Free Republic

One of the core charges that John Kerry’s media-aided campaign made in 2004 and since to delegitimize the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is that its leader John O’Neill, who had opposed Kerry in 1971, was a creation of Richard Nixon’s White House. I was there, and know better. Until now, the central purported prop for the charge went unrebutted. Charles “Chuck” Colson has now spoken up. It’s time for reputable media, and even Kerry’s advocates if they have any integrity, to cease this charge. Like a dime-novel legend, based on little, this charge has been frequently repeated and embellished...

If John Kerry had been elected President of the United States in November 2004, especially with the incoming majority Democrat Congress, it is highly likely that Iraq would be in the midst of a civil war, Iran’s regional influence would have increased, Israel would be in more jeopardy than it is now, two Supreme Court seats would be occupied by clones of John Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsburg instead of by John Roberts and Samuel Alito, judicial decisions would have given even more “rights” to enemy combatants, domestic entitlements and earmarks would have skyrocketed, the Bush tax cuts would be...

MSNBC political analyst Lawrence O’Donnell was recently cross examined by syndicated radio host and blogger Hugh Hewitt regarding statements O’Donnell made about Mormonism as a panelist on The McLaughlin Group. Here’s part of what O’Donnell said on McLaughlin: On “Big Love” the HBO series, that has been a real headache for Romney. Here’s the problem. He dare not discuss his religion. And he fools people like Pat Buchanan who should know better. This was the worst speech, the worst political speech of my lifetime, because this man stood there and said to you, “this is the faith of my fathers.”...

Phony Soldiers and Phony Senators by John E. O'Neill 10/04/2007 Recently, at least 41 Democratic Senators, joined by a howling mob including George Soros’ Media Matters, sought to silence Rush Limbaugh because of his reference to “phony” anti war soldiers. Limbaugh’s comments, taken in context, referred to Jesse Macbeth, a confessed and convicted phony, whose faked but graphic war crimes confessions received far wider media notice than his later confession. He had been discharged in boot camp after 40 days of service. Macbeth follows a grand tradition of fake soldiers whose “war crimes” confessions have been used by the Left...

Ross Getman Is Ayman Zawahiri Behind The Anthrax Mailings? April 13, 2007 at 6:26 pm · Filed under Vox Populi Is Ayman Zawahiri Behind The Anthrax Mailings? Analysis of the means, motive, modus operandi and opportunity of the anthrax mailings in Fall 2001 suggests that US-based supporters of Ayman Zawahiri were responsible for the anthrax mailings in the Fall of 2001. The Federal Bureau of Investigation appears to have pursued all possible leads and left no stone unturned. Attorney General Gonzales told the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 18, 2007 that FBI Director Mueller was very committed to seeing it...

Dispirited conservatives and Republicans rightfully appalled at the Cunningham, Abramoff, and Foley scandals should remember history as they contemplate not voting in the 2006 elections because of disillusionment. In early 1973, the Dow approached new highs in a booming economy. In the 1972 election, the new left was rejected in almost every state. The Paris Peace Treaty was concluded with North Vietnam memorializing its pledge not to interfere militarily in the affairs of South Vietnam. The nation was prosperous and at peace. Worst President Within a short time, the mainstream media were able to dismember and destroy the Nixon Administration,...

John Kerry recently volunteered that he was prepared to “kick [the Swift Boat Veterans’] ass from one end of America to the other” and that he would “demolish” us. He ought to take a Christmas cruise to Cambodia to calm down. Maybe he could take a side trip to tour “Genghis Khan” ruins. It is a little difficult to imagine Kerry (“I voted for it before I voted against it”) kicking the most decorated living serviceman, Bud Day, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, or our salty commander, Adm. Roy Hoffman, anywhere. Perhaps Kerry had in mind using a “Rice...

For six years, John O'Neill was the FBI's leading expert on Al Qaeda. He warned of its reach. He warned of its threat to the U.S. But to the people at FBI headquarters, O'Neill was too much of a maverick, and they stopped listening to Him. He left the FBI in the summer of 2001 and took a new job as head of security of the World Trade Center.

Press Conference August 3, 2006to announce details of aNational Veterans Rallyto be held in Rep. John Murtha's hometown of Johnstown, PA! Johnstown PA... A press conference will be held on Thursday August 3rd at 11am to make public the details of a national veterans rally to be held in Johnstown, PA.  The press conference will be held in front of Congressman John Murtha’s office, 647 Main Street, Johnstown, PA 15901. Chief Swiftboater John O'Neill co-author of "Unfit For Command" is scheduled asmain speaker at this national rally! Local rally organizers will announce that the national veterans organization “Vets for the...

ANNE BRADLEY O'NEILL passed away on Saturday, February 11, 2006. Anne was born in Monroe, Louisiana on October 23, 1947 and moved to Houston when she was two years old with her parents, Dick and Louise Bradley. She was a graduate of Lee High School and Ole Miss where she was a Chi Omega and recipient of various honors. After working at Mitchell Energy, Anne married John O'Neill in 1976. The couple was blessed with two wonderful children, Katie (1977) and Bradley (1981). Anne was a member of the Junior League of Houston and River Oaks Garden Club. She was...

I've just learned that Anne O'Neill, John O'Neill's wife has died in Houston from an infection contracted during chemotherapy. Anne was a woman of courage and grace, and I consider it a privilege to have known her. I ask your prayers for John and for the O'Neill family.

John O'Neil Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundation, www.vvlf.org Dear Friend, ... I believed our mission was over. Regrettably, that has not been the case for a distinguished group of Vietnam combat veterans who stood shoulder to shoulder with us during last year's effort to tell the American people the truth about John Kerry and his anti-war activities. Their situation has become so critical that I felt compelled to inform you of this urgent matter. Several Vietnam POWs and the wife of a POW who joined with us to form Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth has become the target of...

Senator Kerry, supposedly defending Rep. John Murtha, said, "I won't stand for the Swift-Boating of Jack Murtha!" As one of the 254 members of Mr. Kerry's unit in Vietnam who belonged to Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth, I found Mr. Kerry's comments most ironic. To us, Mr. Kerry's comments meant that no one should do to Mr. Murtha that which Mr. Kerry did to all of us and our fellow Vietnam veterans, living and dead. Mr. Kerry's disgraceful comments on many occasions in 1971 (while we were locked in combat), claiming falsely that we were "murdering" hundreds of...

NEW YORK — The scandal engulfing the United Nations Procurement Department () now appears to be bottomless. It also shows signs of growing more sinister, especially where it involves a mysterious private company called IHC Services (), which did big business with the procurement department until it was removed from U.N. rosters in June. New details of how dark the scandal could prove to be have emerged from the private sale of IHC on June 3, 2005, just as the procurement scandal was about to break. It now appears that while doing business with the U.N., IHC had links both to Saddam...

John O’Neill Houston, Texas Dear Friend, Last year, when my fellow Swift Boat veterans and I spoke out about John Kerry, you rallied to our side. We will never forget your faith in our cause and your belief in our honesty. It made all the difference. Together we made history. Like most of you, I believed our mission was over. We could all move on with our lives, return to our families and homes secure in the knowledge we had done the right thing for America, and for our children’s future. Regrettably, that has not been the case for a...

From John O'Neill: The November election is long past, but I want to tell you about some unfinished and urgent business with which I would like your help. When my fellow Swift Boat veterans and I made our ads to expose John Kerry’s record with respect to Vietnam during the presidential campaign, we were not alone in our mission. A number of veterans who had spent time in North Vietnam prison camps were eager to tell the American people about how John Kerry’s anti-war activities had affected their treatment. The two groups of veterans worked together as the Swift Boat...

DESPITE THE continuing gripes of his critics, records released this week show that Senator John Kerry served honorably in Vietnam. The documents should put to rest claims that Kerry misrepresented his military record in the presidential race. But Kerry's failure to respond to the smear campaign launched against him last summer lent credibility to its real objective: to impugn his equally honorable opposition to the war. John O'Neill, a Houston lawyer and Kerry's adversary on the war since 1971, acknowledged as much in a telephone interview Wednesday. ''We produced seven commercials," he said of his anti-Kerry group, now called Swift...

John O'Neill on records release: 'This is hardly what we called for' Sen. John Kerry's release of Navy records to his hometown Boston Globe newspaper is not the full disclosure sought by critics of his Vietnam war record, says John O'Neill, spokesman for Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The group of more than 260 veterans who served in Kerry's swiftboat division asked the senator during his presidential campaign last year to sign a Standard Form 180 that would permit anyone to examine his full and unredacted military records at the Navy Department and the National Personnel Records Center in St....

A front page story in the Boston Globe claimed that: "Senator John F. Kerry, ending at least two years of refusal, has waived privacy restrictions and authorized the release of his full military and medical records." In another Globe story Kerry had promised "The truth in its entirety will come out." But did it? Kerry's election hopes faltered last summer and fall as accusations of fraudulent and incomplete military records were aired. The fact that Kerry repeatedly refused to sign a single-page military form called the Standard Form 180, that would have released all his military records to the public,...

UPDATE III: I asked Swift Boat Veteran For Truth John O'Neill for a comment, he tells me: 'We called for Kerry to execute a form which would permit anyone to examine his full and unexpulgated military records at the Navy Department and the National Personnel Records Center. Instead he executed a form permitting his hometown paper to obtain the records currently at the Navy Department. The Navy Department previously indicated its records did not include various materials. This is hardly what we called for. If he did execute a complete release of all records we could then answer questions such...

The Media Research Center Annual Gala and Media DisHonors Awards Cal Thomas, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter, Neal Boortz, Zell Miller, Midge Decter, T. Boone Pickens and Janet Parshall highlighted the presentations and acceptances of MRC's "2005 Dishonors Awards: Roasting the Most Outrageously Biased Liberal Reporters of 2004," which were presented on Thursday night, April 21, before an audience of more than 950 -- our largest crowd ever -- packed into the Grand Ballroom of the J.W. Marriott in Washington, D.C. Following the presentation of the Dishonors Awards videos in five categories, a look at the Best of the Worst of...

One of the most dramatic stories of Election 2004 was the coalescence of a large group of Vietnam veterans dedicated to the idea that John Kerry was not fit to become America's Commander in Chief. Many of those who joined Swift Boat Veterans for Truth had served with Kerry in Vietnam. And his behavior there--and, even more, upon his return--convinced them that Kerry could not be trusted to lead our nation in wartime. To their great surprise, the testimony of the Swift Boat veterans was simply ignored by a hostile media establishment. The veterans were tenacious, however, and eventually captured...

One of the most dramatic stories of Election 2004 was the coalescence of a large group of Vietnam veterans dedicated to the idea that John Kerry was not fit to become America's Commander in Chief. Many of those who joined Swift Boat Veterans for Truth had served with Kerry in Vietnam. And his behavior there--and, even more, upon his return--convinced them that Kerry could not be trusted to lead our nation in wartime. To their great surprise, the testimony of the Swift Boat veterans was simply ignored by a hostile media establishment. The veterans were tenacious, however, and eventually captured...

Tonight was a great night. The Reagan Banquet was a great event. I was sitting at a table with Robin Burke, Adam Doverspike, and La Shawn Barber... This was truly a night to remember. Zell Miller was to present The Swift Boat Veterans For Truth with the Charlton Heston Courage Under Fire Award. Of course, the Swifties in attendance each received standing ovations when they were introduced. When Zell Miller spoke before the presentation of the award, he commended the Swifties efforts, and for having the courage to "call a lie a lie." There was a point when he speaking...

Bob Cox used his digital camera to capture video of Al Franken going berserk while on the Michael Medved Show with John O'Neill.

Swift Boat Vet John O'Neil(sp?) on Michael Medved

Zell Miller to speak..

Blogger Breakfast with Swift Boat Veterans for Truth Creative Responsive Concepts, the PR firm behind the SwiftVets campaign against John Kerry, hosted a "Bloggers Breakfast" this morning at the J.W. Marriott across the street from the Reagan Building where CPAC is being held. The event has MC'd by Greg Mueller from CRC and the featured speakers were John O'Neill and Bill Franke of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Greg Mueller John O'Neill did most of the talking with occassional comments from Bill Franke and Mueller. O'Neill got off on a strong note with the bloggers in the room by expressing...

By far the funniest line I've read since the 2004 election comes from the conclusion of Michael Kranish's interview of Sen. John F. Kerry in today's Boston Globe (hat-tip to an alert reader who emailed me the link): Asked what hurt him the most during the campaign, Kerry mused about how ''all of us are flawed as human beings" and ''I think I have a strong record" before raising his voice and declaring: ''One thing I know is that I didn't flip-flop on anything." Surely that line must induce soda-through-the-nose chortling among even many loyal but clear-eyed Democrats. It would...

The Man Who Knew is the story of the life and death of FBI Special Agent John O'Neill. As the bureau's top counter-terrorism agent, O'Neill had investigated the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Africa and the USS Cole in Yemen. For six years, O'Neill was the FBI's leading expert on Al Qaeda. He warned of its reach. He warned of its threat to the U.S. He came to believe that the United States should kill Osama bin Laden before Al Qaeda launched a devastating attack on America. But O'Neill's often lonely voice was muted by a headquarters bureaucracy that...

Leaders of prominent "527" military service veterans groups, film producers, Websites and authors who made substantial contributions to the veterans revolt against Senator John Kerry's 2004 Presidential bid were honored by their supporters at an "Un-augural" reception at the National Press Club Thursday. Unlike the scores of balls, parades and fetes typical of the frenetic day, the tongue-in-cheek event at the Club's First Amendment room was, according to organizer Lou Priebe, geared to "celebrate the absence of Senator Kerry from the Inauguration Day proceedings, most particularly the swearing-in ceremony." U.S. Army Infantry veteran Lou Priebe added, "These courageous advocacy groups...

Thanks to Mudboy Slim I met a FReeper with musical talent, something of which I have none. I cannot write music, sing music, play an instrument, or sing. Heck, I haven't listened to music for a long time --- I listen to talk radio. Uncleshag got my version of ONE TIN SOLDIER, and here is an effort he put together for your enjoyment. Click on ONE FINE SOLDIER to download MP3 One Fine SoldierUncleshagLyrics by doug from uplandMusic Composers:Lambert-Potter Listen, people, to the story of the man who won the day We had really dodged a bullet...with his men he...

As the special report on the scandal at CBS and "60 Minutes" was circulating around town, I was at a long-scheduled editorial dinner with the leader of the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth, John O'Neill. Among the guests at the table was Jerry Corsi, co-author, with Mr. O'Neill, of the book that halted Senator Kerry's surge in the polls, "Unfit for Command." The Swiftboat Veterans for Truth is the 527 group that ran the advertisements on television and the Internet that so startled the American people and, many believe, did as much as any other single factor in delivering a second...

<p>Congratulations to all those nominated! The slate was very stiff this year and we're sure it was a tough call for all voters. We will be contacting all winners and you can help speed up this process by dropping a FReepmail to "Bob J" and giving him your contact information! Please let us know if you will be at the FR Ball!</p>

The last battle of the Vietnam War was fought on November 2nd, 2004, as John Kerry was defeated in his bid to become President of the United States by John O'Neill and the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth. What was the battle about? It was a battle to recapture the honor of the Vietnam veterans who served gallantly and heroically in that war. And who were the adversaries in this battle? It was the dishonest old media culture -- CBS, NBC, ABC, The New York Times, and the LA Times, who backed John Kerry’s version of how Vietnam veterans...

           John O’Neil, worrier and American patriot, has been selected as Human Events Man of the Year. For him and the other swift boat veterans and POW’s opposing John Kerry was a matter of honor. Despite the liberal media’s attempt to assassinate their character, those brave soldiers, sailors, and airman remained faithful and true. They endured the insults and condemnation of the liberal media critics and pendants, and in the end, they were as they were in Viet Nam, a true band of brothers. They once again reminded us of what the best of the best have done and are...

When it comes to choosing leaders, integrity comes first--and no man showed more integrity in 2004 than John O'Neill, the 2004 HUMAN EVENTS Man of the Year. He helped to teach us the truth about John Kerry and counter the lies Kerry spread about the image of the Vietnam veteran, whom Kerry maligned three decades ago when, as an anti-war agitator, he presented slanderous testimony in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Kerry wanted voters to see him as a war hero who stood by his "band of brothers." But John O'Neill and the Swift Boat veterans had a different view--of...

When it comes to choosing leaders, integrity comes first--and no man showed more integrity in 2004 than John O'Neill, the 2004 HUMAN EVENTS Man of the Year. He helped to teach us the truth about John Kerry and counter the lies Kerry spread about the image of the Vietnam veteran, whom Kerry maligned three decades ago when, as an anti-war agitator, he presented slanderous testimony in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Kerry wanted voters to see him as a war hero who stood by his "band of brothers." But John O'Neill and the Swift Boat veterans had a different view--of...

Post mortems in the liberal press on the role that Vietnam veterans played in presidential candidate John Kerry's defeat mask the key role of the liberal press, which tried to suppress the vets' story and is distorting it now. I was there at the creation of a veterans group and all along, and know better. The American people deserve to know better too. In 1971 I organized Vietnam Veterans for a Just Peace. John O'Neill enlisted to counter the smears of American servicemen in Vietnam. No one else spoke up for us, so we had to. The mainstream press was...

The Houston telephone book lists more than 16,000 lawyers, some clearly more famous than others. Very few – perhaps only one – can credibly claim to have helped pull the hand brake on a presidential campaign. John O'Neill had his day on the national stage 33 years ago, but this year he emerged from the weeds of his comfortable anonymity because of a burning belief that John Kerry would make an awful commander in chief – and had to be stopped. In February, Mr. O'Neill rallied more than 200 fellow Vietnam vets to form Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, one...

The Houston telephone book lists more than 16,000 lawyers, some clearly more famous than others. Very few – perhaps only one – can credibly claim to have helped pull the hand brake on a presidential campaign. John O'Neill had his day on the national stage 33 years ago, but this year he emerged from the weeds of his comfortable anonymity because of a burning belief that John Kerry would make an awful commander in chief – and had to be stopped. Love him or hate him, Mr. O'Neill turned a presidential election on its ear. For his drive, vision and...

Coming up. est

In this time of traditional thanksgiving for the families, friendships, freedoms and bounties we enjoy, it's only appropriate that we Republicans - in the spirit of appreciation, graciousness, charity and comity - give thanks to those whose contributions were instrumental in securing control of both houses of Congress, a majority of governorships, a plurality of state legislatures, a clear majority of the popular vote (for the first time in 16 years) and, of course, the re-election of President George W. Bush. Thank you, Terry McAullife. You will no doubt be remembered as the worst-ever chairman of the Democratic National Committee....

I used to enjoy watching Bill O'Reilly on his primetime news/opinion program 'The O'Reilly Factor'. In spite of his somewhat pompous demeanor (now that I think about it, I actually like that in a person) he seemed to be genuinely concerned with being fair to his guests and the subjects of his commentary. Sure, he's been known to cut off more than a few babbling nitwits who've refused to answer his questions directly, but for the most part, he's always tried to give everyone their say, and for that I've admired him... or at least I did before last summer....

The controversial veterans group that trashed the war record of Democratic Sen. John Kerry during the presidential campaign and helped hand President Bush a second term will remain a potent force, according to an associate of the group. Chris LaCivita, who was a paid political consultant to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth during the campaign but said he is no longer on the payroll, asserted that the organization, with 280 members nationwide, is pondering its next step. patrick g. ryan An associate of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth says the group, known for attacking Sen. John Kerry’s war record,...

This was discussion on another thread as to who would get Time's prestigious Man of the Year award. It was suggested that John O'Neill should. It just seems unlikely that this will come to fruition. So who needs Time, anyhoo? Freeper tazannie suggested that we have our own "Man of the Year" awards and Jim gave his blessing to let the nominations begin! I suggested that the winner be the guest of honor at the Freeper Ball. Wouldn't that be a blast?

To The Citizens Of Free Republic: We will never ever forget your support and help. Your threads not only encouraged us but kept the truth alive in a period when Big Media sought to suppress the story. Your e-mails and phone calls to Big Media at least shamed them. The thousands of contributions we got from you helped us to organize our website, produce our earliest ads, and keep the light flickering in the darkest of times. The English at Agincourt would have executed Kerry for meeting with the enemy and betraying them. In contrast, we found a true band...

For Republican ad-man Rick Reed, the inaugural press conference of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth was less a professional opportunity than a chance to catch up with kin. His uncle, Adrian Lonsdale, had been one of John Kerry's superior officers in Vietnam. The retired Coast Guard captain and more than a dozen other veterans were gathering in public for the first time to challenge various claims Kerry had made about his four-month tour of duty. "I thought those guys had a great story that needed to get out," says Reed. He returned to his office that afternoon, sent out...

Of all the targets of the vitriol and attempted ambushes during the presidential campaign, I most admired John O'Neill of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth for his calm determination to stand his ground on his charges against John Kerry's Vietnam service in the book "Unfit for Command" that he co-authored. O'Neill was called a "liar" to his face on a number of TV appearances, and, on an Oct. 14 "Nightline," ABC-TV's Ted Koppel actually sent a crew to Vietnam to film alleged eyewitnesses in order to disprove one of the accounts — how Kerry won his Silver Star —...

The Swift Boat Veterans gather to assess their impact on the campaign. Monday, November 15, 2004 12:01 a.m. BOCA RATON, Fla.--"The last mission of Vietnam War veterans ended on Nov. 3, at 2:08 p.m. Eastern Time, when John Kerry conceded the presidential race to George W. Bush," announced James Warner, a lawyer who was a Marine pilot in Vietnam and spent five years and five months in Hanoi as a prisoner of war. On Saturday night, Mr. Warner gave a "debriefing" on the role that two controversial groups of veterans played in raising doubts about John Kerry's fitness to serve as...