Kerry Ads Effect on Voters, LAtimes

[fjc]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-082004kerry_wr,1,7713778.story?coll=la-home-headlines

By Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Democratic Party launched a costly round of ads today to buttress John Kerry's credentials to be commander in chief as the White House accused the Massachusetts senator of "losing his cool" over attacks on his war record.

"John Kerry is a fighter and he doesn't tolerate lies from others," shot back spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter.

The unusual late-August maneuvering highlighted the closeness of the race for the White House and came as polls offered the first hint that the questioning of Kerry's medal-winning service in the Vietnam War -- allegations that he strongly condemned this week as lies -- were taking a political toll.

[Sparkly]

1. What is the LAT saying the net effect is?

I'm not a subscriber.

[RamboLiberal]

4. From the article - effect

<snip>

One poll found that more than half the voters questioned had seen or heard of an ad by Swift Boat Veterans For Truth that accuses Kerry of lying about events that earned him five medals in Vietnam a generation ago. The University of Pennsylvania's National Annenberg Election Survey also found that 44 percent of self-described independent voters found the ad very or somewhat believable.

Separately, a CBS poll found a sharp drop in Kerry's support among both veterans and a smaller erosion among independents since the end of the Democratic Convention.

<snip>

And from Scotty and the WH.

"I do think that Senator Kerry losing his cool should not be an excuse for him to lash out at the president with false and baseless attacks," the spokesman told reporters in Crawford, Texas.

"We've already said we weren't involved in any way in these ads," he said. "We've made that clear."

Cutter sought to turn the argument over presidential readiness back on the White House. "Mr. McClellan needs to understand that John Kerry is not the type of leader who will sit and read 'My Pet Goat' to a group of second graders while America is under attack," she said.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-082004kerry_wr,1,7713778.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[Mizmoon]

9. You can log into most every news site

using this username and password:

mailinator/mailinator

if they want an email address username use:
[e-mail]

[praeclarus]

12. mailinator. how about that, it works! cool. n/t

[newyawker99]

17. Hi praeclarus!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mbee]

2. Does anyone have Stephanie Cutter's email? She should really

start talking about how Bush is taking away overtime after Monday.

[liberalnurse]

3. Journalist are going to throw in a spin based

on who sign's their paycheck.....Even the LA Times sells out.

[cal04]

5. some pieces from the article

The unusual late-August maneuvering highlighted the closeness of the race for the White House and came as polls offered the first hint that the questioning of Kerry's medal-winning service in the Vietnam War -- allegations that he strongly condemned this week as lies -- were taking a political toll.

One poll found that more than half the voters questioned had seen or heard of an ad by Swift Boat Veterans For Truth that accuses Kerry of lying about events that earned him five medals in Vietnam a generation ago. The University of Pennsylvania's National Annenberg Election Survey also found that 44 percent of self-described independent voters found the ad very or somewhat believable.

Separately, a CBS poll found a sharp drop in Kerry's support among both veterans and a smaller erosion among independents since the end of the Democratic Convention.Kerry's campaign scripted the convention, which ended three weeks ago, to establish him as a battle-tested veteran ready to assume command in an era of terrorism. Polls after the convention indicated he had made considerable progress toward that goal.


Asked about the relationship between Bob Perry, a financial supporter of the anti-Kerry group that paid for the ad, and Karl Rove, Bush's top political adviser, McClellan said, "I mean, they know each other. I know that." But, he quickly added, "that still shouldn't be used to draw any connection there, because we have not been involved in this ad whatsoever.""Seventy percent of those with favorable opinions of Bush find the advertisement somewhat or very believable while 19 percent of those with favorable opinions of Kerry find it believable."

Independent voters were nearly split over whether they found the ad believable.

[Caution]

6. Man I hate seeing Kerry having to waste dollars on this

I'd rather this stuff waited until he and Bush were on even spending ground again after the RNC.

[TheFarseer]

7. I think Kerry is really getting hurt by this

I think we could quite possibly be behind after the republican convention. That's really unfortunate because what difference does it make here in 2004 if John Kerry embellished his war record from 35 years ago? I think he has talked up his war record but wouldn't you if you were running for president? It's also unfortunate because whatever problem the swiftboat vets have with JK does not seem to be related to anything that happened in the Mekong delta that day.

[fjc]

8. Embellished his war record?

That sounds like someone who believes the SVBT.

[iamjoy]

10. I Hate To Admit It

Since much of the Democratic convention was spent lauding Kerry's war hero credentials, opponents questioning it is fair. Before you think I've been drinking the kool-aid (as some DUers say) what is not fair is scurrilous lies and slander.

It is fair to say that many feel his speaking out against the war after he got home damaged our case and ended up hurting our soldiers, in a purely academic way. Not that it is a statement of fact, just an opinion about the anti-war movement. It is not fair to doctor a picture and put him next to Jane Fonda.

It is fair to say, so he was a war hero, 3 purple hearts, bronze star, silver star - So What Has He Done Lately? It is not fair to question whether or not he deserved those medals.

Some of us made snide comments about Quayle joining the National Guard during the war, but 4 yars later it didn't matter to us that Clinton didn't serve (in any capacity.) It shouldn't matter what Dubya did then, but he should specifically condemn these ads (not just a blanket statement against 527s in general) questioning Kerry's record.

I have to wonder if Kerry's campaign didn't screw up over-emphasizing his Vietnam service at the expense of his work as a prosecutor and work in the Senate. Or maybe they just underestimated how nasty Bush/Rove machine would get. A mistake, IMHO. Or maybe, the Kerry campaign is smarter than any of us think and has an October Surprise of its own.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

11. No. They have screwed up with their scurrilous lies and slander

This is going to ultimately backfire once the dust settles.

[fjc]

13. Questioning is fair? What questioning?

These people are not "questioning" Kerry's service. They're smearing it. You think that's "fair" do you? You think this is all Kerry's mistake? Yeah, you sound to me like one of those people willing to cover a stink like this with the word "fairness."

[Neshanic]

15. Exactly. They are smearing and embellishing on top of lies..

and the average person does not parse it out. Make the speech Kerry.

[iamjoy]

18. Fine Line Between Questioning And Smearing

Question: Did he deserve those medals?
Kerry campaign: Here is the documentation.
Fair.

anything beyond that, smearing. As Kerry has provided documentation, the "questioning" has crossed the line.
But then, these are the same people who "questioned" John McCain's service. And Max Cleland.

And it is still fair to state, "Great he's a war hero. What about the last 30 years?"

Why isn't Kerry focusing more on these accomplisments? Of course, if he did, they'd find a way to smear that too.

[TexasBushwhacker]

16. No, sorry, uh uh

"Some of us made snide comments about Quayle joining the National Guard during the war, but 4 yars later it didn't matter to us that Clinton didn't serve (in any capacity.) It shouldn't matter what Dubya did then, but he should specifically condemn these ads (not just a blanket statement against 527s in general) questioning Kerry's record."

Yes, Clinton didn't serve. He accepts a Rhodes Scholarship. Do you have any idea how many of those are awarded per year? THIRTY TWO! Gee, 2 years study at Oxford vs. staying in the US and maybe getting drafted? Tough choice! It's not like Clinton was drafted and left. He accepted a very valuable and coveted scholarship. People need to quit apologizing for Clinton being intelligent!

It DOES matter that Dan Quayle and Dubya got into the National Guard by having strings pulled on their behalf. They didn't get on a waiting list and wait their turn. They were put at the top of the waiting lists because of their connections and a couple of poor SOB's dodged bullets half a world away in their place. Maybe they didn't dodge well enough. Maybe a couple of guys DIED in the place of Quayle and Bush. I sure would like to find out who those guys were.

[yardwork]

14. Kerry did not embellish his war record.

He hasn't claimed credit for anything that the Navy didn't award to him. Kerry has provided all the written documentation.

The Swift Boat liars are claiming that Kerry somehow tricked the Navy into awarding him medals he didn't deserve. They're accusing him of fraud, not embellishment. The liars have no evidence, just vague recollections that differ sharply from their previous statements about Kerry.