Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rove Credits Swiftvets With 'Energizing' Bush Vote (Thank You Karl Rove!)
NewsMax ^ | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

Posted on 02/17/2005 4:58:53 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Sunday, Nov. 7, 2004

Rove Credits Swiftvets With 'Energizing' Bush Vote

Bush-Cheney re-election architect Karl Rove gave credit on Sunday to the Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth for exposing John Kerry's anti-war past and energizing Republican voters to turn out at the polls.

Asked what role anti-Kerry ads sponsored by the Swiftvets played in Bush's re-election victory, Rove told "Fox News Sunday":

"They were made important by the fact that Senator Kerry, at his convention, really talked ... only about Vietnam."

The top White House adviser explained: "I was amazed by the people that I met around the country who were energized by that issue being discussed. ... I was really amazed by how strongly men and women who had served in Vietnam and in the armed forces felt about that."

Rove recalled that his uncle had done several tours of duty in Vietnam. "I've never been able to think of Colonel Verhi as somebody who would have 'raped and pillaged in a manner reminiscent of Genghis Khan,'" a reference to Kerry's 1971 Senate testimony where he accused Vietnam veterans of committing widespread atrocities.


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bushvictory; fns; goodguy; karlrove; swiftboatveterans; voterturnout
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-84 next last
To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
Thank You Karl Rove for standing up for Viet Nam Vets

BUMP to that Tonkin!

41 posted on 02/17/2005 7:32:22 PM PST by potlatch (Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
Thank You Karl Rove! You have proven that those who say the GOP can't acknowledge the Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth are wrong. Thank You Karl Rove for standing up for Viet Nam Vets that Kerry lied about in 1971!

Mega-giga-tera dittoes!

42 posted on 02/17/2005 7:52:49 PM PST by CDB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
"Yea, verily, yea!"

Thanks Tonk!

43 posted on 02/17/2005 8:05:20 PM PST by onedoug
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dennisw

>>I'm convinced that millions went to the Swift Vets that didn't go the the RNC. American citizens were captivated by the Swift Vets and felt more comfortable donating them to them, rather than some huge faceless political organization.

I sent 1.5X to the SwiftVets, what I sent to the Bush Campaign.

I still want to see that 180 signed, and to see the results of that.


44 posted on 02/17/2005 8:08:46 PM PST by FreedomPoster (This space intentionally blank)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

I prolly shouldn't say trhis after a few libations.....but...Tonk....You're the best


45 posted on 02/17/2005 8:11:59 PM PST by reagandemocrat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

>> I was really amazed by how strongly men and women who had served in Vietnam and in the armed forces felt about that [ROVE].

I enlisted and reenlisted during the Vietnam War. Two of my best friends were killed in Nam, and my 1st cousin was wounded. Kerry slandered them!

If Kerry was convicted of treason (and he should be), I would volunteer to serve on the firing squad. No, I would insist I serve on it.


46 posted on 02/17/2005 8:18:13 PM PST by PhilipFreneau (Congress is defined as the United States Senate and House of Representatives; now read 1st Amendment)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PhilipFreneau

A better punishment for his Treason would be him, in a cage,
like in the Hanoi Hilton, only in front of The Wall for all to see.

Day, after day, after day. ETC.


47 posted on 02/17/2005 8:25:30 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (The US Senate only has 99 legal Senators, and 1 illegal one. U.S. Constitution Amendment 14 Sec 3)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
I'll second that:

Thank You Karl Rove!

You have proven that those who say the GOP can't acknowledge the Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth are wrong.

Thank You Karl Rove for standing up for Viet Nam Vets that Kerry lied about in 1971!

48 posted on 02/17/2005 8:27:17 PM PST by GOPJ (Troll post:...when everything sounds like a lefty view of the Right)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Tall_Texan

"why did Rove and the GOP *NEED* the Swift Boat Vets to tell the truth about John Kerry."

As soon as the RNC or Bush campaign had brought it up, the press would have tangled it up inextricably with the BS about GW's ANG service, and made it a moral equivalence and thus neutralized it. They also would have given voice to the 'rats so they could challenge the "AWOL" Bush's credibility.

Much of the power of the Swiftees' campaign was its asymmetry. While GW took the high road, Kerry had to deal with this guerrilla insurgency. He was seen ultimately as fighting accusers from his own past instead of the President.

A bad position for a candidate.


49 posted on 02/17/2005 9:01:59 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Tall_Texan

The message coming from the politicians would sound like hollow mudslinging..It had to be done by the vets. They were the ones who were there and had the credibility to tell the story..

.They were not tainted by partisan politics and it was their honor and service that was slimed by Kerry..It would never have been so powerful done by anyone but the ones who lived it and suffered by Kerry's words and activities with the Viet Cong in Paris.

GOD BLESS THE SWIFTBOAT VETERANS..


50 posted on 02/17/2005 9:02:58 PM PST by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: bitt

LOL Yes if I was a Dem I would be pretty scared. You can just see trouble in his eyes.
51 posted on 02/17/2005 10:06:36 PM PST by jinkagrl ("I am shocked! ... Sort of." ~Rumsfeld)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Thanks for the ping!


52 posted on 02/17/2005 10:26:11 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

'A better punishment for his Treason would be him, in a cage,
like in the Hanoi Hilton, only in front of The Wall for all to see.'



sure wish we had a picture of him giving the Vet the finger in front of the wall..... you KNOW that the MSM must have some pics of that, they were there shilling for him.....


53 posted on 02/17/2005 10:27:39 PM PST by bitt ("Conservatism is the dominant political creed in America,")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 47 | View Replies]

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Thanks to the Swift Vets and all the Freepers who supported them when the MSM tried to electronically lynch them.


54 posted on 02/17/2005 11:48:10 PM PST by Grampa Dave (The MSM has been a WMD, Weapon of Mass Disinformation for the Rats for at least 4 decades.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #55 Removed by Moderator

To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Karl Rove ~ Bump!

Tonk ~ did you hear that Zell Miller will be paying tribute the Swifties and it will be on C-SPAN tonight at 1730 hours Pacific?


56 posted on 02/18/2005 7:11:06 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: bitt

Sure he looks harmless, but to a Liberal, he sprouts a forked tongue, a spiked tail and a 3 ended pitchfork :)


and his skin takes the tone of a ripe tomato....


57 posted on 02/18/2005 8:18:51 AM PST by MikefromOhio (Ohio State: The 2005 NCAA Football champions....assuming they arent on probation!!!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Tall_Texan
but I still question why the GOP couldn't swat these sort of lies down without the need of a side group to do the dirty work for them.

You might recall that Bush didn't saw down any sort of lies, even about himself, being told by the Kerrynistas. Bush said "above the fray" but that doesn't mean he or Karl Rove didn't appreciate what the Swift Vets did.

Heck, we all appreciate what the Swift Vets and other Vietnam Vets did. Bless them all.

58 posted on 02/18/2005 1:04:31 PM PST by BushisTheMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: BushisTheMan

Well, I'm not being critical of the Swift Vets at all!

My criticism is with Bush and Rove not helping them out more or supporting their claims. IIRC, when the Swifties began getting some attention, McCain was openly critical and Bush was indirectly critical (lumping them in with groups like MoveOn.org which he thought should be curtailed).

They didn't say "Perhaps the media should look deeper into their claims" or "I think Kerry should answer their questions" instead of just ignoring them.


59 posted on 02/18/2005 3:48:02 PM PST by Tall_Texan (Let's REALLY Split The Country! (http://righteverytime3.blogspot.com))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: Tall_Texan

I understood you weren't criticizing the Swift Vets. But I was trying to say that Bush had his reasons for not helping them out more. And I understand his reasons.


60 posted on 02/18/2005 3:51:25 PM PST by BushisTheMan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 59 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-84 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson