Swift Boat Veterans Face Surprising Opposition
In the wake of the Swift Boat veterans devasting anti-Kerry ad and upcoming book, pundits aplenty are calling on Bush to make this his "Sista Souljah" moment. Over at the Lapsed Randian, they say that Bush must:
The President should call a press conference, with Senator McCain at his side, and disassociate his campaign from the current commercials and related hype associated with Swift Boats. He should remind the public that both he and Kerry were honorably discharged. He should express empathy for Senator Kerry, given that he has repeatedly been accused of being AWOL by the Chairman of the DNC. He should then conclude by stating that he is willing to be judged by his record as a public official and President, just as he is sure that Kerry is willing to be judged by his actions as a public official and Senator.In short, the President should offer a gracious, conciliatory gesture--something that seems to come natural to him--and offer Kerry the chance to do the same. I have no idea whether this would be politically astute, but it would seem to be the right thing to do, and it would emphasize that he, at least, is connected to the current reality.
But should he? Did John Kerry distance himself from Michael Moore? And, unlike the Moore case, can anyone prove these vets are lying and distorting facts? At least, unlike Moore, they present themselves as expressing their own opinions.
Last night, Bill O'Reilly questioned the morality of running this ad. I'm left shaking my head. If you served with a man and you and every one of that man's commanding officers felt he was unfit to be President isn't it your moral duty to get that word out to the people? Or, is a moral duty only important when it's not messy or nasty?
Posted by at August 6, 2004 01:29 PM
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Comments
| # March 7th, 2005 6:48 PM Converted_Comment | |
no, he should not distance himself. that is ridiculous. first, if it's true, it's very relevant and probative info. next, why should these people be discouraged from sharing their opinion? isn't coming on and saying "i served with john kerry and i think he's unfit for these reasons" better than celebs standing up and saying "bush should not be elected because he stole the election! and he lied! and he looks like a monkey! and he stutters and says funny things!!!" why are people tolerant of celebrities using their position to make political statements, but not ordinary everyday people? anyone who thinks that this is a "dirty trick," senator mccain included, is supporting censorship. the dixie chicks says "we're from texas and we hate the president! he's unfit!" thats ok. but a swift boat vet that actually knows kerry, that served with kerry, that has a REAL opinion, if he says the same thing, thats "dirty?" give me a f*cking break
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| # March 7th, 2005 6:48 PM Converted_Comment | |
Come on. I'm as conservative as it gets, but O'Reilly is a pompous ass who's full of himself; who cares what O'Reilly says about anything? Ann Coulter said something like it takes a liberal to make a conservative defend O'Reilly. Kerry brought this on himself--actually, he brought about a thousand times what he's getting on himself. |