Two Anti-Kerry Vets Tapped for VA Panel

[Nambe]

Presidential Elections - AP

Two former Vietnam prisoners of war who appear in ads attacking Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry were appointed by the Bush administration to a panel advising the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The former POWs in the ad, Kenneth Cordier and Paul Galanti, serve on the VA's 12-member Former POW Advisory Committee. VA Secretary Anthony Principi appointed Cordier in 2002 and Galanti in 2003.

Cordier said the VA panel has nothing to do with the Bush campaign or the anti-Kerry group. "It's totally apolitical, and we meet twice a year to bring to the secretary's attention problems from around the country in VA hospitals," he said. ..

VA spokesman Phil Budahn said Principi did not know about or encourage the veterans' appearance in the anti-Kerry ad. Budahn said federal regulations bar advisory committee members from engaging in political activity while performing their committee duties, but there are no other restrictions on their activities when not working on committee business. ..

Ride Don’t Drive * * It’s Global Cool

[Democat]

1. There is no connection between Bush and Swift Liars, except when...

Except when Bush is writing them checks with taxpayer money or giving them jobs or houses or other stuff for their lies.

[tandot]

2. "it's totally apolitical..." yea right

:eyes:

[Ravy]

15. I agree, this move seems rather political to me.... (n/t)

[KurtNYC]

3. Will they be recommending purple heart bandaids?

Great. Now they can go through VA hospitals and mock injured vets without waiting until they run for office. :eyes:

They will probably just grab the side of the bed, lift it up and dump them out with, "Get up you faker!" Kind of like John Goodman in Big Lebowski.

[AlCzervik]

4. Just disgusting, how can they get away with this?

[saigon68]

5. They will do anything they want

Notice how the news has now shifted from Kobe to Michael Jackson. The sheep are happy.

[LauraK]

16. A lot of vets don't talk much.

But they listen.

[PartyPooper]

6. Because Junior and his corrupt cabal have total control.

That's why John Kerry must be elected on November 2!

[DeepModem Mom]

7. They know already they can get away with anything --

they own the media, and the courts. They still, however, go through the motions of adhering to our system. If they are elected legitimately this time, God help us.

[MsMagnificent]

8. Sickening

Budahn said federal regulations bar advisory committee members from engaging in political activity while performing their committee duties

Excuse me?
Appearing in skewed partisan commercials aimed against their appointer's (read: boss) political contender isn't engaging in political activity?!


Just more double-speak.
I'm not surprised, but I'm still sickened.

[Mokito]

12. The catch lies in the "...while performing..."

Before or after performing their committee duties they are free to do pretty much what they want. So the *-campaign gets these guys to do some smears against Kerry in return for a cozy seat on a committee with (pseudo)influence.

[tom_paine]

9. Jesus Christ, the corruption is so OPEN

That's what worries me. These Monsters don't even have to worry about getting caught anymore.

Right out in the open.

This is a fucking SMOKING GUN.

In a Free Society, this would be trumpeted as evidence of direct coruuption.

In Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, Ferdinand Marcos' Phillipines, and Imperial Amerika, you can place bets that nothing will come of it.

[leesa]

10. The reward for engaging in foul RNC politics

There is always a pay-off for these vile creatures.

[LauraK]

11. I hope Max jumps on this. It looks illegal to me.

And I used to be an independant.

[Rose Siding]

13. Does any damn thing he wants...

And idiots eat it with a spoon. Up go the numbers.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. Quid pro quo.

[wicket]

17. kick!

:kick: