Kerry Must Use The Blowback Of The SwiftBoat Ad To Preempt The RNC

[stopbush]

We already know that the RNC will feature an all-out assault on Kerry seeking to diminish him and make him a source of ridicule and bad jokes. They did it to Gore and it worked. They'll try to do it with Kerry (see the Daily Howler for their recent series on this very point: here - http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh080304.shtml).

Well, the Swift Boat ad wasn't such a swift strategy after all. Kerry should jump on this by using their very language against them, insulating himself from the coming RNC onslaught, like this:

"I don't think anybody's military record should be distorted, neither should it be made a object of cheap jokes and unfounded accusations."

"I think the American people are tired of all these unfounded negative charges. Let's debate the real issues - the economy, the war and healthcare. Let's discuss our future."

"I have nothing to be ashamed of. If the bush campaign and their mercenary hitmen wish to argue war records, I'll accept that challenge in a heartbeat."

"Most republicans have come out and condemned these ads, ads which were a dry run for the distortions they plan to run from the RNC until November. I ask them now to abandon this cheap and irresponsible character assassination and put forward their candidate's record and his plan for the future. America is better than this."

Comments?

[Dr Fate]

1. I think those are fantastic talking points...

Lets spread them round as best we can...

I would love for the campaign to pick up on them- perhaps they are already on to somthing similar- lets hope so...

[Faygo Kid]

2. Some good stuff, but. . . .

Your post is great, but I support Kerry in large measure because he had the guts to come back, as a veteran, and condemn that war (in my 50s, so I remember it well). I think his biggest mistake has been in not condemning the Iraq war as the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time for the wrong reasons. Thanks for the post.

[kabalevski]

3. question...

Who's sponsoring The Ads?..

[kabalevski]

6. Nevermind... i actually read an article...lol

The ad, scheduled to air in a few markets in Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin, was produced by Stevens, Reed, Curcio and Potham, the same team that produced McCain's ads in 2000

[ImThatOneGuy]

4. Completely Hypocritical and Misleading

Its appalling that these so-called Swift Boat Veterans For Truth would put out such slanderous and completely erroneous garbage. NOT ONE of those veterans interviewed in that ad EVER served IN John Kerry's boat. Their idea of serving with him is being in the same war. And what about that medical officer (forgot his name) who claimed that Kerry's first Purple Heart was false because HE treated him for his wounds? Kerry's own medical records show that the medical officer NEVER signed his file.

Once again, it shows the viciousness of partisan politics during an election year. Its high time for the American people to unite and send a message that we will no longer participate or be persuaded by this type of reprehensible mud-slinging.

[defoliant]

5. TV loves crap like this..

I just watched an hour of CNN Headline (sic) News. I saw the entire swift boat ad once, excerpts a second time. Nothing about how none of the guys quoted served with Kerry. Nothing about Bush's "find new ways to harm America" Freudian slip. They are looking like Fox Lite...

[Lex]

7. CNN followed Faux News into the pure propaganda business.

They are even more pathetic than Faux because they like to think they are better somehow.