Kerry Takes On A Swiftboat Liar

[KharmaTrain]

I saw this yesterday and haven't seen this posted on GD...

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/02/28/senator-kerry-confronts-swift-boat-funder/

While it's nice to see Senator Kerry finally get some satisfaction, this is what he should have been doing back in 2004. The SBVT lies were transparent and easily debunked — by official Navy records no less. Although he didn't get much help from the media who refused to call out the blatant lies, inconsistencies and discrepancies, he could have defused this easily. Instead he ignored and, in turn, validated them.

This is a 10 plus minute video so dial-up users beware. It's incredible this regime had the cajones to put Fox up for this job and then send him to the Senate for confirmation. Now will he be confirmed?

[blm]

1. The media refused to give Kerry's counterattacks on swifts any airtime.

DU research forum has the info that really points to media's complicity in controlling that story to benefit the swifts.

[KharmaTrain]

2. Excellent Stuff...Highly Recommended

I've seen the posts about this and the corporate media's combination of complicity and cowardice in the sliming of Kerry and their parroting of the RNC and hate radio talking points on this issue.

Just the fact this confrontation wasn't reported anywhere that I saw yesterday says that complicity continues.

Thanks for all you do for DU...

Cheers...

:hi:

[blm]

10. Thankyou for taking the time to check the Research Forum.

Seriously, thankyou.

Most people won't bother, though the Research Forum here was specifically set up to help Democrats debunk the media lies and GOP spin.

[KharmaTrain]

12. I Have Used It In My "Truth Squadding"

Toying with ignorant hate radio hosts and watching them spin and sputter.

The corporate media will never cede to Democrats as long as they see us standing in their way for more consolidation and special regulation. Kerry, in specific, was one of the harshest critics of the Telcom bill and in 2004, the major broadcasting corporations were trying to ram through even more monopolization...and almost got away with it passing were it not for McCain and the NRA (of all people) getting this damning bill repealed before it was enacted. Still, the large companies are able to own more than one TV station in major markets...which was already underway and a total repeal of duopoly laws...which Kerry has supported...would cost every major broadcasting entity billions. They wanted him destroyed...and still do.

It's time to push Congress to do the long promised review of Dereg '96...which was supposed to occur in 2002 and never did. If people want to take back the airwaves, repealing this legislation is a good start.

Cheers...

[MH1]

3. Kerry didn't "ignore" the attacks. The media refused to cover his side.

Eric Boehlert has a whole chapter on it in his book "Lapdogs".

Also, now what is happening is that the :puke: M$M is acting as if the ONLY thing Kerry questioned Fox on was the SBVT stuff - as if that was all that mattered.

HARDLY. Kerry spent the first 20 minutes of his time grilling Fox about issues around the relationship between Belgium and the U.S. - and Fox was squirming in that part because he was so evidently unprepared.

It would be nice that C & L posted the video, but they CONTINUE to validate the ant-Kerry smears - both the post-2004 notion that he "didn't fight" (bullshit - see Boehlert) and now, that this was ALL he talked about in the hearing.

On the second part at least, Rove and Norquist are getting quite the chuckle, I'm sure.

[blm]

4. The meme that he 'didn't fight back' protects the media from being seen as guilty

for its complicity.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Look At The $$$$$$

In the last weeks of the '04 campaign, the Slimeboaters threw millions at television stations...nationally and locally. This was like manna from heaven for the corporations that own our cables and airwaves and they just couldn't get those checks fast enough. As always, if you want to see the real story...follow the money. And it'll be the same again in '08.

[blm]

9. That's an excellent point - the corpmedia wasn't going to turn down those MILLIONS

of dollars even though the charges were already well-debunked by print media and the Navy by then.

And certainly not interested in correcting the lies against someone who threatened their status quo.

Kerry Seeks to Reverse FCC's "Wrongheaded Vote"

Commission Decision May Violate Laws Protecting Small Businesses; Kerry to File Resolution of Disapproval

Monday, June 2, 2003

WASHINGTON - Senator John Kerry today announced plans to file a "Resolution of Disapproval" as a means to overturn today's decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to raise media ownership caps and loosen various media cross-ownership rules.
Kerry will soon introduce the resolution seeking to reverse this action under the Congressional Review Act and Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act on the grounds that the decision may violate the laws intended to protect America's small businesses and allow them an opportunity to compete.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Kerry expressed concern that the FCC's decision will hurt localism, reduce diversity, and will allow media monopolies to flourish. This raises significant concerns about the potential negative impacts the decision will have on small businesses and their ability to compete in today's media marketplace.

In a statement released earlier today regarding the FCC's decision, Kerry said:

"Nothing is more important in a democracy than public access to debates and information, which lift up our discourse and give Americans an opportunity to make honest informed choices. Today's wrongheaded vote by the Republican members of the FCC to loosen media ownership rules shows a dangerous indifference to the consolidation of power in the hands of a few large entities rather than promoting diversity and independence at the local level. The FCC should do more than rubber stamp the business plans of narrow economic interests.

"Today's vote is a complete dereliction of duty. The Commissioners are well aware that these rules greatly influence the competitive structure of the industry and protect the public's access to multiple sources of information and media. It is the Commission's responsibility to ensure that the rules serve our national goals of diversity, competition, and localism in media. With today's vote, they shirked that responsibility and have dismissed any serious discussion about the impact of media consolidation on our own democracy."

[KharmaTrain]

5. I Didn't See Any Coverage On This

I'll let C&Ls comment (which please note was theirs, not mine and hopefully designated as such) speak for itself.

From my viewing, I saw Kerry's query in the context of Fox's judgement...as well as a damning indictment of how callous his attackers were and continue to be rewarded for their tactics. Be assured, Mr. Fox and his checkbook will be back next year...just this time we're gonna be watching him. Now, will any of our candidates be doing the same?

I didn't see any coverage of this confrontation anywhere last night and kept looking here to see if anyone else had picked up on this.

[RedStateShame]

7. I caught one person talking about it last night. Wanna guess who?

Comedian Sean Hannity. He was actually putting on airs that Kerry couldn't get over the smear tactics in 2004. Really? Couldn't get over something?! A group of fat, sorry veterans who bitched about Kerry's awakening that---surprise, surprise---the Vietnam war was a mistake in the first place SOME 30 YEARS AGO, and that douchebag wants to talk about somebody who can't get over something. If I were Kerry, I'd make none of those Swiftboat shit-stains got any job above dog catcher.

[MH1]

11. Oh, I understand, and you designated clearly that it was C & L comment

Likewise I hope I was clear that I was irked at them, not you, for continuing to promote that nonsense.

The hearing was covered widely here though -

120 recs on Greatest (Bob Geiger post) -
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3138096

A live blog diary was top of recommended list at dailykos from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday.

But I can see, if you weren't looking at those times, you would have missed it. I am glad you picked up on it and posted for folks who missed it - thanks for that!

[KharmaTrain]

13. Thank You

I didn't check GD-Politics... :spank:

[wisteria]

8. Kerry did fight these jerks and his military record was out there.

The SBV were a well funded group that were able to spread the fraud and lies about Kerry's past because the media went long with it. The senator did fight these charges in 04. Some of the problem was a lack of available money to pay for the counter attacks in the media and also missing in action McAuliffe- DNC chair at the time.
I am disappointed Crooksandliers aren't portraying the past correctly.