Posted on 08/19/2004 11:53:21 AM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - The Kerry-Edwards campaign on Thursday announced it has released a new TV ad to "set the record straight" about Kerry's "heroic and honorable service in Vietnam."In a press release, the Kerry campaign said its new ad come in response to the "false and dishonest attack ad from Republican supporters of President Bush."
The reference is to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a 527 group that recently released an ad saying Kerry lied about his military record.
"They're a front for the Bush campaign," Sen. John Kerry said in Boston on Thursday, referring to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. "And the fact that the president won't denounce what they're up to tells you everything you that you need to know -- he wants them to do his dirty work."
Here's a transcript of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ad that has so inflamed the Kerry campaign. Some conservatives are furious, too, that major media outlets are dismissing the ad's allegations without looking into them.
John Edwards: "If you have any question about what John Kerry is made of, just spend three minutes with the men who served with him."
Al French: "I served with John Kerry."
Bob Elder: "I served with John Kerry."
George Elliott: "John Kerry has not been honest about what happened in Vietnam."
Al French: "He is lying about his record."
Louis Letson: "I know John Kerry is lying about his first Purple Heart because I treated him for that injury."
Van O'Dell: "John Kerry lied to get his bronze star ... I know, I was there, I saw what happened."
Jack Chenoweth: "His account of what happened and what actually happened are the difference between night and day."
Admiral Hoffman: "John Kerry has not been honest."
Adrian Lonsdale: "And he lacks the capacity to lead."
Larry Thurlow: "When the chips were down, you could not count on John Kerry."
Bob Elder: "John Kerry is no war hero."
Grant Hibbard: "He betrayed all his shipmates ... he lied before the Senate."
Shelton White: "John Kerry betrayed the men and women he served with in Vietnam."
Joe Ponder: "He dishonored his country ... he most certainly did."
Bob Hildreth: "I served with John Kerry ...
Bob Hildreth (off-camera): John Kerry cannot be trusted."
Announcer: "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is responsible for the content of this advertisement."
The Kerry campaign's new ad features former Green Beret Lt. Jim Rassmann -- described as a "long-time registered Republican"-- who relives his experience on the Mekong Delta in Vietnam the day that Lt. John Kerry saved his life.
"All those Viet Cong were shooting at me. I expected to be shot. When he pulled me out of the river, he risked his life to save mine,' Jim Rassmann says in the 30-second commercial.
Rassmann says the bullets were flying the day he was knocked into the water -- refuting a claim by an anti-Kerry veteran who says there was no firefight that day.
"The fire was strong enough to knock out Tommy Belodeau's machine gun...There was one person in the water that day and that was me, anyone who is telling you otherwise is giving you a lie," the Kerry campaign quotes Rassmann as saying.
The 30-second spot, called "Rassmann," is airing in the states where the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth first aired their ad -- including Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The Kerry campaign notes that "John Kerry served two tours of duty during Vietnam, during which he was awarded three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star with Combat V and a Silver Star."
As for Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the group "isn't interested in truth," the Kerry campaign says. "The truth is that official United States Navy reports document John Kerry's service in Vietnam, and these Republicans, with help from the Bush attack machine's biggest patrons, have attacked the integrity of the United States Navy itself and all who served on the Swift Boats."
The Kerry campaign has enlisted other men who served alongside Kerry to verify his account of a battle that happened long ago -- and that has erupted anew in recent weeks.
The Kerry campaign says "Republican lies about John Kerry's record" won't stop the Senator 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."
In his speech in Boston on Thursday, Kerry said he learned an important lesson during his Vietnam years: "When you're under attack the best thing to do is turn your boat into the attack. That's what I intend to do today."
A recent study indicated that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ad has struck a nerve among some independent voters who had been leaning toward Kerry.
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Then Kerry should have no problem with releasing all of his records.
Unless he's got something to hide.
Kerry is letting moveon.org call President Bush Hitler...
At least the Swifties are telling the TRUTH!!!
Letting others do the dirty work?
I guess it's easy to be critical like this when you're the guy who organized the anti-war protests, tossed your medals in a limited incursion on the Congress, met with and aided the enemy, and so forth.
The point is, this year there have been some 75 Bush-bashing books released upon the sheeple. One book -- ONE! -- critical of Kerry is released, and the Frenchish whiner has a hissy fit.
Whenever someone says this, I always find myself flashing back to a picture of Michael Moore, seated next to Pres. Carter at the DNC convention.
Lies have to be repeated over and over to have any effect. The truth only needs to be told once.
Yo JfK, if you weren't a Dumbass Liar, Liar, you would authorize the US Navy to release your files for Vietnam and that will settle this once and for ALL!
Hmmm... I didn't know they had digital DVD recorders in 1969...
Of course, Kerry WILL lie about everything so why not this.
That's what America wants--a crybaby president.
Whatever the merits of the argument, recall Pres. Reagan's handlers, who did not care about the content of the negative TV news stories, as long as they were filled with shots of the President doing what he did--in other words, each time someone saw him, people were reminded about what they liked about him.
Forget what these stories are about, they show Kerry playing the wimpy victim trying to prove his manhood. People watching this see the "nuanced" campaign Kerry is running. Whether or not they agree or disagree with him, do they see him as being Presidential?
No: A president would say "These ads are not true. Here are all my records. Questions?"
Sean Hannity is reading the "Democratic Talking Points" which is exactly what Kerry read from today!
Okay, here is the solution. All of the swift vets should file their own SF-180 to obtain all of their records, including Adm. Hoffman. They should scour those documents to find references to Kerry. For example, many of their commendations will show who wrote the recommending report and may contain the after action reports. From these, you can piece together much of Kerry's missing record record.
Otherwise, someone should just forge an SF-180 and have the Navy send you Kerry's records (just kidding).
"Sean Hannity is reading the "Democratic Talking Points" which is exactly what Kerry read from today!"
Very good, SH. I hope he does it on his tv show tonight.
Sure, G.W. criticized ALL 527's.
The reason the Dems are upset is because that was a blanket condemnation of 527's existence that doesn't specifically target the SBV's charges.
I can understand having a problem with CFR, and therefore disliking the statment on that merit. I have no issue with what he has said about the SBV's, because he hasn't addressed them. It was a clever response and I personally hope he sticks with this line of defense.
Is it not amazing on how those daily democrat talking points that are faxed/emailed out often mirror editorials and reporting done in the mainstream media?
Whine whine whine.
Poor baby. Guess those Move ads are just nonpartisan. ( ;
You can dish it out but you can't take it.
I haven't laughed so much in ages.
Precisely -- Because I recall with great clarity the Democratic denouncement of that slanderous, deceitful piece of trash released by Michael Moore, testifying one after another to their completely abhorrance of Moore's tactics and lies, and demanding Moore pull his movie out of the theaters.
And then I went out and bought some ocean-front property in Nebraska and a really nice bridge in New York.
Nothing says hypocrit like the Democratic Party.
Whine whine whine.
Poor baby. Guess those Move ads are just nonpartisan. ( ;
You can dish it out but you can't take it.
I haven't laughed so much in ages.
Once again, the President has proven that his strategery works!!!! LOL.......poor dims......they can't win for all their lies.
Well, OK, maybe that second one is more my take on it than his, but you get the point.
But his armor is tarnished, his self-proclaimed heroism publicly questioned by 254 of his former comrades, and the "war hero" issue is the only thing he's got.
The only thing that would be good for Kerry is if something else came along to take this controversy out of the news, but the Democrats have chosen to fight back, and that will keep the discussion of Kerry's record as the central issue in the race. And that's what his campaign will end up being about.
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