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: 08-02-2004
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 2:46pm
How funny that when bad publicity comes out about Kerry, there are no Bush supporters rushing in with excuses, like they do for their "Commander-In-Cheif", but completely agree with every horrid rumor, despite its unlikelyhood.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 2:49pm
It's been Democratic strategy for years to proclaim each new Republican President dumber than the prior Republican President... it's nothing new... and seems to make Democrats feel good... personally I suspect thinking someone who graduated Yale and Harvard with better grades than Gore by far as dumber than Gore is total nonsense... yet Democrats lap it up like it could somehow be possible... ohh well...
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 2:50pm
Nah, moveon has no place to go... Bush bashing is just out of steam...
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 2:51pm
That george elliott guy signed an affidavit that said it was a terrible mistake to be part of that ad.

I'm sure it doesn't sway the minds of the slime throwers, but I like hearing it.

Kerry will come out looking BETTER as a result of this. Just like the 120 million dollars worth of Slime (That bought Bush a 15 point reduction in approval) that didn't stick to Kerry.

Now, according to Fox News (Liberal media??): Kerry has a 13 pt higher approval rating than Bush. That's pretty extraordinary.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 2:52pm
Well Bush wouldn't self proclaim as a war criminal, genius Kerry has... this does create the problem of how does one defend the indefensible... of course we see Democrats try like heck here every day... it is a bit amusing... and honestly a bit sad at the same time.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 2:53pm
The following statement from Swift Boat Veterans for Truth concerns an article appearing in morning edition of the BOSTON GLOBE, written by GLOBE reporter and author of the official Kerry-Edwards campaign book, Mike Kranish.

"Captain George Elliott describes an article appearing in today’s edition of the BOSTON GLOBE by Mike Kranish as extremely inaccurate and highly misstating his actual views. He reaffirms his statement in the current advertisement paid for by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, Captain Elliott reaffirms his affidavit in support of that advertisement, and he reaffirms his request that the ad be played.

“Additional documentation will follow.

"The article by Mr. Kranish is particularly surprising given page 102 of Mr. Kranish’s own book quoting John Kerry as acknowledging that he killed a single, wounded, fleeing Viet Cong soldier whom he was afraid would turn around.

"Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has more than 250 supporters who are revealing first hand, eyewitness accounts of numerous incidents concerning John Kerry’s military service record. The organization will continue to discuss much of what John Kerry has reported as fact concerning his four-month tour of duty in Vietnam."

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 2:54pm
Oh, so you know much about Moveon eh?

How do you figure they're out of money, or steam?

Or is this just raw conjecture on your part?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 2:56pm
moveon out of money hahah, I never said that... out of steam... they went with hitler early, and it's hard to move up past hitler.. in the demonization game.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 3:01pm
Not that I disagree about slime ads:

It's only the ones that have the candidates names on them that I don't care for. I was never a fan of McCain/Feingold.

And I was serious, when I hear John Kerry's name on slimey ads, It will tick me off too.

Really, who is surprised that pundits/pac's OUTSIDE the campaign are going to throw mud?

I would think someone who came to Washington to 'Change the tone' would be above this. Hell, that;s one of the reasons I voted for him in 2000, because the notion of changing the tone and getting things done in Washington was very appealing.

Oh well...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-31-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 3:09pm
I objected to the absolute terms you used, which made your statement just ridiculous.

I don't need to look at people's grades to see who decide who is a more intelligent, thoughtfull, analytical person. I just need to hear them speak and answer questions for awhile and it becomes aparent how, or if, they think.

Pages