'Swift-boat' pros in demand in D.C. (Variety)

[Up2Late]

(Print out or save your copy NOW, before "the President" declares this article a danger to national security! I heard Harry Shearer read parts of this article today on his "Le Show" radio program, and thought it might raise a few eyebrows here.)

Posted: Sun., Feb. 5, 2006, 6:00am PT

'Swift-boat' pros in demand in D.C.

Spinmeisters go negative

By WILLIAM TRIPLETT

If you can construct believable stories with enough truth in them to smear somebody royally, boy, is there a pot of gold waiting for you in D.C.
Spin doctors are nothing new in politics, but a certain type -- equal parts scriptwriter, opposition researcher and ruthless street fighter -- is increasingly in demand, and for good reason. Just ask John Kerry, the former Democratic presidential candidate who became the target object of a new verb: "swift-boating...."

(clip)

...White House deputy chief of staff Karl Rove denied multiple reports of involvement with the Swift Boat campaign. But the hardball Republican operative Chris LaCivita was linked to it, along with multiple communications firms. Records show that media consulting firm Stevens Reed Curcio & Potholm was paid $276,000 for the Swift Boat campaign, and Creative Concepts, a Virginia firm, was paid $165,000 for repping both the Swift vets and the conservative book company Regnery Publishing, which issued a tome about Kerry's military service, "Unfit for Command."

(clip)

"Modern communication isn't about truth, it's about a resonant narrative," says Eric Dezenhall, a former Reagan administration aide and now president of his own crisis management firm. "The myth of PR is that you will educate and inform people. No. The public wants to be told in a story who to like and who to hate...."

(clip)

...If that sounds audacious, it's because, as Dezenhall says, "We're living in an age of audacity," another fact GOP spinmeisters understand and exploit superbly. "George Bush communicates in terms of audacity," Dezenhall says. Bush's response to questions about the wiretapping was to say that he's just trying to catch terrorists. Bold motivation, easily understood. "Democrats communicate in terms of complexity," Dezenhall says, referring to their windy explications of a need to pursue enemies within the rule of law as spelled out in various court ... (snorrrrrrrrrrre).

(more at link below)

<http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117937405?categoryid=18&cs=1>

[Jade Fox]

1. We live in an age of mendacity....

This story is so sad. What we've come to in this country.

[blm]

2. Patriot Project launched to protect vets smeared by political hitmen.

Non-Profit Advocacy Group to Defend Veterans Who Debate U.S. Foreign Policy

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The Patriot Project, a 501(c)(4) non-
profit advocacy group dedicated to defending veterans and veterans' families
who are attacked for their views on foreign policy, announced its formation
today in Washington, D.C.

The Patriot Project, http://www.patriotproject.com, will employ research,
public education, media outreach and a rapid response mechanism to expose the
organizations attacking the patriotism of veterans and their families who
challenge U.S. foreign policy.

In 2004, $40 million was spent by independent expenditure committees to
attack U.S. Senator John Kerry's patriotism. Kerry's commitment to his
country and service in Vietnam were questioned by these groups because he
chose to challenge U.S. policy in Vietnam when he returned from military
service in that country, and now, to question U.S. policy in Iraq. Recently,
U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) came under a similar orchestrated attack when he
advocated the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, with conservative groups
challenging his service and decorations in Vietnam. The families of fallen
soldiers in Iraq who have questioned the course of the war have also borne the
brunt of these coordinated attacks.

"The Patriot Project is dedicated to defending and supporting the right of
veterans and veterans' families, true patriots, to question the policies and
actions of their government, particularly with regard to armed conflict," said
Judith Droz Keyes, President of the Patriot Project's Board of Directors. "In
a democracy, citizens have a right, even a duty, to speak out when they
believe their government is wrong in policy or action. Veterans and their
families have more than earned that right."

Through seminars, conferences, media education, collaboration with other
content providers and outreach to policy makers, The Patriot Project will
provide research, content, testimony and expertise to assure accuracy and
honesty in the depiction of the experience and activism of veterans and their
families.

"We simply cannot remain silent while men and women who have served
proudly and honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States of America, and
their families, are attacked as unpatriotic for expressing their views on U.S.
foreign policy," said Christopher Ream, Vice President and Secretary of the
Board of Directors. "The Patriot Project will aggressively confront those who
misrepresent the combat experience of veterans or the activism of veterans and
their families." We expect this attack apparatus is preparing to repeat their
coordinated assaults against those who dare to question the war in Iraq or the
Administration's method of pursuing it, and we will not tolerate their lies
and unscrupulous methods."

The Patriot Project's Board of Directors includes:

Judith Droz Keyes -- President
Judith Droz Keyes is a partner in the international law firm of Morrison
& Foerster LLP, and has practiced labor and employment law in California
for more than 30 years. Keyes' husband, Lt. Donald Droz, a U.S. Naval
Academy graduate and Swift Boat Skipper (PCF-43), earned the Bronze Star
for action in the Mekong Delta before he was killed in action in April
1969. Keyes became a spokesperson for the anti-war effort. Keyes'
daughter, Tracy Droz Tragos, produced and directed the 2004 Emmy-award
winning documentary film "Be Good, Smile Pretty," about her father and
his death in Vietnam and the journey of his daughter to know him and to
understand that war and that time.

Christopher Ream -- Vice President and Secretary
Christopher Ream has practiced law in California since 1971. Mr. Ream
served in the U.S. Navy for four years (1964 through 1968), rising to the
rank of Lieutenant. He served as Chief Engineering Officer on the USS
Whitfield County (LST-1169) in the Western Pacific, where the ship was
principally engaged in combat landings and resupply in Vietnam. He was
then the Skipper of a Swift Boat on combat patrols in the coastal waters
of Vietnam. Among other decorations, he was awarded the Bronze Star with
Combat V.

David Thorne -- Treasurer
During a thirty year career in small business development David Thorne
successfully founded and operated businesses in publishing, political
consulting, real estate, and investment management services. He recently
sold Body and Soul magazine to Martha Stewart Omnimedia and currently is
a Founder and Director of Adviser Investment Management, Inc, the
nation's leading investment specialists in Vanguard and Fidelity mutual
funds. Mr. Thorne served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 to 1970, completing
service as a Lieutenant. He was stationed aboard the USS Maddox (DD-731)
patrolling the Coast of North Vietnam. He also spent a year in Vietnam
engaged in harbor operations in Danang, Vung Tau, and Saigon. Mr. Thorne
is the co-editor with George Butler of The New Soldier (Macmillan, 1971).

Edward Elliott "Skip" Barker
Edward Elliott "Skip" Barker is an Alabama lawyer, cotton farmer and
Vietnam Navy Veteran. He has practiced law in Alabama since 1972 and
grown cotton since 1995. Barker served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 to
1969, completing active duty as a Lieutenant. In 1968-1969, Barker
served in Vietnam as a Skipper of a Swift Boat, PCF-31, in the lower
Mekong Delta and was awarded the Silver Star for combat action. He then
served on Admiral Elmo Zumwalt's staff in Saigon as Assistant Officer in
Charge of the Naval Forces Vietnam, Small Boat School as part of the
"Vietnamization" program. He retired from the Navy in 1994 with the rank
of Captain.

About the Patriot Project
Organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, The
Patriot Project will use research and outreach in public forums where the
issue of "patriotism" is being debated or the patriotism of a veteran or a
veteran's family member is under assault. The Patriot Project can accept
unlimited contributions from individuals, unions and corporations.
Contributions are not tax deductible. Visit us on the web at,
http://www.PatriotProject.com .

[Up2Late]

5. That sounds like good news, but I always warn folks to be careful of...

...that "PRNewswire." The site is not an actual "newswire" but rather part of a Mega Corporation and a place for placing "press releases" that often are not news, but rather corporate PR. I think the Parent Corp is based in S.E. Asia or the Middle East. I've read a lot of bogus "news" come from that site, some times it's good, but more often it's just advertising disguised as news.

They are not as bad as "Fox 'news'", "News Corp" or UPI, but it's always good to double source "PRNews Wire." I'm not saying that this story is not true, just to be very careful about what you read from them.

[blm]

6. I hear ya...but this is a legit organization. The people involved are

pretty well-known in vet circles and they're preparing for 2006 and 2008.

[joe1991]

3. catapulting the propaganda

"If you've retired, you don't have anything to worry about -- third time I've said that. (Laughter.) I'll probably say it three more times. See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." (Applause.)

www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050524-3.html

[C_U_L8R]

4. Wanted: Dirty Tricksters

Boy I'd love to cram that "resonant narrative" up
that weasel of a flack's butt... but no worries here...
the truth has a way of catching up with these crooks and liars.

[blm]

7. I dunno - Bush was a dirty trickster for years, and somehow media avoids

mentioning that greater part of his resume.