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John Kerry media jackals go after swift boat veterans
Brookes News (Australia) ^ | 23 August 2004 | Addison Ross

Posted on 08/22/2004 7:50:29 AM PDT by Lando Lincoln

Deeply worried that the swift boat veterans' ads are damaging John Kerry his media pals intensified their campaign to destroy the credibility of these veterans.

On August 20 the New York Times struck back for Kerry by allocating a huge amount of space to the swift boat veterans. The article will now be used by the Democrats, who basically wrote it anyway, and the rest of mainstream media to attack the swift boat veterans and their allies.

Nevertheless, it should be plain to honest observers that the article was nothing but a hit job by Kate Zernike and Jim Rutenberg, who masqueraded as honest journalists. This pair of party hacks painted the swift boat veterans as Republican stooges by linking them to the GOP. In other words, they were forced to use guilt by association to taint these men because they were unable to refute their allegations.

This sleazy tactic immediately raised two important points. First, how does these veterans' funding affect the truth of what they say, unless Zernike and Rutenberg are trying to infer that the veteranss were been paid to lie by wicked Republicans.

The second point is that neither the Times nor John Kerry mouthpieces Zernike and Rutenberg complained about vicious attacks by the Dems' 527s on President Bush. Nor did they draw attention to the fact that these 527s have so far received over $70 million from Dem supporters.

The Times can be gauged from the fact that it continues to ignore the actions of vicious Dem operatives like Harold Ickes and Zack Exley who have been coordinating, in defiance of the law, the activities of their 527s with the John Kerry campaign.

So why didn't Zernike and Rutenberg, not to mention their corrupt editors, object to these activities? Well, in fact the paper did finally object to 527s — after the swift boat ads, which only cost about $500,000, began to hurt Kerry.

While this pious hypocrites express phoney concern about the activities of the Dems' 527s it continued to run a vicious anti-Bush campaign of its own, of which the Zernike and Rutenberg hit job is a part. This is the same greasy rag that had the gall to call on Bush to halt the veterans' ad campaign while refusing to make the same demand of John Kerry with respect to his own 527s.

By linking the swift boat veterans to Republican funding Zernike and Rutenberg were using the vindictive tactic of guilt by association. Therefore, according to these paragons of honest journalism, anyone who takes money from a Republican source is at best untrustworthy and at worst a liar. This speaks volumes about these phoney journalists' attitude towards Republicans.

But what matters, as any reasonable person knows, is not the source of the funds but the truth of the charges. This is something the mainstream media has refused to consider. The same Democratic mouthpieces that slavishly follow Dem talking points as if they were carved in stone have now turned to smearing John Kerry's fellow veterans because they have the courage to speak out against him.

The Dr Letson incident is an excellent example of Zernike and Rutenberg's contempt for the truth and the reputation of others. They falsely charged that Letson did not treat John Kerry. But Letson had already publicly pointed out that the signature on the medical record was that of the late J. C. Carreon, who was not a doctor.

That Carreon signed the medial record in lieu of Dr Letson is, as this pair well knows, irrelevant because Kerry admits he was treated by a doctor, and Letson was the only doctor on the base from September 1968 to September 1969.

Far be it from me to impugn the motives and professionalism of the noble Zernike and Rutenberg, but am I alone in noticing that their charge against Dr Letson is identical to the line taken by Marc Elias and Joseph Sandler. (By the way, this rag also devoted masses of space to Dem allegations about Bush's National Guard service).

Elian is the General Counsel for the Kerry-Edwards campaign and Sandler is General Counsel for the Democratic National Committee. No ain't that curious? Not that I'm suggesting for a moment that Zernike and Rutenberg take their marching orders from the DNC. Still, it makes one wonder why they used the Elias and Sandler line to eagerly impugn Dr Letson's integrity.

The Washington Post is another disgusting example of media bigotry. It used the freedom of information act to accuse swift boat vet Larry Thurlow of being a liar. (Isn't odd how these fearless newspapers can't be bothered dig up all of John Kerry's records?)

Fortunately the Post's sleazy tactic backfired when it appeared that the citation they quoted was copied from Kerry's, which he himself apparently wrote. Out of concern for the truth, the swift boat veterans contacted the journalist. Surprise, surprise, he refused to speak with them.

On August 21 the Los Angeles Times published another hit job, this time by Matea Gold and Maria L. La Ganga. The thing read like a John Kerry campaign press release. For example, it mentioned Larry Thurlow but omitted any reference to the origin of his citation. It also — wait for it — devoted an entire paragraph to the Texas developer who helped fund the swift boat veterans' ad. The only thing missing from the article was Kerry's name in the byline.

The Media Research Center has revealed just how bigoted and corrupt the American media is. For example, it found that by August 20 the CBS, ABC and NBC had broadcast only nine stories about the swift boat veterans, nearly all of which were personal attacks on the veteranss. But the same networks had broadcast 75 stories about the Dems' charge that Bush went AWOL from the National Guard. So much for honest journalism.

The swift boat veterans' case is detailed in Unfit for Command but don't expect the media any time soon to actually deal with the facts. But do expect the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and the rest of the Dem media to keep inventing dirt and running interference for John Kerry.

Remember, the mainstream media see their job as putting John Kerry in the White House and to hell with the truth — and especially the swift boat veterans, who have now found out the hard way that the mainstream media are a pack of lying political bigots.


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: damagecontrol; kerry; mediabias; sbvt; swiftboats; swiftboatveterans
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Lando

1 posted on 08/22/2004 7:50:29 AM PDT by Lando Lincoln
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To: Lando Lincoln

Kerry has had every opportunity tell us specifically how the Swift Boat Vets are lying. He has not done so because he can't.

As well, don't let him get away with tying the Bush admin. to the Swift Boat vets without tying the DNC to MoveOn.Org:

"Nov 13, 2003
The DNC is also conducting a major petition drive in partnership with MoveOn.org. More than 310,000 Americans have signed the petition to protect our courts — with more than 172,000 of those signatures coming in the past 36 hours. The petition calls on Bush and the Republicans to stop nominating judges that are out of step with mainstream Americans and praising the Democrats for standing up for their rights."
http://www.democrats.org/news/200311140002.html



DNC Chief Operating Officer Josh Wachs (left), Senator Leahy, and Zack Exley from Moveon.org pose with the more than 310,000 signatures.
http://www.democrats.org/blog/display/00010183.html


2 posted on 08/22/2004 7:52:35 AM PDT by Peach (The Clinton's pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: Lando Lincoln

A great article from the Auzzie's!


3 posted on 08/22/2004 7:55:08 AM PDT by BillyCrockett
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To: Lando Lincoln
No doubt following the very same logical constructs as are found in their article it should be possible for someone to provide a close link for both Zernike and Rutenberg to the company that built the furnaces for the Nazi death camps.

Actually, given the state of the Democrat party and it's hacks these days, that really wouldn't be all that surprising would it?!

4 posted on 08/22/2004 7:55:15 AM PDT by muawiyah
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To: Lando Lincoln

I think I want to frame this!


5 posted on 08/22/2004 7:55:42 AM PDT by DAC22
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Freeper N. Theknow says:
"It’s faster than a checkbook, more powerful than a Democratic demagogue, able to lay waste to a liar Kerry with the single click of a mouse. It's a little bird of truth, it's plain to see Kerry's unfit... it's... it's...SuperFReep!

Want to join in the fun? Click the logo to donate to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth!

6 posted on 08/22/2004 7:58:01 AM PDT by Chieftain (Support the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and expose Hanoi John's FRAUD!)
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To: Lando Lincoln

If it were not true, they would not be so upset.


7 posted on 08/22/2004 8:00:25 AM PDT by Piquaboy
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To: Lando Lincoln; All
To read the latest on the Franchurian Candidate's bizzare exploits, click the picture, goto "last," and work backwards:


8 posted on 08/22/2004 8:02:20 AM PDT by backhoe (1990's? Decade of Frauds. 2000's? Decade of Lunatics...)
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To: Peach

I agree...why wasn't he on Chris Wallace's show on Fox this morning instead of sending his bomb thrower hack, Hurley?? Kerry hasn't answered one question and he could finish the whole thing off if he wasn't lying or covering up issues that really happened. Lets see his fitness reports, which have not surfaced.


9 posted on 08/22/2004 8:03:58 AM PDT by cousair
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To: Lando Lincoln

Just watched O'Neil on George Stephanopoulos and he scored a homerun against John Podesta. At one point Podesta lost his cool. O'Neil stayed the course, was polite, never lost it, and had command over the interview simply because he was there(in 'Nam). What could Podesta say? He wasn't there. Podesta could only go by hearsay. O'Neil would say..."I know, I was there!"


10 posted on 08/22/2004 8:04:04 AM PDT by shiva
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To: Lando Lincoln

The msm is bottlenecking the discussion of 'what else' Kerry has done to betray America's Veterans as well as the nation

His activities post Vietnam also needs to get airplay...

His betrayal of American POWs and MIAs and their families....his helping to change a nation
from one that traditional honored its returning veterans to a nation who shunned their veterans
and the effect this had on returning Vietnam Veterans...

Kerry 'spit' on Vietnam veterans and now says being one is what qualifies him for POTUS

Kerry 'spit' on MIAs and POWs and their wives and orphans...for this he needs to be excoriated in the what ever media exists that would dare to print this truth...

imo


11 posted on 08/22/2004 8:10:06 AM PDT by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: Lando Lincoln; Liz; Howlin; ALOHA RONNIE; RonDog
...the mainstream media are a pack of lying political bigots.

It's so obvious now, even the Australians can see it from there!

12 posted on 08/22/2004 8:11:14 AM PDT by Libloather (What did Bergler stow - and when did he stow it?)
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To: Lando Lincoln
My questions are as follows: Given the way that the Kerry campaign is responding to the tough attacks by the Swift Boat men, whether they are true or not, what happens in a potential future Kerry administration when Al Qaeda strikes again (an you know they are going to at least try)? Will Kerry say that it was unfair and go to the UN? Or maybe he will go to Congress and say there is nothing we can do but be more sensitive to the thoughts and demands of a rogue group that does not have a country to call their own? If the attack is related to the military (e.g. USS Cole) will he just dismiss it as an act of war/terrorism and we should reevaluate our positioning of the military? Who is going to listen to his pleas for understanding (a.k.a. whines)?

When faced with tough attacks, what is this man really going to do? What evidence do we have that he will act swiftly (pun intended) and decisively?

Sorry for the Sunday morning ramblings.....
13 posted on 08/22/2004 8:11:50 AM PDT by pghkevin (Have you hugged your kids today? Have you thanked someone in the Military today?)
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To: Lando Lincoln; All
As We Predicted: The NYT's Front Page ''Brown Book'' Smear on the Swifties
 What really floors me is just how lock-step the media are on this. I meant, as Drudge says, the Empire strikes back. Kerry is being defended high and low today in mainline media, from NYTimes to CBS to small-town editorial boards. It's really stunning how they can speak in one big, coordinated voice when they want to.

 Kerry: Bush Lets Groups Do 'Dirty Work' (says: "BRING IT ON"!)
 I still want to know how the Post could get these records...
Because the DNC has provided the WASH POST "dirt" on all of the Swift Vets, including their "military records, medical and psychiatric records, credit records, divorce records and more".
»  Washington Post Begins "Brown Book" Attacks on Swift Boat Vets
»  Dems Plan Assault on Vets


V A N I T Y Let the games begin.......
  Looks like the story of the "brown book" is true. I wonder if it occurs to anyof these rocket scientists that their efforts to discredit the Swifties is about to explode in their faces.
 For over 30 years, those of us who are Vietnam era vets were never given a voice. If you ask the average young person on the street, the '60s and early '70's was nothing but peace and love.

Former FBI Agent Warns Swift Boat Vets Gary Aldrich

  If your 60-second ad were given honest exposure, the election would be all but over, and the people who have seen it know this. That’s why they will destroy you, then ignore you.
 The dems already have said they have "brown books" on these Swift Boat vets destroying their lives, and they already started handing them out to the press.


Live thread: Nightline doing segment on swift vets!  Another hit piece masked as being objective-- the good thing is that the story is still being reported.  The Kerry campaign (and their media pals) are trying hard to keep this on the level of "he said/he said." Forget that stuff. Look at the contradictions in his own statements.
 They attempted to ignore it and it wouldn't go away. They have now had to move to stage 2. Distort and condemn the opposition. The idea isn't to bring the Truth to the American public but to stop the momentum of the Swiftee's.
 If this line of attack fails, then they move to hardball. They will start dredging up every piece of info they can about the veterans while simultaneously trying to link Bush.
Remember the "Brown Books?"
 We are beginning to see the Clinton era repeated...
 This is shameless propaganda. What a nasty, dishonest piece of "journalism" that was.

14 posted on 08/22/2004 8:14:03 AM PDT by backhoe (1990's? Decade of Frauds. 2000's? Decade of Lunatics...)
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To: Peach

20 % does not a mainstream make!


15 posted on 08/22/2004 8:20:54 AM PDT by PROTESTBYPROXY
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To: All
ABC radio newsholes are saying that Mr. Rood (Chicago Trib), swift boat vet who served with Kerry, has come forward after more than 30 years and set the record straight supporting Kerry. President Bush has yet made an effort to stop the lies, the newsholes said.
16 posted on 08/22/2004 8:22:54 AM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael (Benedict Arnold was a hero for both sides in the same war, too!)
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To: shiva

Why doesn't O'Neil state that Kerry refuses to release all his records? I just don't get it. It turns into he said, he said otherwise.


17 posted on 08/22/2004 8:23:06 AM PDT by tkathy (The choice is clear. Big tent or no tent.)
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To: All
RE: media jackals

According to newsmax "Within hours of the Chicago Tribune's Saturday afternoon announcement that William Rood had decided to go public with his Kerry defense, more than 1,500 news outlets were touting the story on their Web sites, with the Associated Press offering no fewer than 10 updates.

"None of them mentioned Kerry's crewmate Tom Bellodeau."

Kerry's crewmate Tom Bellodeau was the one who shot the attacker before the attacker could fire his weapon. Then Kerry followed the wounded attacker and killed the wounded enemy.

18 posted on 08/22/2004 8:39:12 AM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael (Benedict Arnold was a hero for both sides in the same war, too!)
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To: Lando Lincoln

I have a feeling other dems are beginning to distance themselves from Kerry~~~~~ is that just a passing feeling or is that a new trend? Do they realize maybe Kerry stinks (from internal polls) and are not willing to jeopardize their own campaigns?


19 posted on 08/22/2004 8:43:39 AM PDT by Porterville (Dare to hate that which hurts what you love.)
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To: WilliamofCarmichael

Bump to find later


20 posted on 08/22/2004 8:48:44 AM PDT by listenhillary (We are defending the peace by taking the fight to the enemy.GWB)
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