McCain condemns anti-Kerry ads

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
McCain condemns anti-Kerry ads
82
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 12:00pm
Hmmm...McCain says the people in these ads DID NOT serve on the Swift boat commanded by John Kerry....The man that Kerry saved said there were on 6 people that were on John Kerry's boat. Five of the six support Kerry and one is deceased.


McCain condemns anti-Kerry ads, calls on White House to follow suit

-RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer

Thursday, August 5, 2004


(08-05) 07:20 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry's military service "dishonest and dishonorable" and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as well.

"It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me," McCain said in an interview with The Associated Press, referring to his bitter Republican primary fight with President Bush.

The 60-second ad features Vietnam veterans who accuse the Democratic presidential nominee of lying about his decorated Vietnam War record and betraying his fellow veterans by later opposing the conflict.

"When the chips were down, you could not count on John Kerry," one of the veterans, Larry Thurlow, says in the ad.

The ad, scheduled to air in a few markets in Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin, was produced by Stevens, Reed, Curcio and Potham, the same team that produced McCain's ads in 2000.

"I wish they hadn't done it," McCain said of his former advisers. "I don't know if they knew all the facts."

Asked if the White House knew about the ad or helped find financing for it, McCain said, "I hope not, but I don't know. But I think the Bush campaign should specifically condemn the ad."

Later, McCain said the Bush campaign has denied any involvement and added, "I can't believe the president would pull such a cheap stunt."

The White House did not immediately address McCain's call that they repudiate the spot.

Steve Schmidt, a spokesman for the Bush-Cheney campaign, said Kerry's record and statements on the war on terrorism -- not his service in Vietnam -- are fair game. "The Bush campaign never has and will never question John Kerry's service in Vietnam," he said.

In 2000, Bush's supporters sponsored a rumor campaign against McCain in the South Carolina primary, helping Bush win the primary and the nomination. McCain's supporters have never forgiven the Bush team.

McCain said that's all in the past to him, but he's speaking out against the anti-Kerry ad because he believes it's bad for the political system. "It reopens all the old wounds of the Vietnam War, which I spent the last 35 years trying to heal," he said.

"I deplore this kind of politics. I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable. As it is, none of these individuals served on the boat (Kerry) commanded. Many of his crew have testified to his courage under fire. I think John Kerry served honorably in Vietnam. I think George Bush served honorably in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War."

McCain himself spent more than five years in a Vietnam prisoner of war camp. A bona fide war hero, McCain, like Kerry, used his war record as the foundation of his presidential campaign.

The Kerry campaign has denounced the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, saying none of the men in the ad served on the boat that Kerry commanded. The leader of the group, retired Adm. Roy Hoffmann, said none of the 13 veterans in the commercial served on Kerry's boat but rather were in other swiftboats within 50 yards of Kerry's.

Jim Rassmann, an Army veteran who was saved by Kerry, said there were only six crewmates who served with Kerry on his boat. Five support his candidacy and one is deceased.


Edited 8/5/2004 12:03 pm ET ET by happy2beamom2001

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-21-2003
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 12:06pm
I am so glad that you posted this article. Much debate has been going on about this particular group. I am glad that one honest man (McCain) publicly denounces such venom from the hard righters.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 12:21pm
If anyone knows what it's like to be the victim of COMPLETE AND TOTAL BUSH CAMPAIGN SLIME, it's John McCain.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2003
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 12:26pm
I've been saying it for a while... McCain may be a Republican, and a big deal was made about him not wanting to be Kerry's VP, but he will not stand by and watch Kerry be trashed with all this made up stuff.

Good for John, and I hope Kerry sticks to the high road.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2004
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 12:32pm
Ain't that the truth?
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 12:32pm
Good For him. He has definetely earned my respect again.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2003
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 1:14pm
This ad was not put out by the Bush Campaign. It was put out by fellow veterans who think Kerry is not fit for the office of President of the United States. They want to speak out and tell people what Kerry is really like. Just wait until their book comes out. They have a lot to say about Kerry, and it's not favorable.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 1:36pm
--

They want to speak out and tell people what Kerry is really like. Just wait until their book comes out. They have a lot to say about Kerry, and it's not favorable.

--

Yeah, I jumped the gun on that post. I should remember, just because Bush/Cheney spent 120 million to throw slime, doesn't mean its always them.

Hurray, just what we need. Another layer of slime.

I doubt it will have nearly the same effect as Moore's poisonous slime does, which is say virtually none.

People are just too committed to their candidate to have their minds changed.

Avatar for tmcgoughy
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 2:00pm

"Just wait until their book comes out."


Do you honestly think these people have any credibility left after this stunt?

The first key to wisdom is constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth.  -
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 2:21pm
<<<>>>

Please don't act like it is beneath the Bush campaign to sink to this level. They did the same thing with McCain. John McCain may have forgiven Bush's attack ads against him but he certainly did not forget them.

In addition, the American public will give more weight to the people that ACTUALLY SERVED on the same boat with John Kerry. They are the ones that know about his leadership,courage and character.


Edited 8/5/2004 2:29 pm ET ET by happy2beamom2001

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2004
Thu, 08-05-2004 - 10:22pm
I saw an interview with Van Odell, who is one of the authors of the ad, as well as a Swift Boat Veteran, and he said that since they are affiliated with no political party, even if Bush wanted them to pull the ad, they would not.

I did see the ad, and it is not going to really influence me one way or the other as I was not in Vietnam, so I dont know the facts.

The story he told was interesting however.

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