WP's Kurtz gives more print to GOP Swift Boats lies and smears

[papau]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6381-2004Aug16.html

MoveOn.org's Swift Response to Anti-Kerry Ad

By Howard Kurtz

Tuesday, August 17, 2004; Page A08


A liberal organization is taking to the airwaves today to challenge an ad by a group of Navy veterans that accuses Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) of distorting his Vietnam record.

"George Bush: Take that ad off the air," says the 30-second spot from MoveOn.org PAC.

The ad in question, from a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, charges Kerry with "lying about his first Purple Heart" in Vietnam 35 years ago. The MoveOn response -- airing in the same four markets in Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin, and on CNN and Fox News -- begins by attacking President Bush's military record.

"George Bush used his father to get into the National Guard, and when the chips were down, went missing," a narrator says. "Now he's allowing false advertising that attacks John Kerry, a man who asked to go to Vietnam and served with dignity and heroism." The ad quotes Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) as calling on the Bush campaign to condemn the "dishonest and dishonorable" ad.<snip of Kurtz giving print space to smears>


Asked why Bush should be responsible for an ad by an independent group with the same legal status as MoveOn, Eli Pariser, the PAC's executive director, said: "They're clearly a surrogate organization. The Bush campaign has a responsibility for what's being done on its behalf. Certainly if Kerry felt MoveOn was doing something he didn't agree with, he has every right to condemn our ads."<snip>

[Old and In the Way]

1. Good for MoveOn!

They wanna play in the mud? Let's counter with real facts. Amp this message.....and watch Lt. AWOL call off the dogs.

[xray s]

2. I think they should compare Bush's Guard duty to todays Guard

I would keep Kerry out of it and just tell people how Bush used the guard to go hide out in Alabama while today the National Guard goes off to Bush's war with no end in sight.