LABF is going to love this

[watermock]

Wait till the new ad comes out tommorow. I saw a preview and it's BRUTAL.


Swift Boat Veterans Tell Kerry to 'Cease and Desist'
CNSNEWS.com ^ | 6/02/04 | Susan Jones


Posted on 06/02/2004 6:17:34 PM PDT by kattracks



(CNSNews.com) - Stop using our faces in your campaign material, eleven Swift Boat veterans have told Sen. John F. Kerry. The veterans are all from the unit in which Sen. John Kerry served.

In their letter to the Kerry Campaign, the Swift Boat veterans warned of legal action, unless "the blatant abuse of their images by the Kerry Campaign cease immediately."

The photograph in question was taken in January 1969. It has appeared in the March 8 Newsweek issue and in a Kerry campaign ad.

The veterans said they have sent earlier letters to Kerry headquarters, alerting Kerry staffers about their concerns with his use of the photograph.

"The signers of today's letter object to the use of their photographs in conjunction with the Kerry campaign because they believe that not only is Kerry unfit to serve as the commander-in-chief of the United States, but by using their images, the campaign suggests that these men endorse the senator," said a press release issued by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

The group describes itself as a "tax-exempt, non-partisan public advocacy '527' organization consisting of, and limited to, former military officers and enlisted men who served in Vietnam on U.S. Navy "Swift Boats" or in affiliated commands."

Of the 20 officers shown in the photograph, only two openly support Senator Kerry, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth said. Eleven of the officers in the photo oppose Kerry's bid for the presidency, four wish to remain uninvolved and two are deceased, the press release added.

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth says its primary purpose is to "shed light on John Kerry's service record."

The group says it includes more than 220 Swift Boat vets, "virtually the entire chain of command Kerry reported to and a large majority of peers who served with him during his short and controversial stay in Vietnam."

In an open letter on its website, the group tells Sen. Kerry, "It is our collective judgment that, upon your return from Vietnam, you grossly and knowingly distorted the conduct of the American soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen of that war (including a betrayal of many of us, without regard for the danger your actions caused us). Further, we believe that you have withheld and/or distorted material facts as to your own conduct in this war."

The letter also complains that Kerry now seeks to cover himself "in the very medals you disdainfully threw away in the early years of your political career."

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth also questions Kerry's honesty: "Both then and now, we have concluded that you have deceived the public, and in the process have betrayed honorable men, to further your personal political goals."

The letter promises "further appropriate action" if Kerry and his campaign fail to comply with the cease-and-desist demand.
-----------------------------------------------------

Evidently, he did not cease and desist. This ad is going to be brutal.

See Earlier Story:
Kerry 'Unfit to be Commander-in-Chief,' Say Former Military Colleagues (3 May 2004)

[TexanBob]

To see the commercial, go to www.swiftvets.com . QuickTime plug-in may be required.

[Taco John]

It's definitely brutal... Though I'm unconvinced it will matter much. Most of Kerry's supporters are there because they don't want another four years of Bush.

But as for the commercial... an uppercut, to be sure.

We'll see how it washes out in the polls.

[watermock]

John Kerry's service in Vietnam lasted 4 months and 12 days, beginning in November 1968 when he reported to Cam Ranh Bay for a month of training. His abbreviated combat tour ended shortly after he requested a transfer out of Vietnam on March 17, 1969, citing Navy instruction 1300.39 permitting personnel with three Purple Hearts to request reassignment. So far as we are able to determine, Kerry was the only Swift sailor ever to leave Vietnam without completing the standard one-year tour of duty, other than those who were seriously wounded or killed.

It is clear that at least one of Kerry's Purple Heart awards was the result of his own negligence, not enemy fire, and that Kerry went to unusual lengths to obtain the award after being turned down by his own commanding officer.

John Kerry has long insisted that using the three-injury loophole to leave combat early was his own idea, but Kerry's fellow Swift officer Thomas Wright, who served on occasion as the OIC (Officer in Charge) of Kerry's boat group, contradicts that claim. Wright reports that he "had a lot of trouble getting Kerry to follow orders," and that those who worked with Kerry found him "oriented towards his personal, rather than unit goals and objectives." He therefore requested that Kerry be removed from his boat group. After John Kerry qualified for his third Purple Heart, Thomas Wright and two fellow officers informed him of the obscure regulation, and told him to go home. Wright concluded, "We knew how the system worked and we didn’t want him in Coastal Division 11."

Constructing a complete picture of Kerry's service is difficult due to gaps in the Naval records provided by the Kerry campaign. These gaps include missing and incomplete fitness reports, missing medical records and missing records related to his medal awards.

For this reason we call upon Senator Kerry to authorize complete access to all his military records by filing a standard Form 180, a simple two-page release form.

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is in the process of researching John Kerry's time in Vietnam by conducting interviews with eyewitnesses to his activities, and we plan to add material to this section over the next several weeks as it becomes available. We will report the true circumstances of Kerry's medal awards and injuries, describe other controversial missions, and provide in-depth analysis of his fitness reports.


.
Kerry's Medals

1st Purple Heart: December 2, 1968

2nd Purple Heart: February 20, 1969

Silver Star: February 28, 1969

Bronze Star / 3rd Purple Heart: March 13, 1969

[watermock]

http://www.swiftvets.com/images/brothers.jpg

This wouldn't be a big issue if Kerry hadn't spent the entire convention wrapping himself in his service and ignoring a seeming void of 19 years in the Senate, and totally reinventing himself with a radical move to the center for public consumption.

[Exile_In_SJ]

I saw the ad, it was pretty rough on Kerry. It depends on where it;s shown. If they can get some prime time slots it'll sway some undecideds.

Kerry's people are crying foul, but if you use your Viet Nam service as the central premise of your candidacy, you can't expect it not to be challenged.

[Taco John]

It'll be interesting to see the mud that gets slinged from the left after this. Some PAC is going to make a commercial about taxpayers paying to train Bush to fly a jet, only to see him later refuse to take a piss test. I still don't understand that whole thing.

The mud slinging this season is going to get uglier than usual...

[Rohirrim]

It really is time to pull old Dubya's record out into the light; including the phrase from Hunter Thompson, "How am I supposed to keep track of every drunken Yalie that passes out in my bathtub?"

I sure wish the Dems would bring James Carville out of retirement. He would know how to gut that fish.

[Exile_In_SJ]

the mudslinging began during the democratic primaries. I wouldn't qualify this as mudslinging, since most of these guys served with Heinz-Kerry and their main purpose is stated on their website, to have him cease and desist using them for his campaign.

[Rohirrim]

the mudslinging began during the democratic primaries. I wouldn't qualify this as mudslinging, since most of these guys served with Heinz-Kerry and their main purpose is stated on their website, to have him cease and desist using them for his campaign.

I wouldn't call pulling Dubya's actual record out into the light "mudslinging." He created the record, just as Kerry created his. Let the chips fall where they may. I just hope the Dems get off this "high road" crap. That's no fun at all. rofl

[watermock]

We get to hear LABF's unelected AWOL Boy every day. Bush has never attacked Kerry's war record, and evidently, Kerry thought he could take Boston without a shot when he made that rediculous "Landing" in Boston Harbor.

Between his very odd posturing about his Vietnam record after managing to aquire 3 purple hearts in 4 months, (go figure that one), His acceptance speech was a combination of a literally incredible lie where he promised everything to everyone, acted centrist, and went from his Heroics in Vietnam to giving CPR to a Gerbil.

[Rascal]

Dang, that is brutal but truthful. We will just have to see if the lib's are liars or not in their response to this. Go ahead and let them take the moral highground, we'll blow up their podium...hehehe.

[Exile_In_SJ]

the Democrats have never been on the High Road crap.. seriously..

[Exile_In_SJ]

This isn't mudslinging either. Heinz-Kerry spends half his time reminding anyone who will listen about his Viet Nam service. Cool, it's his right.

These guys dispute some of the things he says and it's their right to say what they feel is correcting the record. They are doing it in a non-mudslinging way. The commercial is classy but right to the point.

The way the Heinz-Kerry kamp is bleating about it says it must be hitting home.

Oh and this isn't coming from Bush. These are separate guys, some democrats some republicans.

[Spider]

hm interesting , I went to www.swiftvets.com , and did a little trace , nothing major ..
I just find it funny it keeps comming up Max Drudge ......

[Spider]

ah it is probably nothing .......

[Captain_Poncho]

I sure wish the Dems would bring James Carville out of retirement. He would know how to gut that fish.

Me too. There's no funnier gasbag in the known universe than the hyper-animated uberweasel Carville. Just watching that hysterical rodent convulse is pure entertainment.

[Exile_In_SJ]

The left doesn't mind all the commercials coming out of Moveon.org and other George Soros funded sites...

[Spider]

The left doesn't mind all the commercials coming out of Moveon.org and other George Soros funded sites...
Maybe , but I realy dont put much stock in them ...........
Nor do I take them as gospel ............

[watermock]

Dick Morris could probably spin it, but he got so sick of Clinton he's out for blood. He's hysterically honest.

James Carvill? Your kidding me right? Put him on. He's barely functional.

Wait till Morris lays down more filth. The Dem's should of kept him in pocket.

[watermock]

hm interesting , I went to www.swiftvets.com , and did a little trace , nothing major ..
I just find it funny it keeps comming up Max Drudge ......

Don't worry, by the end of today where the ad was leaked to will be history.

[Spider]

Don't worry, by the end of today where the ad was leaked to will be history.
Actually I was just wanting to see if it was a legit Group ......
Personaly I think they are , but having Druge helping realy put a spin on things .......
I think the Group would have been stronger without Drudge ........ A band of Brothers against Kerry if you will .......

[Exile_In_SJ]

Drudge reported it, he had nothing else to do with it. The book was wriiten without Drudge, the Ad was produced without Drudge. Drudge had nothing to do with it other than reporting it.

[watermock]

This is going to be rich.

[Rohirrim]

This isn't mudslinging either. Heinz-Kerry spends half his time reminding anyone who will listen about his Viet Nam service. Cool, it's his right.

These guys dispute some of the things he says and it's their right to say what they feel is correcting the record. They are doing it in a non-mudslinging way. The commercial is classy but right to the point.

The way the Heinz-Kerry kamp is bleating about it says it must be hitting home.

Oh and this isn't coming from Bush. These are separate guys, some democrats some republicans.

It's fun to see all you neocons bleating happily at the attacks on Kerry. I notice you never, ever confront the record of your golden boy, Dubya. Did Kerry snort coke, drive drunk, party hearty from age 17 to 41, go AWOL, desert his post, refuse his physical and thereby blow a ton-load of taxpayer bucks, etc. etc. etc. I don't blame you for staying away from that subject. Maybe if you attack Kerry enough on this minor BS, the facts about Dubya will evaporate.
Nnyah!

[TexanBob]

It's fun to see all you neocons bleating happily at the attacks on Kerry. I notice you never, ever confront the record of your golden boy, Dubya. Did Kerry snort coke, drive drunk, party hearty from age 17 to 41, go AWOL, desert his post, refuse his physical and thereby blow a ton-load of taxpayer bucks, etc. etc. etc. I don't blame you for staying away from that subject. Maybe if you attack Kerry enough on this minor BS, the facts about Dubya will evaporate.
Nnyah!

But other than the DUI, which Bush admitted the first day it got headlines instead of after six months of denials like Clinton did until the DNA evidence left him no way out, you have nothing on Bush except rumors and inuendos. You have no tangible proof.

Bush's military record may not fully be out there but then neither is Kerry's. There are parts of his record he refuses to release so I'd call it a draw.

As for doing drugs and "party hearty", Bush admits he had a problem as a young man but he changed in the 1980s when he accepted Christ and has been sober ever since. Accept it or don't, but while most of you are basing your opinions on four years as president, I also got to observe him for six years as governor. If there was any sign of him doing drugs or getting drunk, there's nobody here in Austin talking about it, unlike Ann Richards.

Also, I find it hard to believe that Kerry would spend years hanging out with the anti-war hippie crowd and not do any drugs whatsoever. It's possible but not likely.

Swift Boat Vets has a specific beef about Kerry and they are addressing that and that alone. For me personally, it's a non-issue and I feel uncomfortable attacking anyone on their military record. But since Kerry has made what he did over 30 years ago the focus of his political campaign, I suppose it is fair game. Plus I do think it is hypocitical to play up his four months in Vietnam while not telling voters he also spent years protesting the war and making admittedly over-the-top charges against his fellow soldiers once he returned.

I'd much rather focus on Kerry's record in the Senate and why he won't go into any specifics as to what he will do if elected. It's easy to say he'll do everything "better" and "smarter". So how about some details to prove it? His record in the Senate (sponsoring no major pieces of legislation in two decades) doesn't give me the impression he is better or smarter. More like he's been a reliable rubber stamp for Uncle Ted.

[Exile_In_SJ]

Heinz-Kerry hasn't given any specifics on how he'll do things better. He just says he will.

Heinz-Kerry has campaigned on his Viet Nam record and not his post Viet nam record. He then has to realize he's open to criticism for that.

[watermock]

Oh man, it's back to Bush.

For the 100th time, Bush has never attacked Kerry's war record. It was Kerry that made himself out as some freaking Patton. You just don't get it. This is so funny. Kerry didn't talk about anything but his war record at the convention. His wife didn't talk about anything but herself.

This is hillarious. I called this one.

[watermock]

If Bush is such a party boy, how did he wind up with such a nice woman as Laura, when Kerry has an insane Portugese woman worth 600 million?

[TexanBob]

I think a lot of folks would take the nutbag with the $600 mil than the sweet librarian. $600 mil is $600 mil. But then a loving wife is a loving wife. Which is worth more?

[Exile_In_SJ]

Heinz-Kerry has shown one skill, finding the rich wife. Gotta give him props for that. Other than that, he's pretty much an empty suit.

[watermock]

Let's not forget that Heinz was a Republican and married the wench for a good lay.

It's absolutely hillarious. Then when Heinz kicked off, he moved in on the wench. She isn't even able to command English.

I can just imagine this woman tearing down Jackie's Oil Paintings and replacing them with velvet dogs playing poker in the oval office. Maybe a couple of velvet Elvis would spruce up the White House with some Spanish Furniture from Home Depot.

[Rascal]

I think a lot of folks would take the nutbag with the $600 mil than the sweet librarian. $600 mil is $600 mil. But then a loving wife is a loving wife. Which is worth more?

Which ever one shuts up.

[TexanBob]

I don't think that deal comes with either one...

[Rohirrim]

If Bush is such a party boy, how did he wind up with such a nice woman as Laura, when Kerry has an insane Portugese woman worth 600 million?

Why did Bush put up the sauce? Because Laura told him she was walking if he didn't.

Yeah, Bush isn't doing all these attacks on Kerry. It's just not his fault.

Right.

[watermock]

That's bull**** and you know it when Moveon.org is spewing their crap. You just don't like it when the chickens come home to roost.

Go defend that hothead that Kerry can't control. What a nightmare.

Dubya has given Laura her morning cup of coffee every day for 25 years.

So what is the point here again? OH, she was walking. Did She walk?

Did she? You can take an ultimatum two ways. Evidently, he curled into her, which isn't a bad thing. It's called love.

So what was your point again?

[watermock]

When I see Clinton and Hillary

and Kerry and the Crazy Woman.

Then Dubya and Laura, you can't hide it. You can't hide the eyes. Think what you want.

[Rascal]

I don't think that deal comes with either one...

Then I'll take the less moody one.

[Captain_Poncho]

Why did Bush put up the sauce? Because Laura told him she was walking if he didn't.

Yeah, Bush isn't doing all these attacks on Kerry. It's just not his fault.

Right.

Call anyone who supports Bush "neocons" again. It's so much like NeoNazis, it elevates your intellectual level every time you use it.

Bush sure isn't unhappy about those railing Kerry, nor is Kerry unhappy about Soros' millions of dollars bankrolling the likes of moveon.org. If you're going to whine like a little girl about how Bush is being a big meanie meanie, have a look at the tripe spewing forth from the likes or Moore, Soros, Mcauliffe, etc.

[Exile_In_SJ]

Why did Bush put up the sauce? Because Laura told him she was walking if he didn't.

Yeah, Bush isn't doing all these attacks on Kerry. It's just not his fault.

Right.

gee and you conveniently forget moveon.org and the many George Soros funded organizations sliming Bush day in and day out... Take the blinders off, the dems have perfected the slime op, and Kerry approves of it all.

Today Kerry took a cue from Michael Moore and slimed Bush for the '7 minutes'...

Why do you dems/libs act like the dems/libs are so clean in all this?

There was a poll taken just after the dem primaries asking the people who was running the dirtiest campaign, the dems or the republicans. By almost a 2 to 1 margin the poll said the dems were running the dirtiest campaign.

[watermock]

The Term "NeoCons" was never defined whatsoever. Evidently, half the voting public were "NeoCons" according to our resident idiot. It's so amusing.

After a good laugh, he manages to bring up Saudi Arabian oil contracts. Well gee wiz hoppie doopee!

Josh, we should of let the French get those contracts, we would be in much better shape.....

I find it totally amusing that we would not be trying to keep our primary source of OIL secure.

It's just the opposite for idiot boy. He fool never gives a plan of action.

Maybe we should just piss off Saudi Arabia and watch gas prices go to 8 dollars a gallon!

LABF is a total IDIOT.

The problem is we don't have enough nuclear power and the Alaska Pipe is below capacity.


WTF is wrong with you people?

[watermock]

Every country in the world want's a piece of the Saudi Oil platform.

Your all idiots.

We are there. You just don't get it.

[Exile_In_SJ]

weren't 'neocons' originally Jewish former liberals who've mended their ways and seen the light?

At first the not so subtle slam at 'neocons' was a veiled antisemetic statement. Now neocon seems to include all republicans.

[watermock]

NABF doesn't have a clue what it means. He just cuts and pastes. I am not going to go how reality works for this dimwit.

This moron would have us speaking Persian in three months.

[TexanBob]

As I understand it, "Neocons" refers to Jews in both parties (but particularly the Republican Party) who claim expertise in foreign policy but the foreign policy seems to focus on how everything affects Israel, moreso than how it affects the U.S.

There are those that claim that Neocons pushed the overthrow of Saddam because Saddam was bankrolling the suicide bombers and also had shown in the past that he had missile launchers that could reach Israel. I will admit that greater security for Israel is definitely a by-product of overthrowing Saddam. Israel can't act directly without stirring up a lot of resentment so the theory goes that Israel gets the U.S. to do their bidding for them.

If you look at the long list of Jews in high foreign policy positions in both parties:
Sandy Berger
Madeline Albright
Paul Wolfowitz
Henry Kissinger
William Cohen
(I know there are more names I'm not remembering right now)

one could easily get the idea this is true. I don't know if I believe this theory or not but it is the root of the term "neocon" and it's real intention is to impugn the conservative credentials of any Jew working in the State Department or the Defense Department and their supporters in the media (William Safire, Charles Krauthammer, Bill Kristol, etc.).

[Rohirrim]

Geez, I don't know why all your panties get all knotted up about that word. Neocon is just short for "Neoconservative." In every article I've read about the AEI crew, it's what they call themselves. I don't even know if it's considered derogatory - although I wouldn't want somebody to call me that.

[Northman]

It's fun to see all you neocons bleating happily at the attacks on Kerry. I notice you never, ever confront the record of your golden boy, Dubya. Did Kerry snort coke, drive drunk, party hearty from age 17 to 41, go AWOL, desert his post, refuse his physical and thereby blow a ton-load of taxpayer bucks, etc. etc. etc. I don't blame you for staying away from that subject. Maybe if you attack Kerry enough on this minor BS, the facts about Dubya will evaporate.
Nnyah!



obviously, as the race heats up the anti-kerry campaign starts to get nastier. i guess Dubya and his croonies are starting to get nervous and have brought out the artillery! no pun intended of course. who knows if Kerry earned those medals or not no one on this board was there to see it and evidently people who have served with Kerry have mixed opinions on him but either way Kerry is killing himself by throwing his Military experience in his campaign. Bush isnt doing that which is smart but then again he cant think for himself so it must be the puppetmaster pulling his strings.

[Northman]

As for doing drugs and "party hearty", Bush admits he had a problem as a young man but he changed in the 1980s when he accepted Christ and has been sober ever since.


how fitting that this excuse works for your boy but not for a young guy in Vietnam.

[Exile_In_SJ]

how fitting that this excuse works for your boy but not for a young guy in Vietnam.


and turn it around... Heinz-Kerry impugns Viet Nam vets everywhere without providing proof and he's just some young emotional guy.

[Hogan11]

You know what's really funny? It's hilarious that Teresa Heinz was highly touted in the GOP when, and after, her husband passed away (they even went so far as to beg her to run for his vacated seat) UNTIL....she married Kerry and then changed parties just before the campaign...now she's a crazy woman with little command of english, a wench, so on and so forth....

Which, when thinking about it, probably would've happened anyway since she was a leading light of the GOP's progressive wing....a wing of the party they declared war on and virtually erradicated in the 1990's because of it's moderate stance on bugaboo social issues.

[enjolras]

I doubt Bush is to happy about these ads.. they REALLY want to avoid the issue of military service as much as they possibly can.

[Blueflame]

Judging by your continued insistence that Kerry only served four months in the Navy, Mock, it's obvious that you've never checked out his bio. It lists his Navy service from 1966 to 1970. Furthermore there was additional reserve duty from 1972 to 1978.

http://www.aflcio.org/issuespolitics/politics/kerry_bio.cfm

Additionally, all of the injuries for which he received purple hearts were caused by shrapnel. Can one get shrapnel wounds from "their own negligence"? Perhaps the snopes link I posted on another thread would help in understanding the circumstances surrounding his injuries.

[TexanBob]

The Kerry record as per the AFL-CIO. And you sniff when an article is posted from Fox News...

BTW, I think the "four months" has to do with how long Kerry was in Vietnam, not how long he was in the Navy. And while I can't swear to it, I'd seriously question Kerry serving in any capacity in the Navy after his 1971 Senate testimony. Even if Kerry wanted to serve (questionable), why would the Navy want him to serve? Didn't they learn their lesson the first time? Even if the Navy didn't regard him as a traitor, I'm sure they at least saw him as a whistleblower.

[watermock]

Well, all of this will be dust in the wind soon. Kickoff is only 3 days away Ha!

[Blueflame]

The Kerry record as per the AFL-CIO. And you sniff when an article is posted from Fox News...

BTW, I think the "four months" has to do with how long Kerry was in Vietnam, not how long he was in the Navy. And while I can't swear to it, I'd seriously question Kerry serving in any capacity in the Navy after his 1971 Senate testimony. Even if Kerry wanted to serve (questionable), why would the Navy want him to serve? Didn't they learn their lesson the first time? Even if the Navy didn't regard him as a traitor, I'm sure they at least saw him as a whistleblower.

Actually the same information (that Kerry joined the Navy in 1966) is available on Fix News' website, Bob.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C75704%2C00.html

[watermock]

He joined in '66, So what.

It's about his ability as a Junior Leutenant Commander for 4 months. How someone can manage 3 purple hearts in 4 months is amazing.

I have a cousin that got the Silver Star, and he was there for just a bit longer than 4 months, and he didn't even get hit. Damn, he didn't get crap for his trouble. Piece of tin. But he didn't throw it over a fence either.

My grandfathers stuff was given to my late father, I still have my Grandpa's gas mask and 48 star flag from WW1. He only made it to corporal, but whatever. I got lot's of dead German Generals in my family Ha!

[Blueflame]

He joined in '66, So what.

It's about his ability as a Junior Leutenant Commander for 4 months. How someone can manage 3 purple hearts in 4 months is amazing.

I have a cousin that got the Silver Star, and he was there for just a bit longer than 4 months, and he didn't even get hit. Damn, he didn't get crap for his trouble. Piece of tin. But he didn't throw it over a fence either.

My grandfathers stuff was given to my late father, I still have my Grandpa's gas mask and 48 star flag from WW1. He only made it to corporal, but whatever. I got lot's of dead German Generals in my family Ha!

The point is that he served for more than the four months you've been claiming, Mock. As to the three injuries in that time, hey, some wartime soldiers are injured or even killed on their very first missions. Call it luck, fate, whatever you will... but please don't suggest that shrapnel wounds were caused by "his own negligence".

[watermock]

Go ahead and call it fate. The 11th group informed him how to get out, didn't seem to think he was commander status and had him shipped out. He left on a red ticket and proceeded to hunt rich wives. What part of this are you missing? They WANTED HIM GONE.

[Blueflame]

Go ahead and call it fate. The 11th group informed him how to get out, didn't seem to think he was commander status and had him shipped out. He left on a red ticket and proceeded to hunt rich wives. What part of this are you missing? They WANTED HIM GONE.

This post is 100% opinion... unsubstantiated by the slightest hint of factual evidence.

[Rohirrim]

The point is that he served for more than the four months you've been claiming, Mock. As to the three injuries in that time, hey, some wartime soldiers are injured or even killed on their very first missions. Call it luck, fate, whatever you will... but please don't suggest that shrapnel wounds were caused by "his own negligence".

It was Kerry's secret plan. He needed a couple of scars to enhance his political career, so he carefully placed himself where the shrapnel would just barely nick him, thereby leading to medals and future fame. Clever guy, eh?

[watermock]

No, just stupid bravado. He walked into a firefight with a hairdo. He got out as fast as he could. Commanders were perfectly willing to show him the exit door.

[Rohirrim]

I guess, in that situation, he could have whipped out a book and sat there reading for a few minutes. Maybe the problem would have taken care of itself?

[Blueflame]

It was Kerry's secret plan. He needed a couple of scars to enhance his political career, so he carefully placed himself where the shrapnel would just barely nick him, thereby leading to medals and future fame. Clever guy, eh?

I'm really sure the piece of shrapnel still embedded in his thigh doesn't trouble him much... and was no doubt a small price to pay for a few more votes... ::)

[Hogan11]

527 committee

The "527" committees, also known as the "527" political groups or just the "527" groups, are "products of a loophole recently carved in Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code which covers political organizations. Under federal election law, members of Congress may raise only limited amounts of 'hard money' for their own campaign committees or 'leadership PACs' which aid other candidates. They may accept no contributions of more than $1,000 per election from an individual and $5,000 per election from a political action committee (PAC). But if they set up a politician 527, members of Congress can raise unlimited soft money from individuals, corporations and unions."[1]

"Moreover, despite the July 2000 passage of a public disclosure law for all 527 groups, serious shortcomings exist in both the law and the disclosure system established by the Internal Revenue Service. As a result, it is difficult, sometimes impossible, to get the full story about which politicians have 527s, who contributes to 527s, and what the 527s spend their money on. Even if the politician 527s are banned by the pending McCain-Feingold (September 25, 1997)/Shays-Meehan legislation, this defective disclosure apparatus will hinder the tracking of new soft money flows to partisan nonpolitician 527s attempting to influence federal elections."[2]

What Are 527s?

"527 groups fall under a section of the Internal Revenue Code governing organizations that primarily attempt to influence election campaigns. Until recently, the section applied to political committees (such as candidate or party committees) that contributed to, or otherwise directly supported or opposed candidates. In the case of federal elections, such committees are subject to federal election law limits on amounts and sources of contributions. However the newer so-called '527s' do not (1) use 'magic' words that expressly advocate someone's election or defeat, and/or (2) directly subsidize federal campaigns themselves. Therefore, lawyers have successfully argued to the Federal Election Commission, they are exempt from the restrictions of federal campaign law and allowed to collect soft money which is unlimited donations from corporations, unions and wealthy individuals.

"There are basically two kinds of 527s active in federal politics: those that exist to promote certain politicians (which Public Citizen calls 'politician 527s') and those that exist to promote certain ideas, interests and partisan orientations in election campaigns. (Public Citizen calls these 'non-politician 527s')...

"Politician 527s generally serve as soft money arms of 'leadership PACs,' which incumbents use to aid other candidates and otherwise further their own careers. Like the campaign committees of members of Congress, leadership PACs can receive only 'hard money' contributions, which are limited in amounts and may not come directly from corporations or unions. Politician 527s use their soft money mainly to sponsor events that promote their own careers, help create a 'farm team' of successful state and local candidates, and spur partisan 'get-out-the-vote (GOTV)' efforts.

"Campaign committees and leadership PACs of members of Congress report to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), while 527 groups report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Basic information about their contributions and expenditures are then posted on an IRS website."