How Will Voters Handle the 'Truth' About Kerry and Bush?

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-outlook13sep13.story
RONALD BROWNSTEIN / WASHINGTON OUTLOOK
How Will Voters Handle the 'Truth' About Kerry and Bush?
Ronald Brownstein

September 13, 2004

Is it strategy or therapy for Democrats to escalate their attacks on President Bush's record in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam era?

Certainly the new television ads from a liberal Texas group accusing Bush of ducking his service are cathartic for Democrats. Democrats have been seething as a Republican-leaning veterans group has accused Sen. John F. Kerry of misrepresenting his experience in Vietnam at a time when Bush was safely stateside, about 9,300 miles away. Once Swift Boat Veterans for Truth launched their offensive against Kerry, the counterattack against Bush became inevitable.

But it's another question whether the charges will help Kerry overcome Bush's lead in the race. The dominant opinion in both parties is that Americans care far more about the choices the candidates are offering today than their personal choices 35 years ago, and that's probably right.

But Kerry's deterioration in the polls during August, while he faced the most withering assault from the Swift boat group, suggests these questions may be more relevant to voters than they acknowledge when asked directly. Based on Kerry's experience, it would be foolish to assume that voters will simply dismiss the accusations about Bush as old news.

If nothing else, voters are sure to hear more about the Guard controversy by election day. Leading Democrats are now amplifying their attacks on Bush's tenure in the Guard. Newspapers are reopening investigations into Bush's record after reports in the Boston Globe and on CBS' "60 Minutes" (though the latter has been tangled in controversy over whether documents alleging that Bush received favorable treatment are authentic).<snip>

[Philostopher]

1. While the LAT seems to be fairly even-handed most times ...

This paragraph is so f*cking disingenuous it makes me gag:

"But it's another question whether the charges will help Kerry overcome Bush's lead in the race. The dominant opinion in both parties is that Americans care far more about the choices the candidates are offering today than their personal choices 35 years ago, and that's probably right."

If this is so, why the Bush-campaign-coordinated SwiftLiars ads? Because the GOP knew the only way to make Bush* look like anything but a dilettante photo-op soldier (or to soften the blow of the fact that's the truth about him, I guess that's more accurate) was to smear Kerry with shady questions about his Vietnam service. It's the one thing they couldn't directly lie about. They had to go out in a metaphorical back alley and hire a bunch of goons to beat up on Kerry with a blackjack because they knew the truth didn't flatter Bush*.

And also disingenuous is 'whether the charges will help Kerry overcome Bush's lead in the race.' The 'bounce' from the raving idiot RNC already seems to be fading. They freakin' know anything short of a solid ten point spread can disappear overnight.

[the Kelly Gang]

2. I agree..they are saying whatever shit the Repubs throw sticks but when

the Dems reply with REAL flack ( even though it's the truth)it's too late, too little, why are they bothering ?..I say stick it in hard and don't give up pounding away at Bush's lieing past..it has to sink through to enough voters to make a change.

[AndyTiedye]

3. Sadly, Many Believe the Lies about Kerry, But Dismiss the Truth about *

because the lies got far more play in the Republican-owned media.

[Catfight]

4. It's not the ISSUES, it's how the candidates handle the ATTACKS!

Bush cowers away and hides behind women, (Condi, Laura, battleAxe mama) Kerry turns the boat directly into the enemy. If they were in the ring together, my money would go to Kerry! He'd just hold his hand out on Dumbya's head and let him swing until he got tired. What a dumbass Bush is.