Reason and Radical

Shifty Boat Liars

I don't have anything to say about these scum, other than that what they're really mad about is Kerry's anti-war activities when he returned from Vietnam. But they can't come clean about that, since most of America knows the Vietnam war was terribly wrong. So instead, with the help of a lot of money from big GOP donors and as scummy PR person, they concoct these bogus charges about Kerry's military record. A new low, even for Repugnicants.

This is a pretty good analysis of the whole situation (LA Times -- registration required). Key quotes:

"Many in the Swift boat group seem to be motivated as much by anger about Kerry's protest activities as they are about his actions in combat."

"What military documentation exists and has been made public generally supports the view put forth by Kerry and most of his crewmates — that he acted courageously and came by his Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts honestly. This view of Kerry as war hero is supported by all but one of the surviving veterans who served with him on the two boats he commanded.None of the critics quoted in the ad actually served on the boats with Kerry. Some of them also have given contradictory accounts and offered conflicting recollections."

"Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a Vietnam veteran who has endorsed Bush, called the ad "dishonest and dishonorable." He said that "none of these individuals served on the boat [Kerry] commanded," adding that he believed "John Kerry served honorably in Vietnam."In a lengthy interview between the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth's first news conference in May and the controversy last week, Kerry called the group's allegations pure "politics.""Some of them don't like the fact that I opposed the war, and 35 years later some people still want to argue about that," Kerry said in the June interview. "It's way beyond me, can I tell you? It's so far beyond and past now. I feel sad about it."He said he respected the service all Swift boat crews gave to their country and lauded their courage."So I'm at peace with myself, and I'm sorry they feel the way they do," Kerry said, "because I respect them. I really do."

posted by Leimodnu @ 12:19 PM