Kerry vows tougher stance on group that questioned war service

Boston Glob ^ | October 8, 2006 | Mike Glover, AP Political Writer

[bitt]

DES MOINES, Iowa --Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry lashed out Sunday against a group that bashed him during his last run at the White House.

Kerry, who made a weekend appearance in northwest Iowa, said he is concerned that Swift Vote Veterans for Truth is again resorting to "the politics of fear and smear." The group, financed by Texas conservatives, ran commercials questioning his claim of being a decorated Vietnam veteran -- the centerpiece of his presidential campaign in 2004.

"We're not going to give them an ounce of daylight," said Kerry, who is considering another run at the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008.

The senator said his response to the commercials was not strong enough.

"We thought the fact that the truth was out there was enough," he said. "Clearly it wasn't."

Those same conservatives have formed another group this year -- Economic Freedom Fund -- and are attacking Democrats across the country. Part of the campaign includes $500,000 to bash Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, who is seeking re-election in the 3rd District in central Iowa.

Boswell is being challenged by state Republican Senate President Jeff Lamberti of Ankeny in a race that has included significant cash from both parties.

Boswell retired after 20 years in the Army, including two tours in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. But the conservative group has chosen to focus on issues ranging from higher taxes to immigration. Part of the group's money is also funding an automated telephone campaign against Boswell.....

[JOE43270]

Hanoi john can shove off. I stand with the Swifties. My U. S. Air Force service started in Feburary 1970 and ended in August 1977. I didn't have one second of combat service and I don't know why. The closest I got was Naha AFB, Okinawa. I was there about seven months and became qualified with my five level as a jet engine mechanic to go and the base closed. Everyone of us got sent hither and yon. My point about Hanoi john is that with his supposed wounds that he claimed he had for the decorations that he claims he deserves, I had more cuts on my hands over my seven and one half years from the saftey wire that was on the engines I worked on. The point is that he's writing his own paper work for the decorations that he didn't deserve. He didn't deserve any decorations anymore than I did.

[mass55th]

"But you've gotta admire Kerry's tenacity, "

It's called delusions of grandeur.

[devolve]

[gidget7]

I hope he does, and this time MA makes him give up his seat to campaign!

[pleikumud]

Kerry gave aid and comfort to the enemy in Hanoi. He's a traitor. The penalty should be death by hanging.

[johnny7]

LOL...

[LiteKeeper]

re: Kerry's comments - isn't that called censorship? I thought that was unconstitutional!

[bannie]

Kerry lashed out

oooo, I'm scared.
geesh! What a girlie boy.

[Cinnamon]

sign that one 180 mr Kerry... and we'll decide where to go from there.

[mass55th]

"By the way, it's not the swift vets who are going to be his undoing in 2008. His trouble is going to roll in on two huge thunder thighs."

Don't forget her private dicks and her war room cronies.

[potlatch]

LOL, the kickoff huh?

[doug from upland]

No idea.

[gidget7]

I know, that shocked me too.

[potlatch]

Hi bannie, haven't seen you in awhile!

[taxesareforever]

"We're not going to give them an ounce of daylight," said Kerry,

and we are not going to give them an ounce of my service record, which would show I am a liar". (Unless of course it has been successfully tampered with)

[DejaJude]

"We're not going to give them an ounce of daylight,"

Yep, those records have not seen an ounce of daylight (to the public anyway).

[Westbrook]

LOL...for such a bold faced lie, he's lucky God doesn't send down a bolt and strike him butt ugly.

Looks to me like that's already happened.

You'd be hard-pressed to find anything uglier than the hoss-faced Lurch Kerry.

.

[joshhiggins]

questioning his claim of being a decorated Vietnam veteran

I don't recall them questioning the fact that he had been decorated, and was a veteran.

[devolve]

Yes

A little bit low as you can see

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry lashed out Sunday against a group that bashed him during his last run at the White House.

..bring it on....Im really really ready this time