Bush has yet to denounce the anti-Kerry ads created by the Swift Boat Veterans, a 527 group. Kerry explains that his silence on this matter suggests that Bush condones the ads, stating specifically "He wants them to do his dirty work."
I think Kerry is right in this assessment. Why, it is the same tactics we saw in the Republican Caucuses of 2000, in which Bush's henchmen smeared the then popular rival candidate John McCain.
Their tactic seems straight from the halls of high school--one group of kids is envious of the other groups achievements and sudden popularity so they belittle, make fun of, mock, intimidate, smear, and play practical jokes on them to get that sense of superiority. It's plain shameful that they are doing this to a legitimate veteran who received legitimate awards. (NPR reported this evening that a Washington Post article validates that what Kerry has said about his service indeed is true.)
Kerry's remarks to the International Association of Fire Fighters today about his service were noteworthy. Atrios posted them and I'd like to publish them here for your review too:
Over the last week or so, a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has been attacking me. Of course, this group isn’t interested in the truth - and they’re not telling the truth. They didn’t even exist until I won the nomination for president.
But here’s what you really need to know about them. They’re funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Republican contributor out of Texas. They’re a front for the Bush campaign. And the fact that the President won’t denounce what they’re up to tells you everything you need to know-he wants them to do his dirty work.
Thirty years ago, official Navy reports documented my service in Vietnam and awarded me the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Thirty years ago, this was the plain truth. It still is. And I still carry the shrapnel in my leg from a wound in Vietnam.
As firefighters you risk your lives everyday. You know what it’s like to see the truth in the moment. You’re proud of what you’ve done-and so am I.
Of course, the President keeps telling people he would never question my service to our country. Instead, he watches as a Republican-funded attack group does just that. Well, if he wants to have a debate about our service in Vietnam, here is my answer: "Bring it on."
I’m not going to let anyone question my commitment to defending America-then, now, or ever. And I’m not going to let anyone attack the sacrifice and courage of the men who saw battle with me.
And let me make this commitment today: their lies about my record will not stop me from fighting for jobs, health care, and our security - the issues that really matter to the American people.
The situation in Iraq is a mess. That is the President’s responsibility and he owes the American people an answer.
America is on track to lose more jobs than it’s gained under George Bush and he supports a tax code that rewards companies for shipping jobs overseas. He owes the American people an answer.
Health care costs have exploded out of control. The President has done nothing and he owes the American people an answer.
The middle class is paying a bigger share of America’s tax burden. The President needs to answer to the American people why that is fair.
Unfortunately, those in the White House are coming from a different place than you and I. They see things a little differently than you and I. They tell us that today, when it comes to the issues that matter most, we’re getting the job done.
I guess you can say that Bush and Co. are right about one thing. They are getting the job done, the job of messing up every aspect of American life and government--education, economy, international relations, environment, health care, welfare, to name a select few.
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