WP: Web Site Attacks Critic of War (the Swift-Boating of Murtha)

[UpInArms]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/13/AR2006011301736.html

Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), the former Marine who is an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq, has become the latest Democrat to have his Vietnam War decorations questioned.

In a tactic reminiscent of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth assault on Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) during the 2004 presidential campaign, a conservative Web site yesterday quoted Murtha opponents as questioning the circumstances surrounding the awarding of his two Purple Hearts.

David Thibault, editor in chief of the Cybercast News Service, said the issue of Murtha's medals from 1967 is relevant now "because the congressman has really put himself in the forefront of the antiwar movement." Thibault said: "He has been placed by the Democratic Party and antiwar activists as a spokesman against the war above reproach."

<snip>

Cybercast is part of the conservative Media Research Center, run by L. Brent Bozell III, who accused some in the media of ignoring the Swift Boat charges, but Thibault said it operates independently. He said the unit, formerly called the Conservative News Service, averages 110,000 readers, mainly conservative, and provides material for other Web sites such as GOPUSA. "We won't run anything against anybody if we don't have the goods," he said.

...more...

[saigon68]

1. L. Brent Bozell III = Scum

[bluestateguy]

2. It's high time we start doing this

Duke Cunningham's war record

Did John McCain give aid and comfort to the North Vietnamese while he was in captivity? Hmmm?

[still_one]

3. no you don't have to go on their war record go on what the have done

mccain voted against making Martin Luther King day a national holiday
mccain took bribes in the S&L scandal
mccain honored george wallace as a hero

cunningham is a felon, who helped make money off the lives of Americans in Iraqs

There is much more on those two scums. You do NOT have to slam their war records. The real problem is the dems won't even slam their current policies, and that is what is bad

[Toots]

10. No it isn't and I take strong offense that you would suggest such a thing

We should never ever ever disparage our veterans. Ever.....

[msongs]

23. but it is ok to disparage our veteran, George W BusH? nt

[NashVegas]

32. No, You Need a Different Approach

What's needed is a four-pronged approach:

One to go after the "figureheads" - the political leaders - one to promote our guy, one to go after the supporting organizations, and one to respond to attacks on our nom.

Say Jebbie gets the nom in two years. You devote one column to bringing him down, another column to making his influential supporters so busy with their own fires they can't be effective in coming to his rescue. The third group concentrates on making our nominee look attractive. The fourth is there to repond to the Swift Boaters or anyone like them.

We're in a war.

[Greeby]

4. Fat chance

Murtha is no Kerry, he doesn't take this shit lying down

[karynnj]

13. Nor did Kerry

He successfully fought the charges twice in the spring. In August when they returned, he had surrogates out denying the charges - part of the problem was that there were hundreds of charges in the book. The cable media rather than rejecting the entire book after several major lies were proven beyond a doubt (ie people saying they were in places the records say they weren't) and blasting the Bush campaign for its ties with this, the media demanded the surrogates respond to other charges.

[wordpix]

18. I hope to hear from Murtha & friends in the military to stop this bushit

[salin]

5. I really believe that there is a tipping point

on this tactic. Used one too many times (starting with the Ga Senate race in 2002), there will be a cynical backlash - will it be with Murtha? Hard to tell. But when it happens - the efforts (the swiftie efforts, that is) will themselves begin to be treated with the ridicule (outside of progressive circles where this is already the case). The attack on Murtha could easily be the tipping point because of his very long track record of support for the military - that includes (unlike others who just give lip service) regular visits to wounded servicemen at Walter Reed, regular discussions with military leaders to get real input. Point being - he has a lot of friends, and he comes off as sincere in his 'friends of the military' position due to a long record of actions.

At some point the public is going to grow sick of the attacks on the service records as a means for political "points". Here's to hoping that we are now at that point in time.

[liveoaktx]

6. Bozell was Countdown's Worst Person in the World

Worst Person in the World VIDEO

[mikehiggins]

7. Even if the generals won't go along with the administration

attacks on Murtha, there are always some whores out there happy to step up to the plate.

That article contains at least two flat-out lies, both in terms of Cybercast's "independence" from Media Research, and "we won't run anything against anybody if we don't have the goods." Raising the question of the validity of Murtha's medals isn't an "attack" that has to be fact-checked, it is just a question. The banality of these liars' lies is stunning.

[farmbo]

8. It begins: The goony Right spin the lies...the WP & NYT report the"debate"

Bush is in his heaven and all's right with the world.

:grr:

[UpInArms]

9. About Media Research Center (MRC) and CNS

http://www.mrc.org/about/aboutwelcome.asp

The mission of the Media Research Center is to bring balance and responsibility to the news media. Leaders of America's conservative movement have long believed that within the national news media a strident liberal bias existed that influenced the public's understanding of critical issues. On October 1, 1987, a group of young determined conservatives set out to not only prove - through sound scientific research - that liberal bias in the media does exist and undermines traditional American values, but also to neutralize its impact on the American political scene. What they launched that fall is the now acclaimed
--- Media Research Center (MRC).

The MRC, headquartered in Alexandria, VA, began modestly with a handful of employees, a black and white TV, and a rented computer. The first order of business was to organize a research operation second to none. For years, conservatives could only present the anecdotal evidence of liberal journalists' bias - a question in this interview, a statement in that report. However, anecdotal examples of bias do not prove a liberal agenda. Only through thorough, comprehensive, and ongoing analysis based on quantitative and qualitative research can one document liberal bias in the media.

That moved MRC founder and president, L. Brent Bozell III, to take the necessary steps to develop the MRC's News Tracking System (NTS), a custom-designed computer database and archiving system that today provides the conservative movement's now-thriving media personalities and the public alike, with the evidence necessary to confront the liberal media. This one-of-a-kind research operation combines analytical savvy with state-of-the-art computer technology, providing the means to scientifically track the short and long-range trends of any issue in the media. From a $339,000 initial annual budget, the MRC has grown to be the nation's largest and most sophisticated television and monitoring operation, now employing 60 professional staff with a $6 million annual budget.

<snip>

Cybercast News Service (CNSNews.com) is an indispensable on-line source for conservatives in the media, public policy and at the grassroots level, for news as it should be reported---accurate, balanced, and unfiltered.

<snip>

What Others Say About the MRC
Read what Rush Limbaugh, Bill Bennett, Bob Novak and other leading conservatives say about the Media Research Center.

...more...

[Karmageddon]

11. Wolf! Wolf! Help, the wolf is coming! - how frikking pathetic.

It's reached the point of hilarity when they pull shit like this. Freepers aside, even republicans don't believe them anymore. Let them keep crying wolf (and just crying). Every time they do, it makes them look weaker and whinier and more pathetic. Nobody likes a cry-baby. Let them keep crying. Hell, encourage it.

And then laugh your ass off at them. To their face, if possible.

[jedr]

12. In the words of an other " war hero"......"Bring 'em on";

This is the last time in U.S. history that myself and my vietnam vet friends will let this happen... Prepare for the fight of your lives you draft dogging bunch of bastards !

[SillyGoose]

14. These filthy, disgusting attacks on our veterans have got to stop.

How many more veterans will have to be victimized by these type of loathsome attacks before the American people awake from their stupor and say enough is enough?

The audacity of this group in attacking a decorated veteran while defending the failed policies of a bunch of chicken-hawks is just astounding.

[SillyGoose]

15. dupe

[Rebellious Republican]

16. My LTTE to Cybercast!!!

Keep in mind I wrote this from a non political perspective, only as a Vet. I find it is much more effective.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am a Decorated Navy Veteran, 1978-1988 active duty. It occurs to me it has become popular sport to smear veterans that have distinguished themselves in times of valor. Who also have chosen to continue to serve our country as elected representatives of 'We the People". These tactics serve no one honorably; they only call into question the validity of the military awards system. It questions any vet who has ever earned an award, it makes people skeptical and places doubt in their minds. So when someone like me displays them, they have a subconscious reaction to ask me if they mean anything!

This tactic was used against the Honorable John McCain, a hero's hero, when he ran in the 2000 primaries. Stories surfaced about his loyalty while in Hanoi as a POW, that was an all time low in politics. Did anyone bother to talk about his history on board the USS Forestal, how he survived the biggest disaster on aboard an aircraft carrier in Naval History. He was then given the option to go home, but he chose to stay and serve. It was after that when he "intercepted a surface to air missile with his plane" and after surviving that was captured. As far as his time in Hanoi, very few people actually know what it is like in a Vietnamese POW camp and try to survive. No matter what happened in Hanoi, one thing is for sure; at least he chose to be there!

I have seen stories in the past dishonoring George Herbert Walker Bush for his honorable service in WWII, as you are probably familiar with them as well. After 44 years of silence, Mierzejewski, who also was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, told the New York Post that Bush had abandoned his crew to death when there was another choice.


You can add Senator Max Cleland to that smear list, guess what, at least he was there. He was not flying the friendly skies of Texas or hiding behind some college deferment, if he had been, then he would probably still have all of his limbs!

We have seen the trashing of John Kerry's honorable service in Vietnam, again, one thing is for sure, he was in Vietnam, and there by choice!

I see a reoccurring theme in all of this; maybe the US Congress needs to review their awards criteria, certainly decorations must be handed out like candy. I will keep that in mind when I look at my Naval Expeditionary Forces medal (Beirut "83") or my National Defense medal, Sea Service deployment ribbon, Naval Enlisted Aircrewman Wings or any of the other four worthless pieces junk that they gave me.

A well read news organization such as yourselves, CNSNews should be ashamed for allowing it self to be used in this disgusting tactic.

I am one Vet who stands behind all Veterans that have received military awards,This type of slander needs to stop, regardless of who is being attacked.

Please do not allow any further degradation to the military awards system, that’s all some of us have. We are not wealthy, we enjoy a humble existence, content with the knowledge that our value to America is not with material wealth, rather, it is in our distinguished service to our nation. The only thing that we have to show for this when we grow old, are our medals.

To someone who has never served or been in combat, this may seem trivial, however there are many vets like myself who feel that all our awards are being cheapened by these attacks. I beg you to stop these attacks on politicians who have SERVED our nation in combat.

xxxxxx xxxxx
xxx xxxx xxxx. xxx.
St. Petersburg, Fl. 33705


Quote by George Herbert Walker Bush
“An allegation can be made against a public figure, or a private figure, or a neighbor. Say it once loudly and get enough coverage, or spread enough disinformation, and the person can be severely damaged.”

[jedr]

17. Great . my friends and I are already in gear,

may we use your Ltte as a template? Time to get movin' by the way . I noticed your reference to the Forestall, my Friends and I all served aboard her 66-70, were you also aboard?

[Rebellious Republican]

19. Please feel free, I would be honored. N/T

[wordpix]

21. thanks, rebelliousrepub, and thank you for your service to the country

Chickenhawks, take note you bastards!!!

[salin]

22. Very powerful ltte

:thumbsup:

[DemonFighterLives]

24. Great Letter

Does anyone know if Bozell is a chicken hawk?
I don't like name calling, but the amount of anti veteran stuff coming from chickehawks is out of line.
:argh:

[NYC]

26. Well said.

So true.

[oasis]

30. Solid. (eom)

[Rebellious Republican]

31. Thanks guys, I am humbled. NT

[karynnj]

20. What is scary about this is the prededent

With Kerry, he did respond and the liars went away twic in the spring. They resurfaced in August (when a weird twist in the campaign finance law made spending very hard for the Democrats).

The first Murtha swiftboating attacks were far less detailed than this one and these seemed to have backfired. There was nothing that Murtha did or sad that Kerry didn't in spring, 2004. Murtha actually had the very strong support of Kerry decrying these lies in November. Kerry strongly denounced it on the floor of the Senate and in at least 3 interviews in the next 2 days and many since. Teresa Heinz Kerry wrote a very moving op-ed in support of Murtha for a Pennsylvania paper (I wanted to get the link to it - but DU seems to have problems now on DU-P and the Kerry group)

This resurfacing of the issue with a detailed story - that quotes people who can't talk now is despicable. (They even point to these things being said decades ago before Murtha was seen as anti-war, unlike Kerry who they say was attacked because he was anti-war in the 70s - nice that they acknowledge that now) This needs to be hit down effectively again - and it would be great if friends in the military did it, but if not the Democrats need to get his back on this.

This type of charge is more effectively fought by others rather than the person slimed. It's very hard to be your own character witness. Murtha is being asked to release all his records - how familiar. This is a fishing expedition - as it was for Kerry - they are hoping there is something in the long years of service that will reflect badly. (Kerry, on his web site, had already put out more information on his service than anyone before him - you could see fitness reports than spanned the time - they were uniformly glowing praise, some written by SBVT) This is NOT about truth.

[Orrin_73]

25. Unbelievable now they are smearing Murtha

these people have no honour. They are scum.

[DemonFighterLives]

27. Dem. attacking Murtha

Former representative Don Bailey (D-Pa.), who was quoted in the article, confirmed his account to The Washington Post yesterday.

In a conversation on the House floor in the early 1980s, said Bailey, who won a Silver Star and three Bronze Stars in Vietnam, Murtha told him he did not deserve his Purple Hearts. He recalled Murtha saying: "Hey, I didn't do anything like you did. I got a little scratch on the cheek." Murtha's spokeswoman would not address that account.

Bailey, who lost a House race to Murtha after a 1982 redistricting, said "Jack's a coward, and he's a liar" for subsequently denying the conversation. "That just really burned me," he said.

Can we say sore loser? With Dems. like this who needs Reps.
Most of the anti- Murtha boys lost in elections to him.
Big L Losers!

[depakid]

28. And the Post just HAS to msake sure everyone see it

the "conservative" Media Research Center. That, along with "laiars club" is about what the Post has become.

[karynnj]

29. Pretty disenuous - right?

Kurtz can say I didn't say it - I said Bozell did. But Bozell doesn't have the distribution outside the radical right the post did.

The question is how do the Democrats deal with this? The problem is that a person could read this and at least come away with the idea that there may have been something there - note the whole thing about ASKING for medals. In 2004, it became clear that medical reports led to purple hearts. (ie neither Murtha or Kerry submitted a "I want a purple heart" form - I never sereved in the military and am taking the word of posters on various blogs here.)