Swift boat vets back out of speech at local rally

[DoYouEverWonder]

August 22, 2004

A Swift Boat Veterans for Truth member featured prominently in ads attacking Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam service said he was misled by Republicans when asked to speak at an anti-Kerry rally in Gainesville on Saturday.

Joe Ponder, wounded during the war in 1968, said he turned down the speaking engagement after learning that fliers promoting the event had been distributed at a local Bush-Cheney campaign office Friday.

Pete Webster, another member of the organization scheduled to speak, did not attend Saturday's rally.

When the speakers failed to materialize, scores of Bush and Kerry supporters who had gathered for the event sparred verbally for more than three hours.


http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040822/LOCAL/40821054/1078/news&template=printart


Scores of Bush and Kerry supporters? LOL. I got there around 4:00 PM. There were about 30 or so Bush supporters just standing around the stage not knowing what to do with themselves. The audience of 100+ was all Kerry supporters.

[thebigidea]

1. more like he cancelled them when they were busted

This is to counteract tv talking heads bringing up the flyers - over the next coupla days, when anyone mentions the flyers, the Bushbots will squeal: "but he did the honorable thing and cancelled immedeately."

[DoYouEverWonder]

2. Too late, the local GOP helped organize the rally

Dineen Wolfersheim, secretary of the Alachua County Republican Executive Committee, said she helped organized the event as a private citizen and blamed an unidentified "overzealous Republican" for placing the flier in the party's headquarters. She said once local Republican party officials learned of the promotion's placement, they removed it.

In addition, Wolfersheim said she pulled the permit needed for the event and helped others organize and raise money.


----------------------


Sure looks like the local GOP was coordinating this rally to me. Now let's see, how many campaign laws have these folks broken here?

[thebigidea]

5. I bet if we if we had a real press...

... they'd figure out that they were pulled only after being mentioned by the media.

[JNelson6563]

9. What's in their own house??

I keep a pretty close eye on our own HQ and nothing that isn't 100% legal goes up in our office. Recently the idiot usurper came to my town. Some incredibly over-zealous woman was at our office when I went down the day before the pResidential visit. She was making signs and had flyers printed up. I told her she could join our efforts but the flyers had to be off the property and not distributed (legalities). Even though she was on our side I couldn't have our name on the flyer as having organized the whole rally/protest and certainly not in the same line as her bogus, unregistered org. name. There were other reasons too that made the whole thing a bad idea.

That stuff wasn't on our property but 10 minutes before I was down there making it gone. Seems to me that Ms. Rethug either isn't very vigilant or is full of crap.

Julie

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. Wolfersheim even sent an email to promote the event

The REC and other organizations affiliated with the party were also mentioned in an e-mail announcement sent by Wolfersheim promoting the event.

"The Swift Boat Vets for Truth, Vietnam Veterans against Kerry, Veterans for Bush have asked us to participate and join them in a political rally at the downtown plaza," according to the e-mail, which is signed Dineen Wolfersheim, Events Coordinator, ACREC Secretary.

ACREC is the Alachua County Republican Executive Committee.

Wolfersheim said she wrote the e-mail but did not intend for it to be put into general distribution. Republican groups did not sponsor the event, she said, though they were invited to participate.

"In no way is this (event) sanctioned by my party or my president," she said.

---------------

So the ACREC Secretary sends and signs an email, using her official title, promoting the event and then claims that there is no way her party sanctioned the event? Ah, excuse me?

[Randomthought]

19. Wolfersheim still doesn't 'get it'

The swift boat thugs are a 527 non=profit and as such they can not co-ordinate with a party or a campaign. the crime wasn't where the flyer was found but that the flyer existed.

[DoYouEverWonder]

20. Even better, she pulled the permit for the event

The Downtown Plaza is owned by the City of Gainesville. The big question is whose name did she use to pull the permit? It is very unlikely that the City would give a permit to an Individual. You have to tell them who you represent and what you are planning to do.

[0007]

33. You are a breath of fresh air Julie -

[TankLV]

21. "blamed an unidentified "overzealous Republican" - yeah right.

Guess this one guy was pretty busy placing flyers in ALL the repuke headquarters and offices ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY then!

But, of course, the whore media will make this a discussion on the merits of the 527 groups, not the LOGICAL step to discussing AWOL's lack of any war record, nor of all the other CHICKENHAWKS "records".

[sidestreamer]

29. LOL you should've seen Dineen!

She was screaming that "private citizen" line to the Gainesville reporter, screaming at her Democratic counterpart, accusing him of being a "disgrace" who penetrated her headquarters, then turning back to the "liberal media" reporters from the Sun and accusing them of publishing a previous statement of hers prematurely... man, she was pissed off!

[DoYouEverWonder]

32. Is there a video of her?

Where did you see this? I would love to see it. More evidence.

She screaming her head off because she knows she broke a number of election laws.

[sidestreamer]

35. Sorry I didn't have a camera

This was going on around 2 or 2:30 pm at the Downtown Community Plaza. If she kept her act up, you might have seen her. Shw was the fat, blonde, lower-middle-aged woman in the blue and white shirt wearing a hat with several Bush pins on her, holding a "Kerry lied, good men died" sign. This started after she got the Kerry-Edwards people kicked off the stage with a GPD escort. Since I came as an observer though, I was able to get on and off stage and decided I'd gather info on them, but an associate of mine, who happened to be a Sun intern, was assailed verbally the moment she approached Dineen. All the journalists I saw there (at least three) were grilling her on the fliers, and that's when she claimed it was organized by private citizens.

Earlier, another darker-skinned, older woman with a Bush banner was accusing the Kerry camp of sending spies...

[DoYouEverWonder]

36. Is this her?

This wacko is the Secretary of the Alachua Country Republican Party? Oh please, please let this be true?

The dark woman that you mentioned, is that the woman behind her? I know her, she's Lourdes Chu.

[sidestreamer]

38. That's Dineen. The woman scratching her ear behind her

was the one accusing the Dems of planting a spy.

By the way, check your inbox, I got another question...

[DoYouEverWonder]

39. Thanks

I can't believe I got such a good picture of her. I think I really captured her essence.

[sidestreamer]

40. You sure did >:] ((n/t))

[bahrbearian]

3. What the SBVT's didn't report for duty?

[bahrbearian]

4. Did the Rupugs bring their picnic baskets and children?

[shockingelk]

12. The participated in the art, and that's what's important

'Kerry supporters sang "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America" while Bush supporters recited the Pledge of Allegiance.'

[dbt]

6. Misled by Republicans?

Gee, who would've thought that could happen? And THEN, Ponder turns down a speaking engagement because it was going to be advertised?

Well, which way is it, Mr. Ponder? Is your message true? Or will it not hold water* if more than a handful of people show up to hear it?

:evilgrin:
dbt

* All puns fully intended

[Nimrod]

7. I don't believe this for a second

SURE it was their idea to back out. I find it far more likely they were dumped and handed a 3x5 with their 'explanation' on it.

Those Overzealous-Individuals-Acting-On-Their-Own certainly do seem to get around, don't they? Repub party's been FULL of them this year.

[Toots]

8. These "war heroes" appear to be cowards as well as LIARS

They must have heard that the majority of the people showing up to their events are hostile to them. They must know that they can not stand up to the scrutiny because truth is just not on their side.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

15. I think if we just stick to the term "liars",....

....we'll be much better off in the long run.

In fact, I'm beginning to believe that some of these guys trusted that they were being told the truth about Kerry, and now believe that they were clearly misled. The folks that are leading this anti-Kerry Swift Boat effort are the true liars, IMHO.

IMHO, the word "coward" really doesn't apply to these guys because they were in some pretty tough spots during Vietnam. Most returned with medals of some sort for heroism and/or for getting wounded.

Unlike the NeoCon/Freeper crowd, I can respect the efforts of those who fought so long ago in yet another illegal and unnecessary war.

[Toots]

16. When someone makes a libelous claim about someone and then

fails to show up to defend that claim I say that is cowardice behavior. Since they are the one's claiming the military just gives out awards arbitrarily that makes their awards suspect as well. Since that is their position I have no qualms about calling them out on it. They're Lying Cowards and I'll call them that to their face.

[eurolefty]

10. Right wing liars chickened out?

Color me surprised.

:evilgrin:

[2Design]

13. I aways like how they describe bush folks...

scores of them....at a local event...they said bush supporters were 'out ine force' and there were less than 50 and there were 4000 to hear Kerry.

The news is really twisted....what people will hear is 'out in force' and not remember there weren't hardly any there.

[DoYouEverWonder]

14. Even better, most of the crowd was pro Kerry

The only Bu$h supporters were on or near the stage. Everyone in the audience was pro Kerry.

[UTUSN]

17. This Is Too Rich on So Many Levels-------Bwahahah

The swiftbots running away--------didn't they accuse JK of that? And O'NEILL says their participation was not authorized because it wasn't cleared by the highest swiftbots?--------uh, does this mean THEY are "unfit for command"????

Btw, what kind of event was this with BOTH sides present? What organization sponsored it? Sounds like a tinderbox waiting to happen. Plus, EIGHT HOURS long? And they debated for THREE HOURS? Good Zeus!!

[DoYouEverWonder]

18. They are supposed to come back today

from 12 - 8. The event was supposed to go until 10PM last night. But when their program fell apart, they didn't know what to do with themselves. They all just sort of stood around on the stage and the whole thing broke up around 5PM. Occasionally a couple of them would come to the edge of the stage and people would heckle back and forth. Some of the Bushbots got pretty rabid but we mostly just laughed at them.

The event is at the Downtown Community Plaza which is open to the public. However, the majority of the public in Gainesville is very liberal. I thought they were nuts to have the rally here in the first place.

[joefree1]

22. Any pictures

And thanks for being there. It's a fight now.


Download the free poster/sign here:
http://ediablo.com/eDiabloGallery.html

[DoYouEverWonder]

23. Yes, I just posted them

over in GD 2004 Campaign.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x651082


Here's one of the funniest ones:

[Occulus]

25. Jesus, this was a Repub event???

Look at all the K/E signs. :wtf:

[mbperrin]

26. DoYouEverWonder, you are doing a great service here!

Thanks from the bottom of my little West Texas heart!

(No sarcasm or hidden intent here. I really mean it.)

[Kukesa]

30. I wholeheartedly agree. Thanks, DYEW!! n/t

[barb162]

27. love it

lol. I would love to see every GOP rally end up this way. I know I am fantasizing, sigh, but this is just too good!

[leesa]

24. Who could possibly have known it was a Bush-Cheney campaign stunt!

These guys just all ruined their reputations by being caught in a vicious lie for their fuhrer. I wonder if it was worth it?

[Bluebear]

28. But, but, but I packed a picnic and everything!!!!!

[Sugarbleus]

31. Said he was MISLED? Didn't know about the flyers? Uh huh..

said he was misled by Republicans when asked to speak at an anti-Kerry rally... Did they also NOT know about all the GOP websites around the country promoting them?

Thanks for posting this.......unbelievable!!

After hearing about Bob Dole today, it's the last straw......

I HATE REPUBLICANS. No more 'some are nice'...they will have to DILIGENTLY EARN trust from me from this day forward. :nuke:

[brentspeak]

34. BTW, where's Cmdr.Elliot these days?

He signs an affidavit one day, composes and signs a brand-new one the next, and then he refuses to be interviewed.

He's going to accuse one of his own, and then just leave it at that?

[UTUSN]

37. Oh...Getting a Diagnosis for Alzheirmer's ? n/t