Not So Swift—Round-up

The unrelenting, to-the-word literalism with which Kerry's critics have pursued his record (and ignored official Navy and government documents regarding the same) would not seem to apply to the members of the SBVT organization. Why, for example. . .

. . . is John O'Neill lying about his being in Cambodia?

[CNN's Joe Johns]: The co-author of the book "Unfit for Command," former swift boat commander John O'Neill said Kerry made up a story about being in Cambodia beyond the legal borders of the Vietnam War in 1968.

O'Neill said no one could cross the border by river and he claimed in an audio tape that his publicist played to CNN that he, himself, had never been to Cambodia either. But in 1971, O'Neill said precisely the opposite to then President Richard Nixon.

O'NEILL: I was in Cambodia, sir. I worked along the border on the water.

NIXON: In a swift boat?

O'NEILL: Yes, sir.

I wouldn't take his word on Cambodia.

And why is Steve Gardner lying?

Stephen Gardner has been touted by the anti-Kerry group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and by conservative hosts as a singularly authoritative critic with firsthand knowledge of Senator John Kerry's (D-MA) record in Vietnam because Gardner -- unlike all the other members of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth -- actually served on a swift boat that Kerry commanded. Gardner has questioned Kerry's integrity; has claimed personal knowledge of the circumstances leading to Kerry's first Purple Heart; and has spoken with authority about the events leading to Kerry's Bronze Star. Fellow anti-Kerry Swift Boat Vets member Larry Thurlow has also cited Gardner as eyewitness support for his accusations against Kerry and against Kerry's first Purple Heart. Yet while Gardner did serve as a gunner under Kerry's command on PCF (Patrol Craft Fast) 44, he has admitted that he -- just like the rest of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth claiming that Kerry is lying about his medals -- was not present for the incidents leading to Kerry's receipt of any medals or any of Kerry's three Purple Hearts.

Gardner admitted that "he was not on the boat with Kerry during the incidents for which Kerry got his medals," reported The Columbus Dispatch on August 6. And as a guest on Michael Savage's radio show, Savage Nation, on August 2, Gardner said that of Kerry's three Purple Hearts, he could only attest to the first; Gardner later admitted to Savage that he was "not on the boat with him [Kerry]" when that injury occurred.

I wouldn't take his word on Purple Hearts.

And if Bush has no connection to this organization, why is SBVT founder Bob Parry listed as co-host for a Bush/Cheney fundraiser?

Houston home builder Bob Perry, a key bankroller for Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, is listed as the co-host of a New York City fund-raiser next week for the Harris County GOP, whose guest list includes President Bush's top political adviser.

Mr. Perry, who has given $200,000 to the veterans' group to help launch the anti-John Kerry ads that question the Democrat's Vietnam War record, has denied any links to Mr. Bush or the national Republican Party regarding the Swift Boat Veterans' campaign.

Bill Miller, a spokesman for Mr. Perry, said that while the prolific GOP donor has given money to the local party, he was surprised to find his name on the invitation.

"He told me, 'I never approved the use of my name. I'm not going to be there,' " Mr. Miller said.

Mr. Perry also does not plan to attend the convention in New York City, Mr. Miller said.

Invitations to the Harris County reception and fund-raiser Sept. 1 at Tavern on the Green name Mr. Perry as an event sponsor, and those on the invitation list include former President George Bush, presidential adviser Karl Rove and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

I wouldn't take Perry's word or Bush's word that there's no connection.

Furthermore, why is Bush's legal counsel advising SBVT (possibly pro bono)?

The Bush campaign's top outside lawyer said he has given legal advice to the group of veterans attacking Senator John Kerry's Vietnam War record and antiwar activism in a book, television commercials and countless appearances on cable news.

The lawyer, Benjamin Ginsberg, said that the group, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, called him in July to ask for his help and that he agreed. He said that he had yet to work out payment details with the group and that he might consider doing the work pro bono.

Why would he work for them for free? Surely there's money somewhere to pay for it.

Speaking of money, just a few months ago, reports Roll Call, "Top Republican campaign officials [began] meeting [. . .] to lay the groundwork to raise and spend $50 million or more on a soft-money advertising and get-out-the-vote blitz in support of President Bush." What is it about 527s that makes Bush so flippety-floppity?

James Francis Jr., who put together the 1999 to 2000 Bush Pioneers, one of the most successful fundraising operations in U.S. history, has been asked to chair the lead GOP organization, called Progress for America (PFA), Francis and other Republican activists said yesterday.

[. . .]

Tom Synhorst, a direct-mail and phone-bank specialist, is a key strategic adviser to PFA. He is a partner in a direct mail and voter contact firm that has major contracts with both the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign and the Republican National Committee. Brian McCabe is the executive director.

The backers of PFA are working at top speed to revitalize and change the legal structure of the organization in order to capitalize on the FEC's May 13 decision to postpone adoption of rules governing the soft-money activities of "527" organizations.

[. . .]

This week's National Journal reported Francis's and Synhorst's involvement with PFA, along with James W. Cicconi, AT&T Corp.'s top Washington lobbyist.

Synhorst's company, Feather, Larson & Synhorst, has already been paid at least $1.6 million by the Bush-Cheney campaign. Tony Feather, the lead partner, was political director of the 2000 Bush campaign.

Feather founded PFA in 2001 but withdrew from the organization last year after receiving legal advice that his involvement with PFA and the Bush-Cheney campaign could violate federal laws barring coordination between the groups.

And—wait a second, let me get this straight—isn't Ben Ginsberg, Bush's top outside legal counsel and adviser to SBVT—also chief counsel to PFA? I had no idea that Republican hatchetry was an area of practice.

It's a crying shame that intelligent people are swallowing this smear hook, line, and sinker, but recognize it as the latest in a series of character stands (McCain's child is black, McCain's war record is questionable, McCain's unhinged, Gore's too robotic, Gore's unhinged, Gore's too liberal, Gore's not the guy you want to have a beer with, Kerry's not the guy you want to have a beer with, Kerry's not strong on security, 9-11, Kerry's a flip-flopper, Kerry's too liberal, Kerry's the number one most liberal Senator, 9-11, Kerry's unhinged, and Kerry's unfit to command) upon which our President depends.

Posted by Kriston at August 25, 2004 12:25 PM