Swiftboad lies remind us of other truths (Oregonian - Sarashohn)

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http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/david_sarasohn/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1093434977273600.xml


Swift boat lies remind us of other truths
Wednesday, August 25, 2004

David Sarasohn

Has any campaign smear ever collapsed factually as fast as the charges of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth?

... utterly collapsed factually, as it became clear that Kerry's accusers had previously told very different stories, that their new memories were sharply contradicted by official Navy records, that several unexpected (but very angry) new figures emerged to bolster Kerry's account.

. . .

Bush was allowed to transfer to a non-flying unit in Alabama, where nobody remembers ever seeing him, and then to skip a physical and lose his flying rating, in 1972, when his father was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

And Bush was discharged early to attend Harvard Business School, without any awkward questions about days served, in the fall of 1973, when his father was chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Setting aside the brand-new, swiftly refuted memories, and the new voices bolstering Kerry, and the mysterious, suddenly appearing Texas money and consultants, the military records of the two candidates come down to a single contrast: A Silver Star against a silver spoon.


. . .