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

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 1:09pm
palak wrote - "All those who were on the boat with Kerry support him except one who is dead."

That isn't my recollection, I thought a dead man and one other don't support Kerry from his former crew.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 1:11pm
go_left wrote - "Yet, you ignore those who served directly with him."

Err no, those who served under Kerry have their own opinion, but those who served alongside Kerry and often were in the same boat as Kerry or were walking with Kerry on land (but were not under Kerry's command) have valid opinions also... those opinions are very interesting.

Also Kerry has admitted to commiting atrocities, the swiftvets seem to be trying to articulate as best they can what some of the atrocities Kerry is guilty of in more detal than Kerry himself has provided to date.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 1:14pm
ashley51 wrote - "This only proves that the Repugs and The Shrub (Baby Bush) will do anything to get elected in 2004."

Now now now... for years Democrats have slurred against Bush and his record, deluding themselves that the claims they make are true... of late this has intensified... to expect no shot back is silly... I also believe this is just the start :-) Kerry has made this an issue... at least this won't be a dull election.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 1:16pm
Thus far Soros has compared Bush to Hitler... every Democrat always considers all Republicans idiots... the problem for moveon is there isn't much more to do... and the liberal / progressive flock may be exhausting itself on it's own bile.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 1:19pm
All I see this morning: Shrugging off the opinions of who knew him best in the war, and embracing slime that's now turning out to not even be true.

But this is good! The slime throwing is everything I hoped for from The Bush Campaign and Bush supporters.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 1:23pm
--

Now now now... for years Democrats have slurred against Bush and his record, deluding themselves that the claims they make are true... of late this has intensified... to expect no shot back is silly... I also believe this is just the start :-) Kerry has made this an issue... at least this won't be a dull election.

--

And 90% of the slime has "I'm George W Bush and I approve this message' in the commercial

Which negative ads begin or end with: "I'm john kerry and I approve this message'?

People and organizations are one thing, that's never changed in our lifetimes as they've always been that way.

But coming from official campaigns.... That's quite different.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2004
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 1:25pm
This what I think, anyone who has an opinion opposite of yours is in your words doing the democratic spew. That is truly closed-minded.

Another point I have to make, my neighbors live less than 50 yards from me on either side, and they can basically say they have no idea what it is I do. When I burn wood in the backyard, they can't say for sure it is wood I am burning, it could be documents, leaves, whatever, but they cant really say for sure. 50 yards is quite a distance away when you have to watch your own back and of others right along side you. So they know every action other people have done in other boats and heard every conversation that was made, while trying to do their job on their own 50 yards away? So it was only that specific group that says there was no gunfire? Now who is believing in conspiracy theories. Oh yeah, I forgot who I was talking to.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 1:26pm
And again I will ask you: Which slime ads contain the words: I'm john Kerry and I approve this message.?

As for 527 PACs, I'm all for their ads.

Hell, I'm all for this swiftvet ad! It reeks of slime and Bullschweebie that it's sure to make Kerry look better, not worse.

When I see or hear slime that contains the words: I'm john kerry and I approve this message, I'll be right here on this thread or another denouncing it.

You can count on that.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 1:53pm
Wow, you're really sure of yourself... "EVERY Democrat ALWAYS considers ALL Republicans idiots"?

Movon.org dosn't have much to do? I think with the Patriot Act, Anti-Gay Marraige Amendment, 9/11 Commission recommendations, Iraqi Prisoner Abuse, Election Fraud issues, FCC big media consolidation, the possibility of the tax cuts becoming permenent, the Bush administration's politicalization of science, and the need for alternative energy exploration they're pretty darn busy over there.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 1:56pm
hehhe yeah, Moveon's barely trickled out their ads so far. They're saying the large campaign for after the GOP convention.

And they're just one PAC, the biggest yes, but one of many who will be running ads against Bush.

Pages