "legal authority" to refuse any paid airtime, stating that "… your station is responsible for the false and libelous charges … ."
Further, it claims that veterans in the ad "purport to have served on Senator Kerry’s SWIFT Boat in Vietnam" but, "in fact, not a single one of the men who pretend to have served with Senator Kerry was actually a crewmate of Senator Kerry’s … ."
The reality is that none of these men claimed to have served on Kerry’s Swift Boat. They simply said they "served with John Kerry" — which they did. The DNC letter goes on to make several more misleading statements about the advertisement, in an attempt to protect Kerry’s "war hero" record.
One might ask why we are stuck on Vietnam anyway and not focusing on Kerry’s record of the last 20 years in the U.S. Senate. In fact, it is Kerry who continues to push his hero status even up to and during the Democratic National Convention in Boston when he stepped up to the microphone and said, "I’m John Kerry … reporting for duty!"
The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth are livid that this war protestor whom they feel betrayed their trust presumes to speak for them. "We were not baby-killers, rapists, razers of villages, and the like," said Bailey, using Kerry’s own words. To tell their story, the veterans did not produce a sham documentary. They produced — and paid for — an ad.
The Wilson County News ran quotes from some of those veterans, courtesy of Mordecai Arnold (June 30 Wilson County News). Arnold is actively working to help with the Kerry Lied Rally to be held in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 12.
I have spoken to Arnold by phone and asked him to explain those Swift Boat Veterans who are supporting Kerry. You can guess his comments.
I have also exchanged e-mails with a veteran from Wisconsin who defends Kerry’s record, but then admits that he is a "yellow dog Democrat who works exclusively for Democrats." He accuses the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth of being "partisan."
However, I have this from yet another yellow dog Democrat who is a retired Marine: Information from the Swift Boat Veterans is "straight dope. Dammit — If only Bush wasn’t such a dumb cluck, but with information like this, there’s now no other candidate. Hopefully, he’s wised up a bit in the past four years, despite the mess he’s gotten us into."
Well, there you have it from two "yellow dogs." Who are you going to believe? This is one election that requires all Americans to wake up AND VOTE.
How will Americans ever know the truth? I believe the truth is there, but don’t depend on the big media to give it to you. You might have to work for it.
Find the Web sites referred to in this article at wilsoncountynews.com from the Editorial page.
__________________________
Feel free to contact the Wilson County News regarding content or any other questions/concerns.
E-mail reader@wcn-online.com, 1012 C Street, Floresville, Texas 78114 830-216-4519, fax 830-393-3219
Bump!
It`s called hypocrisy, the religion of liberals.
So, when someone comes forward and speaks against the Dems, look out! I'm just trying to hold on to my seat at the computer between now and November. I hope I don't break anything. heh!
Lucianne is hosting for Laura Ingram. She was just asking when was the last time someone was shot for treason - just so matter of factly.
I would like to see an interview with the guys 'ON HIS BOAT' and get a difinitive picture. I know this guy moves with the wind but the Socialist MEDIA covers his a$$ at every turn. This would be the final nail.
Swift Boat Veterans are met with opposition from Dems
or
Truth is met with opposition from Dems
I love Floresville! Used to visit my Aunt and Uncle there a long time ago. Great article.
ping.
Boy! That's a loaded question. heh! Pardon the pun. :)
John Kerry
Exhibit 25, Congressional Record - Senate of March 27, 1986, page 3594.
"Mr. President, I remember Christmas of 1968 sitting on a gunboat in Cambodia. I remember what it was like to be shot at by Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge and Cambodians, and have President Nixon telling the American people that I was not there; the troops were not in Cambodia.
I have that memory which is seared -- seared -- in me . . . ."
By way of further example, Kerry wrote an article for the Boston Herald on October 14, 1979:
"I remember spending Christmas Eve of 1968 five miles across the Cambodian border being shot at by our South Vietnamese allies who were drunk and celebrating Christmas. The absurdity of almost killed by our own allies in a country in which President Nixon claimed there were no American troops was very real."
See Exhibit 26.
Hey Dude, what were you smoking? Johnson was President in Dec 68
Johnson, Lyndon
1963-69
Nixon, Richard
1969-74
Anyone know if Kerry has responded to Cameron's question yet?
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
* not actually a Ranger buddy from Ranger school, but a guy I hung out with in a horrible assignment where we were almost the only two with a Ranger tab, SF time, etc.
Floresville...home of the the late, great John Connelly.
That's a great opening paragraph.
Bump!
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