October Surprise? Smear ad with decorated Vietnam vet

[mcar]

I was just talking to my 17 YO son, a good and loyal liberal. Unfortunately, most of his friends in our fundie area are die-hard bushbots.

He told me his friend told him that Bush is coming out with a new ad on Friday that will ensure that no veteran will vote for Kerry. Apparently it features this guy who’s the most decorated Vietnam veteran (Col. Somebody) saying that Kerry was getting chummy with the Viet Cong in France while he was rotting in a prison in Vietnam.

I just lost it – I told my son that if this is the kind of discourse people want and accept, then we deserve what we get. I told him to ask his friend to name one honorable thing Bush had done in this campaign or to name one thing that Bush has said while campaigning that wasn’t a) a lie or b) a smear against Kerry. If this is what the republicans and “undecideds” want, a person who has never won a political campaign without destroying the character of his opponent, a person who has nothing to stand on and a person who will stop at nothing to win, then that is their choice. But, they have lost any and all claim to the words “honor,” “dignity,” “ethical behavior,” “honesty.”

You get the drift. I’m still shaking. I’m so sick of this campaign and of dealing with idiots. We have sunk so low in the mud that we are not recognizable anymore. And the media just smiles and breathlessly reports on every smear and lie as if it is news.

I think I’ll move to Canada. Or Ireland. Or New Zealand. Somewhere that’s not here and not so hateful.

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Ummm...BUSH is coming out with it?

That's what they said? Didn't Bush say he served honorably?

This will backfire like they cannot imagine.

[mcar]

3. Don't know if Bush or another group is coming out with it

I should clarify that. Remember, I'm getting my info from a teenager :)

[flowomo]

2. no surprise.... just more of the same....

n/t

[Bush was AWOL]

4. I think the swifties are wasting their money

They've had maximum impact. Anyone that could be changed by these assholes already has. It did some damage in August, but I don't expect it to do any more.

[wishlist]

5. This is indeed the well-coordinated Swiftliars/Sinclair October surprise

This has been planned well in advance by the entire RW conglomerate to knock down Kerry after the debates. They were well aware that Kerry would shine in the debates when voters finally got a chance to actually see him out of the fog of the smear attacks.

Only hope is that this garbage gets clearly identified as sheer desperation last minute politics designed to tip the election to Bush. I was glad to see that even CNN's coverage of the Sinclair film includes prominent use of the word propaganda. The networks are pointing out that it is unprecedented for a major media outlet to come out with programming so clearly aimed at influencing the election at the last minute. The fact that anti-Kerry ads are being released at this time covering the same subject matter about the POW's makes it abundantly clear that the whole thing is sheer politics at its worst.

Kerry will need to get prominent media coverage to counterract these attacks from the generals and veterans who support him. Hopefully Democratic spokes persons will be effective in dismissing this October surprise and focusing attention back where it needs to be, on Bush's lousy record in office. John Edwards took this tack last night on Jay Leno, where he dismissed these attacks as simply a diversion from Bush's disastrous record.

[Dogmudgeon]

6. That's been out for a while

And I was under the impression he was in Paris talking to the VC representatives to try to get the POWs home -- because Tricky Dick was avoiding the issue.

--bkl

[PsN2Wind]

7. Point him (and them)

to Colonel David Hackworths column and his belief that there will have to be a draft in order to continue the festivities in Iraq.
Hackworth came back from VietNam and also protested against the war there. His military credentials are, I'm sure, more impressive
than whoever the wingers are pulling out now.
The prospect of a draft might focus the attention of your sons friends. It seems that a huge number of supporters of the war only support it in the abstract, that is, when someone else or someone elses kid is fighting it.
Point out also that if there is a draft, that many of us that have served in the military, will be active in making sure there are not the exemptions that allowed Cheney five deferments or Bush to fly the friendly skies of Texas.

[mcar]

10. Good advice

I will do just that. Thanks :)

[mcar]

11. Good advice

I will do just that. Thanks :)

[RoyalWickedness]

8. Totally desperate and ineffective

For several reasons:

1. This dead horse has already been beaten by the Smearboat vets; they've gotten as much mileage from it as they ever will. Having one more decorated vet on the bandwagon is not going to make one iota of difference, especially given the fact that:

2. Kerry has a LONG list of decorated vets/present and former military commanders endorsing him. I can't lay my hands on it at the moment, but someone posted it here previously, I'm sure someone can dig it up.

3. There are MANY, MANY Vietnam Vets who are wholeheartedly behind Kerry. These are the same guys who fought with him (unlike Shrub) and protested with him when he got home.

4. People, in general, are sick to death of refighting Vietnam. They want the candidates to discuss the issues of today, not 35 years ago. Attack ads like this are only going to piss them off and prove the Bushies' desperation.

[Claire Beth]

9. I honestly do not believe....

that it will have much affect. The Swiftboat liars ad's did their damage and Kerry bounced back, so anyone who was affected in a negative way towards Kerry has either already changed their vote or made their mind up one way or the other.

[mcar]

12. Thanks to all who've replied to this

I think I had just reached my melting point with all the smear and lies. You are all so sane and logical.

[blm]

13. The MOST decorated vet is Col. David Hackworth and he supports KERRY.

.