Posted on 01/24/2008 3:33:47 PM PST by shoptalk
Redefine “swiftboating” and claim $1 million!
Swiftboating: Exposing the lies, deceit and fraud of self-glorifying public officials or candidates for public office who exaggerate their military service by lying about feats of heroism or combat wounds.
If, after reading the above word and its definition, you know it’s incorrect - boy, do I have an opportunity for you.
Simultaneously, you can re-define this term, vindicate Massachusetts Senator John F. Kerry and lay claim to a cool one million bucks. Right away, I’ll push aside criticism over what is, after all, old news. To what purpose does re-hashing the 2004 Presidential election serve? No purpose whatsoever; it’s Senator Kerry who can’t move on. In doing so, he misunderstands the word “swiftboating”, seeking to rewrite its definition in exactly the same way that he sought to redefine himself in pursuit of the Presidency and the duties of Commander in Chief.
A speech of his on November 5, 2007 triggered a remarkable series of events for, in mulling a future presidential bid, he remarked that the Swift Vets & POWs for Truth wouldn’t dare to repeat their assertions that he was unfit to serve as CIC.
The Senator revealed he’s compiled a dossier on his war record critics, the Swifties. “We have put together a documented portfolio that frankly puts their lies in such a total light of absurdity and indecency, that should they ever rear their ugly heads again, we have every single ‘T’ crossed and ‘I’ dotted, and I welcome that in a sense…” said the Senator. He went on, “I hate to see the term become a negative term in American politics, it is what it is…”
That sort of unequivocal, unambiguous statement failed to generate a reaction from the Swifties because they stood down as an organization in January 2005. But it didn’t escape the notice of one of their contributors, Oklahoman Thomas Boone Pickens.
The day after Senator Kerry’s speech, T. Boone Pickens gave one of his own – with a zinger - at a dinner celebrating the 40th anniversary of The American Spectator magazine. Perhaps recalling Senator Kerry’s 2006 boast that, “I’m prepared to kick (Swiftie) ass from one end of America to the other,” Mr. Pickens issued a challenge: $1 million to anyone who can disprove even a single charge made by the Swifties during the 2004 Presidential election campaign. What followed is nothing short of amazing as Senator Kerry himself stepped forward on November 16th to claim the loot.
His proof? Well, … nothing – so far.
In answering Mr. Pickens, Senator Kerry wrote, “While I am prepared to show they lied on allegation after allegation, you have generously offered to pay one million dollars for just one thing that can be proven false. I am prepared to prove the lie beyond any reasonable doubt.”, then continued without pause, “I would request that your check be made payable to the Paralyzed Veterans of America…”
I’m trying to think of the appropriate word to describe someone who has over-stepped the boundaries of accepted behavior with no shame. Something like “effrontery”, but amped tenfold.
Mr. Pickens had expressed to assembled journalists and friends of The American Spectator that the Swifties were unfairly maligned. Their ads were documented and truthful. Apart from Mr. Pickens’ substantial prior donations, one million additional dollars now underscored his belief that John Kerry was and is unfit for command. That Senator Kerry himself would accept the challenge and request Mr. Pickens write out a check - without the small detail involving proof is, well, unsurprisingly characteristic of John Kerry.
Senator Kerry has failed to provide anything to date that would undermine the truth of the ads that the Swifties ran during 2004. Nothing prevents any of us from discrediting their claims; the challenge was not issued exclusively to John Kerry. I would, however, encourage haste, for there are packs of journalists, pundits and politicians who tried to shout down the “creepy, lying” Swifties. Back then, the stakes were merely electing a Commander in Chief. In 2008, if you drag a million-dollar bill through a television studio you never know what you'll find, so be quick about it.
Full disclosure at this late juncture: I have no interest in pursuing the million dollar fool’s errand. John Kerry is a man whose honor wasn’t besmirched as much as his dishonor was revealed. Even if you believe otherwise, I will still recommend Scott Swett’s brand new book, To Set the Record Straight - How Swift Boat Veterans, POWs and the New Media Defeated John Kerry, so you’ll have transcripts of the ads the SwiftVets developed and how they were documented. Everything you need to know about the Swifties’ claims is here with sources cited. Knocking them down or punching holes in them is another matter – that’s your task (for which you’ll be rewarded).
Mr. Swett’s book offers a front row seat to history - a unique insight into how a remarkable group of 254 men bypassed mainstream media and took their message, unfiltered and unapologetic, to American voters. If you’re a rabid partisan in fevered search of the million bucks, chances are, you’ll hold your nose while reading, but like the little girl on Christmas morning, there just has to be a pony somewhere in this pile of manure, right?
It’s an article of faith on the Left that the Swifties have been “proven” as liars. The KOSsacks would going berserk on this article. It might even be worth lurking over there to see if they’ve caught wind of this.
Ah, Yes! LOL.
The guy just couldn't help himself.
i'm not shy with my exclamation marks! :)
Bump dat!
Bump dat!
BTTT
I’ll pass on the generous offer - I’m still waiting to find out about Hanoi John’s original discharge.
Eww.
uh....I meant his military seperation.
Ah, yes. Of course. I knew that.
Removed
Country boy definition of swiftboating; A swift kick to the sit down area of John Kerry’s blue jeans.
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