I don't think the CBS memo hurts Kerry at all

[PlanetBev]

The underlying message still is:

Bush didn't meet his obligations, he got special treatment.

This comes at a time when Kitty Kelley's book says the same thing.

Even if the CBS memos are forgeries, "Bush was AWOL" is still floating around out there.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. With Regards To The Bush Memos...

it reminds me of the criticism of the LAPD in the OJ case that they "framed a guilty man".

[Dick_Tuck]

2. It actaully works better...

The scrap over the validity of the memos is allowing Rather to keep repeating that Bush used connections to avoid Vietnam and didn't complete his guard obligations. OTOH, it's old news now. I don't think it'll have much impact on the election outcome anymore than it already has.

The message has to shift to what Kerry will do. The whole positive vision thing. Kerry has some great ideas about how he'll fix the moron's mistakes, and get things back on track. Yet, the GOP talking point, that nobody knows where Kerry stands and his whole campaign is centered around Vietnam, is starting to become conventional wisdom. That's what he (and us) have to change.

Liberal Oasis has a great document that debunks some Kerry myths. Check out http://liberaloasis.com/ and download the Word file. This is where I think part of the message should be going.

[meg]

3. WHAT!!!!

Bush is AWOL and insubordinate. CBS does a story on this. Bushies viciously attack CBS. And Kerry is the topic?

What kind of propaganda wonderland are we living in? And why are WE buying into it?

[tedzbear]

4. That's not what the Los Angeles Times said today.

The column in the Calendar section said CBS totally lost all credibility with the forged memos and the little old lady's comments made it even worse. Go read.

[librechik]

5. Except that the worst ratf*rs are saying that Kerry planted those!

Personally! That's the spin that's sneaking in to the RW talk circuit. DESPICABLE!

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

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[molly]

6. Exactly - let the wh come forth with evidence

that he was NOT AWOL.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

7. CNN this morning

They had a regular CNN feature, a media ethics report with a guy who calls himself "Mr. Ethics". He stated that Dan Rather regarding the Col. Killian memos was the unethical bad guy for the week in that (1) he had no proof to back up his memos but nonetheless tried to convict George Bush in the court of public opinion and (2) he had no proof that George Bush had shirked his duties in the Texas Air National Guard but then proceeded to ask Bush questions about his service. At the end of the report, they asked for feedback at [e-mail]

I sent a very heated e-mail to them regarding the fact that (1) the memos have not been proven false (2) there is a mountain of SEPARATE evidence including Bush's Harvard Professor, Col. Killian's secretary, the official document permanently suspending Bush from the TANG among others that back up the proposation that George Bush shirked his duties. CNN, by suggesting that the entire case of whether George Bush accomplished his TANG duties rises and falls on these 4 memos is itself showing just how unethical they can be. They keep outdoing themselves in the unethical department.

[physaf]

11. no matter what, CBS comes out

as the bad guy here. They should have done better checking.

[21winner]

8. Since no others addressed your subject I will.

Its Rather's story. Kerry had nothing to do with it. Rather will have to find his own way out of it. That's why Kerry is smart,he doesn't need help from loose cannons.

[mirandapriestly]

9. buckhead article

has anyone seen this? I hope I don't get in trouble for posting it if it has already been posted
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/la-091704buckhead_lat,1,494535.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[A_Possum]

15. Welcome to DU!

I know the feeling of worrying about "getting in trouble." But jump on in, the waters' fine, except when it's not, and then you just snarl back at whoever snapped at you, and everyone runs off to play elsewhere. Seen it happen a million times at the dog park! ;)

[physaf]

12. that's right

.

[seabeyond]

10. i dont think it does either

:)

[Guaranteed]

13. It only hurts Kerry in that it gives Republicans more bullshit to

talk about. We need to stay focused on Bush's record.

[chieftain]

14. It could help if ,

we can make the case that the whole TANG episode and its continuing cover up demonstrate how dishonest the Bush Gang is . A lot of the comments about how harmful this is to Kerry come from the same helpful claque that warned us against a negative convention and then stood silent as the Republicans lied and savaged our party . Rove has been successful by going right at his opponents' strengths . We have to create some doubt among the electorate regarding W's truthfulness and likability . Anything that helps with this is a plus .

[moez]

16. I've started hearing

"Both sides are just trying to smear each other with these lies and forged memos..." from my fence-sitter acquaintances that pay only casual attention (aka most people).

I think it hurts us. It means that a lot of truths will be painted by the same broad brush that covers the CBS fuck up.

CBS may not have fucked us on this board. But, go out and listen to what people are saying that aren't as plugged in as us. From what I'm hearing, it's hurt Kerry a lot....

[wrate]

18. What a complex situation.

When the RNC completely obliterated Kerry's reputation, it was OK. When the swift boat liars did the same, it was OK. Plus both times it seemed to work in the "polls".

Now the other side (Democrats) takes the same approach and it backfires?
So, if you take the high road, you pay. If you act accordingly, you pay. If you don't do a thing, you pay. It's a no win situation in my view.

I think the CBS's memos helped Kerry in that they go to the heart of the problem, which is to convince a 100 million idiots that their fake hero is not a hero only a fake. They can refuse to believe it but it will still linger there and create doubts.