Quote:
Originally posted by sgtclub
That's a good theory, except that Bush (a) has repeatedly commended Kerry for his service, (b) disavowed all 527 groups, and (c) has not commented on Swiftboatgate, and (d) despite Kerry's false accusations, is not affiliated in anyway with the Switftees.
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Not "affiliated in any way," huh? Certainly he's
"connected" to them in a number of ways, but you've picked up the trick to this smear game -- pick your words very carefully. (If you don't, you can get
nailed, even if you're a
Colter-esque hottie.) This is why the Swift Vets (and "Merrie Spaeth, a powerful public relations executive who has helped coordinate the efforts of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth") have to be careful, like
this:
- When asked if she had ever visited the White House during Mr. Bush's tenure, Ms. Spaeth initially said that she had been there only once, in 2002, when Kenneth Starr gave her a personal tour. But this week Ms. Spaeth acknowledged that she had spent an hour in the Old Executive Office Building, part of the White House complex, in the spring of 2003, giving Mr. Bush's chief economic adviser, Stephen Friedman, public speaking advice. Asked if it was possible that she had worked with other administration officials, Ms. Spaeth said, "The answer is 'no,' unless you refresh my memory.''
The President is careful, too. Bush campaign stops feature "Ask the President" town hall meetings where selected supporters get a turn with the mike. This is how Bush takes the high road:
- THE PRESIDENT: Yes, sir.
Q On behalf of Vietnam veterans -- and I served six tours over there -- we do support the President. I only have one concern, and that's on the Purple Heart, and that is, is that there are over 200,000 Vietnam vets that died from Agent Orange and were never -- no Purple Heart has ever been awarded to a Vietnam veteran because of Agent Orange because it's never been changed in the regulations. Yet, we've got a candidate for President out here with two self-inflicted scratches, and I take that as an insult. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you for your service. Six tours? Whew. That's a lot of tours.
Let's see, who've we got here? You got a question?
You're right. He certainly didn't comment on the accusations against Kerry there. That's some real brave leadership he showed. Jesus would have done something like that, right?
Maybe his spokesman is willing to say a little more:
- Q Let me ask it this way: The President has said and believes that John Kerry served honorably in Vietnam, right?
MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, he's made that very clear. We've made it very clear that we will not make his -- will never raise questions about his service. We haven't, and we won't.
Q This advertisement raises questions about his service, and in fact concludes that he served dishonorably. So the President thinks this ad is false, right?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, the issue here is these unregulated soft money groups that exist. The campaign finance reforms were passed in order to get rid of this kind of activity. Yet there is a loophole in the law, and the FEC has refused to address it. We think that all of this activity should be stopped.
Nope. Gee, club, I would think that someone with your dedication to the First Amendment would be a little concerned when the President of the United States is suggesting that political speech "should be stopped." I guess it's OK with you so long as it's part of this sort of smear and dodge, huh? Kerry saying that book stores should choose not sell lies is "book banning" to you, but the government says that political speech "should be stopped" and you're praising him for it.
