Posted on 12/16/2004 1:46:51 PM PST by hipaatwo
By JEFFREY McMURRAY, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - For one night only, it'll be spitballs and Swift Boats together on the same stage — a who's who of Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites) bashing. The American Conservative Union on Thursday announced it has tapped Sen. Zell Miller (news, bio, voting record), D-Ga., to present the "Courage Under Fire" award to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth at the Conservative Political Action Conference's Feb. 16 banquet.
Miller and the group of Vietnam veterans were behind perhaps the campaign's two fiercest and most memorable attacks on Kerry's unsuccessful presidential bid.
Miller, who is retiring next month, scorched Kerry in a Republican National Convention keynote address in which he suggested the four-term Massachusetts Democrat had voted to cut so many weapons systems, it appeared he wanted to send the military to war with only spitballs.
The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ran ads after the Democratic convention questioning whether Kerry was in fact the decorated Vietnam War veteran that he claimed to be.
"The swift boat veterans performed an invaluable service to America," Miller said in a statement. "These veterans took a lot of undeserved criticism for daring to speak the truth."
Official military records and even statements from Swift Boat veterans in Navy documents raised questions about their largely unsubstantiated claims, but the political damage had been done. At a post-election forum Wednesday in Boston, Mary Beth Cahill, Kerry's campaign manager, said she regretted underestimating the impact of the Swift Boat ads.
Roy Hoffmann, the retired Navy rear admiral who founded the Swift Boat group, said he didn't know much about Miller but was pleased with the honor. The real goal, he said, was to ensure that Kerry didn't become commander in chief.
"We achieved our goal," Hoffmann said. "That was our primary concern, and we are pleased someone recognized the effort — or at least the impact — we had on the election."
Richard Lessner, executive director of the American Conservative Union, said Miller had spoken at a previous banquet and "lit up the crowd."
Democrats shrugged off the choices of both honorees and presenter.
"It seems fitting that a Republican in Democratic clothing is recognizing the work of Republican agents, namely the smears that the Swift Boat veterans launched against John Kerry," said Jano Cabrera, spokesman for the Democratic National Committee (news - web sites).
Ping!
Ping.
It's funny they can't seem to point out the smears when questioned about it...
Far from being "agents", the Swifties came off as their own men who had a legitimate beef with John Kerry. Also, Republicans in 'Rat drag like Zell are about the closest thing the 'Rats have to a 'Rat in the South these days. Good luck taking back the Senate, 'Rats.
The truth hurts, doesn't it Jano? Cry baby!!!
Zell Miller. A man among boys (this includes an awful lot of republicans). I bet we won't hear Zell bitching and moaning about Rumsfeld either.
bttt
LOLOL.......ooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh Chrissy sissy Mathews must be having conniption fits!!!!!
"Official military records and even statements from Swift Boat veterans in Navy documents raised questions about their largely unsubstantiated claims, but the political damage had been done. At a post-election forum Wednesday in Boston, Mary Beth Cahill, Kerry's campaign manager, said she regretted underestimating the impact of the Swift Boat ads."
Largely unsubstantiated claims? I guess McMurray and AP will continue to make claims in the press without doing the research. It takes just a little bit of work. Cahill didn't underestimate anything. She/they knew they couldn't respond truthfully. Setting up for 2008?
They underestimated the power of the truth.
How about finishing the job and getting the traitor out of the Senate? We want his military records released NOW. We want to know the real reason he didn't receive his honorable discharge until 20 years after he left the service? We want to know ho someone who ostensibly was serving in the Naval Reserves could bop around town and prance before the Senate with his hair down on his shoulders? We want to know how someone on the US Navy payroll (they pay Reserves, dont they?) could jet to Paris and meet surreptitiosly with the enemy?
This turkey is planning another run. Even if he isn't, why should the US taxpayers foot the bill for his travel and his non-attendance in the US Senate.
It's a Ruthian, tape measure walkoff grandslam to have Democrat Zell Miller present this award to the Swifties. Whoever came up with this idea should be given a large bonus.
I agree with you and it scares me half to death to think we might have to go through this again with this very, very dangerous man. He needs to be removed from the Senate and forced to disclose all of his military records (not sure an SF 180 will do that - I think he needs to sign a carefully worded release form) so people will see him for what he truly is.
bttt
Don't worry the man is done for. Good for Zell! I am glad he has the guts to give credit to those deserving credit.
BTTP
Major, Zell rocks PING!
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