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: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 3:17pm
go_left wrote - "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."

Well, McCain Feingold was going to change things... Kerry was a big believer in it, an ardent supporter of campaign reform... and he's avoided it at all costs, and embraced every loophole early and with vigor... guess we have to look at Kerry for the tone of the election thus far... he more or less has set the pace :-)

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 3:20pm
That Bush speaks as many do from a part of the country which isn't on the east or west cost doesn't devalue his intellect in my opinion... there are those intolerant ones however (most often referred to as Liberals or Democrats) who will pick on someones accent, and believe people without a preferred accent are stupid... ohhh how I wish tolerance were learned by these people :-o
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 3:20pm
--

Well, McCain Feingold was going to change things... Kerry was a big believer in it, an ardent supporter of campaign reform... and he's avoided it at all costs, and embraced every loophole early and with vigor... guess we have to look at Kerry for the tone of the election thus far... he more or less has set the pace :-)

--

How much PAC money has Kerry taken in his entire career?

I believe the term is: Doughnut hole.

So you support McCain/Feingold?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 3:23pm
I never supported McCain Feingold, it appears to try to limit first amendment rights... it also helps incumbants more than new contestants. There are also too many loopholes in it for those with bucks. Kerry's abuse of the process he voted for demonstrates him as more of a fraud to me though as it's consistant with his history it isn't surprising.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 3:25pm
Wow, till the end I was about to type: ITA!

But, please tell us what abuses of it Kerry has done. I had this discussion with Wren last week and it went NOWHERE quick.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 3:29pm
Kerry borrowed money on a mansion in Boston which he did NOT jointly purchase, for which he is listed jointly, the amount borrowed couldn't have been repaid on his income, and the loan was from a bank which manages his wifes money for the most part... when was the last time you qualified for a mortgage you could never pay the montly payment on... well it happens to John whenever he needs cash.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2004
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 4:07pm
I am not ignoring anything.

I saw what Rassman said about Kerry, and I think that what Kerry did is extremely admirable, and honorable, and heroic. Now that someone is calling into question the facts, I would like to see what they have to say, but the fact that Rassman and Kerry both are saying basically the same thing would make me trend towards believeing them a bit more.

I personally think that the Swift Boat Veterans are more angry with what Kerry did after he left Vietnam than for his actions during Vietnam, as he was not there long enough to really do anything that horrible.

The one problem I do have with what Kerry did is that he claimed he did not know about the Geneva or Hague Conventions, when all the men being shipped to Vietnam had to take classes on these items, and were given bullet point cards on the major no-no's with that, so I dont buy the fact that Kerry said he didnt know he was not supposed to shoot in a free fire zone. To me, however, that is pretty small potatoes.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2004
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 4:08pm
Since I don't listen to stand up comics that claim to be political analysts, I did not hear about this.

Again, I support their position that they are allowed to present their side of the facts, provided that they are facts, and not made up stories.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-16-2004
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 4:09pm
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2004
Fri, 08-06-2004 - 4:18pm


Now if that is not the pot calling the kettle black!!!

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