Swift Boat of Lies

Posted on August 10, 2004 in Campaign 2004 Lies

It’s politics Tuesday!

I can’t say that I appreciate John Kerry’s turnabout on issues of war and peace, but I can’t say that I like the latest disinformation campaign being waged against him either. The so-called Swift Boat commercials which are being shown in key swing states demand that Bush condemn them. One of Kerry’s fellow grunts, Jim Rassman, writes:

35 years after the fact, some Republican-financed
Swift Boat Veterans for Bush are suddenly lying about John Kerry’s service
in Vietnam; they are calling him a traitor because he spoke out against
the Nixon administration’s failed policies in Vietnam. Some of these
Republican-sponsored veterans are the same ones who spoke out against John
at the behest of the Nixon administration in 1971. But this time their
attacks are more vicious, their lies cut deep and are directed not just at
John Kerry, but at me and each of his crewmates as well. This hate-filled
ad asserts that I was not under fire; it questions my words and Navy
records. This smear campaign has been launched by people without decency,
people who don’t understand the bond of those who serve in combat. As John
McCain noted, the television ad aired by these veterans is ‘dishonest and
dishonorable.’ Sen. McCain called on President Bush to condemn the ad.
Regrettably, the president has ignored Sen. McCain.

A petition calling for Bush to condemn the ads is now on the net. The question is “is the chief of the unprincipled draft dodgers and deserters (who are never to be confused with conscientious war resisters) strong enough to do it or is this just more of his classic negative campaigning?” Negative campaigning usually does not change votes, it merely causes some people to stay home in disgust with the whole political process. Socialist-libertarian that I am, I don’t think that anyone should allow a cheat and a crook — showing his true desparation — turn them against their own government.

Our government is by the People, for the People. If you do not vote, you commit a venial act of treason. And the tragedy of it all is that the Government is the People. You. Don’t make a draft-dodging, toad-exploding brat turn you against yourself. Demand accountability in this election. Demand it of the man who is your employee, who took the job without your permission.

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A note to John McCain: It’s time that you left that GOP. See what your endorsement brought to American servicepeople and veterans?