Anti-Kerry group aims to keep an active role

[Rose Siding]

...In his first interview about his role in the anti-Kerry group, Franke, a Navy veteran who served briefly as publisher of the old St. Louis Globe-Democrat in the 1980s, said his group succeeded in its mission to discredit Kerry and may help distribute a controversial film attacking the Massachusetts senator.
...
Franke offered no new evidence for his claims that Kerry misstated facts about his Vietnam service. But he said the swift boat group's members remained frustrated, feeling that the news media did not bore in sufficiently on what he regards as unanswered questions about Kerry's service records. He added that he was troubled by a political dust-up in Kerry's home state last week that may have cost the group's public relations firm, Virginia-based Creative Response Concepts, a contract with the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.

"They have called us rag merchants and liars and scum and every name under the sun. But what he has never done is respond substantively to our accusations," said Franke. He said the group might issue more "statements" about Kerry, but he wasn't specific.
...
"Our objective from the beginning was to deny Sen. Kerry command over the armed forces of the United States. . . . We stopped him for the time being, but he's shrewd and aggressive, and if he can run again, he'd try it," Hoffman said.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/nation/story/1EF02778F79EAF2686256F6D00177A55?OpenDocument&Headline=Anti-Kerry+group+aims+to+keep+an+active+role

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. Scared of Kerry in '08?

Maybe they are.

[rodeodance]

2. pure hate!!!

[Just Me]

29. The radical right-wing disease in this country is,...EMBARASSING!!!

Their intolerant, hate-smearing, bully-mongering gets way too much attention and is creating a seriously dysfunctional society.

It's rather frightening but also VERY embarassing to me, as an American who was once acknowledged as a beacon of hope to the rest of the world. Ever since Reagan, it's been a downward spiral with merely a pause and now full-speed evolution toward fascism.

However, there is plenty of evidence that the tolerant, rational, compassionate Americans are gaining momentum, strength and direction. Ultimately, we'll drown the dark side of human character with a brighter and more powerful beacon of human hope.

[BiggJawn]

33. Where's the evidence?

"However, there is plenty of evidence that the tolerant, rational, compassionate Americans are gaining momentum, strength and direction. Ultimately, we'll drown the dark side of human character with a brighter and more powerful beacon of human hope."

Really? I sort of thought we were being bulldozed under an onslaught of "Our Holy President has a MANDATE to destroy Liberalism!"

The first sound of the new "Krystallnacht" will be the lens getting kicked out of that "beacon", IMO...

[bunny planet]

37. More like still scared of Kerry in 04.

[wicket]

3. They are such shitstains!

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[rwork]

4. Yes,but is ok

that bush* fixed it up with the National Guard to skip his last year of service to go to college.If I were in the National Guard I would like to miss my last year of service in Iraq.

[ElephantCanBiteMe]

42. What a hero

Yeah that chimp...what a hero.

Why doesn't he do an Independence Day and go over and fly a fighter jet himself in Iraq and see if he can shoot down any aliens?

Oh cause he must be skipping this year too - since he's never even SEEN war how the hell is he the expert on it all?

;-)

God I hate that chimpo

[liberal N proud]

5. Just what we need more hate-mongers

These upstanding moral figures of society might want to do a gut check before they proceed. They will eventually be discovered for the fraud they are.

[CO Liberal]

6. But They ARE Rag Merchants, Liars, and Scum

An entire group of lying sacks of shit. Starting with John O'Neill and working its way down to every swarmy liar who calls himself a Swift Boat Veteran for "truth".

I hope John Kerry sues the shit out of each and every one of them.

[Pirate Smile]

15. I love THEM whining about being called names. Unbelievable!

[leftofcool]

17. And some unsubstantiated allegations as well...........

There was some talk at one time about one of these guys (Terry?) who used to give talks at a local high school and pick up under aged girls. I could never get enough info to have it investigated by anyone.

Left of Cool

[MemphisTiger]

7. Someone needs to tell them that their 15 minutes is over

[Briar]

14. It will never be over

They hate Kerry because he told the truth about atrocities in Viet Nam. What he said will always be the truth, so they can never stop trying to smear those who tell it.

[blm]

23. It will never be over because another group will pop up to smear the next

Democrat. They KNOW they own most of the media so FACTS and TRUTH don't matter anymore. It mattered not that some investigative reporting found their smears were LIES, if most of the media repeats the lies without focusing on the truth.

[not fooled]

43. yep...kkk is busy...

...planning for '08: looking for the next 'puke chump to turn into a viable candidate in '08, as well as the next dem to spread shit over.

After all, if (because of control of the media and the election system) he could turn a boob like * into the pretzeldent, he could take just about anyone and make him prez in '08.

So, the dems could run Jesus himself and get slimed. As long as the media is complicit, no go for the dems.

[HuffleClaw]

8. SHOULD be titled 'anti-kerry group wants more MONEY'

the article was tad biased too, for that matter, seeing as their 'claims' were debunked in about five minutes.

[Bridget Burke]

19. Yes, that's it.

They don't want to go off the Republican payroll.

But they've served their purpose.

[napi21]

9. There were so many accusations, what is it that this group thinks

hasn't been answered yet?

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. Has anyone investigated the McIntosh Co. from Texas who helped

the swiftboat people to see if they are related to the McIntosh in Florida that helped Sandra Goard in her lawsuit against Harry Jacobs in Seminole County in 2000? BTW, there was also a McIntosh on the election board in Seminole County that year.

That name appears to turn up a lot. Has anyone looked into it to see if the Texas and Florida families are related in any way?

[Pirate Smile]

16. These guys don't plan on going away. How squeaky clean are they?

Considering what despicable human beings they seem to be, I would bet they have a lot of skeletons in their closets.

They plan on continuing to attack Kerry so I think those closets need to be cleaned out.

[The Backlash Cometh]

24. It would be helpful if we had Dems who could do legal

investigations on these people. Wouldn't take much. Just look up old newspaper articles and read obits for family names. Frankly, I would recommend someone who has a team of lawyers to protect him or her just in case this is a den of water moccasins. Also, pick someone who doesn't live in either state. Not that much can be done if they are the same family, except to let the American people know who's pulling them around by the nose.

[Pirate Smile]

26. The DNC needs a big opposition research team that is working

all the time - not just during election seasons. I figured we probably already had people doing this stuff. It doesn't seem like it though.

Can we please start playing in the big leagues and leave the AAA team behind for other things?

[The Backlash Cometh]

28. If somebody knows of a Dem tip line to the DNC, I wish they'd

post it here on DU. Now THAT would be getting in touch with your grassroots.

[Pirate Smile]

30. I hope Reid IS setting up that War Room even though he went back on it

and said it is something different(mainly for radio, or something).

[GOPBasher]

11. This is so disgusting I want to spit.

Everything Bush did is totally okay. But they'll attack a decorated war veteran.

[Sara Beverley]

12. Wonder what Franke as to say about Iraq atrocities by US soldiers?

I guess he would deny them too?

[xchrom]

13. rove storm troopers

learn how to fight them -- learn and practice, practice, practice.

[LynnTheDem]

18. The United States Navy answered any & all SBL questions; Kerry = HERO.

As did those who actually SERVED WITH Kerry -unlike the SB Liars, who did not serve with Kerry.

-A handful of fat angry old men who never served with Kerry call Kerry a lying coward.

-Those who DID serve with Kerry back Kerry's view of events.

-The United States Navy backs Kerry's view of events.

-The VietCong/Vietnamese villagers back Kerry's view of events.

-The US Navy's dry-dock documents back Kerry's view of events.

And the rightwingnuts believe the handful of fat angry old men who never served with Kerry.

How sad that rightwingnuts are so much dumber nowadays; 30 years ago even rightwingnuts knew Nixon's puppet O'Neil was full of shit and lying his ass off.

[tabasco]

46. Yep. It's the idiots who believe this crap that are the problem

Anyone with a scrap of decency and intelligence can see that these men are liars without honor. But millions of republicans want to believe what these liars say because it fits their simple-minded world view.

The Swift Boat liars disgrace all veterans and the entire Nation.

I am in favor of a campaign to expose, discredit, and punish these scurrilous swine.

[talk hard]

20. Zell Miller to honor Swift Boat Liars

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=512&ncid=703&e=2&u=/ap/20041216/ap_on_go_co/miller_swift_boat

Surely one of the sign of the Apocalypse.

[genieroze]

21. He better seriously think about suing the crap out of these people. eom

[Gothmog]

36. I also hope that Kerry sues these sobs

Kerry needs to sue the heck out of these liars and bastards.

[saigon68]

22. THE VOTERS WHO BELIEVE THESE LIARS

HAVE BRAINS LIKE A BOX OF ROCKS

[Nameless]

39. Hmm

I don't know, I've seen some pretty smart rocks in my day...

[CBHagman]

25. How do we frame the debate to show them for what they are...

....as they are Bush operatives, Rove friends, old McCain-bashers, and Nixon shills, among other things?

The truth about them is already out there, and yet they A) got away with what they did and B) want to continue their vendetta against Kerry and C) want to stick around and be influential. What do we do to get them shown for what they really are?

The news media did cover the links to Bush and Rove (NY Times, Washington Post stories) and also debunked the SBVFT stories, or at least showed the evidence was in favor of Kerry. But these guys are saying the Navy lied about Kerry's service and that all who back him up are lying. In other words, they're veteran-bashers (like what was done to McCain).

How do we show they for the human filth they are?

[David Dunham]

27. Kerry should sue these liars and drive them into bankruptcy

[GoldenOldie]

31. Of Course they will Continue - It is Lucrative

How many of these men had accomplished anything of note after their stint in Vietnam. They became successful, well known, and well paid in their attacks on Kerry. O'Neal's entire civilian career has been to act as head attack dog against Kerry for the CONS. With a big help from the media whores he proved very successful. Does anyone think that George W. Bush's election ended their gravy train or their ego trips??

[Historic NY]

32. Anyone heard how Kerry's lawsuit is proceeding against them...and

that weasel O'Neill. I haven't seen anything more in the media.

[davidinalameda]

34. fine--let's just not run Kerry again

I don't have a problem with that

[politicasista]

35. Okay let's just nominate a clean candidiate with the clean record..

I thought Kerry did the best that he could, and got more votes than any candidate did. Blame his pathetic campaign manager.:(

[Nameless]

38. What a lying sack of shit

"But what he has never done is respond substantively to our accusations," said Franke

Oh really?

BTW, for all DUers that ever get into an argument with your friends, relatives, or neighbors about the SBVT, use Eric Rasmussen's review (found in the above link) against them.

[colonel odis]

40. though i'm not advocating violence, i have to say i'm surprised

so many of these types are still walking around. there are so many liberals who are so pissed off, i can't help but feel like we're close to pitchforks and torches.

if something that horrible were to happen, i'd hate to be a freeper who could be identified. they'd probably be attacked first, since they're the easiest targets.

but after that, i would imagine a lot of these guys who attacked kerry, who are complicit in the election fraud, who are right-wing mouthpieces -- i'm just afraid a lot of democrats have had enough.

gosh, i sure hope nothing like that happens. it would be awful to read on here about republicans being physically attacked because of the lies they've told and their attempts to turn our great republic into a one-party dictatorship.

[SKKY]

41. To say that Kerry never responded to their "substantive" claims...

...suggests to me that they themselves either do not believe or are ignoring the inquiry the United States Navy did into Kerry's Medals. They think they deserve some "amplifying" information above what the Navy got/provided? As a proud career sailor and someone who has dedicated the last 12 of his life to serving this country, that makes me very very angry. Screw these fuckers.

[saltpoint]

44. I hereby nominate --

-- the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth as Assholes of the Year.

What they are doing to John Kerry is psychic stalking as well as character assassination.

[Mike Niendorff]

45. Just remember : SVFT had a **$22 million** budget this year

Think about that for a minute, people. The Bush-Cheney campaign had a budget of about $200 million. And for every $10 dollars that B-C got from its RW backers, SVFT got $1 too.


MDN

[Rose Siding]

47. Milbank's covering this in Sun WP -he's writing like a blogger!

Anti-Kerry Group Is Not Done Yet

The satirical newspaper "The Onion" did a spoof reporting that Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which harassed Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry during the campaign about his Vietnam War record, was continuing its campaign against the defeated Kerry because "John Kerry is a threat to every American he comes in contact with, whether he's running for president, getting his oil changed, or going to a movie with his wife." The Onion proposed two new ads for the group, one accusing Kerry of going bowling in street shoes and the other accusing him of cheating to get his 10th cup free at a coffee shop.

Then something really funny happened: Life imitated satire. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported on Thursday: "The end of the 2004 presidential election campaign doesn't spell the end of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the well-funded alliance of former servicemen that remains dedicated to preventing Sen. John Kerry from becoming president. The group . . . plans to convene next month to celebrate its successes and to consider speaking out further about Kerry's military service, his anti-war activities afterward, and other issues."

Meanwhile, the American Conservative Union has announced that it has chosen Sen. Zell Miller, the retiring Georgia Democrat who campaigned for Bush and angrily suggested that Kerry wished to arm American troops with "spitballs," to give a "Courage Under Fire" award to the Swift boat group at its Feb. 18 banquet. And we thought Valentine's Day was Feb. 14.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10891-2004Dec18.html

[moondust]

48. Old war criminals never die.

Trying to maintain their "hero" status and prevent any real investigations into what THEY did in Vietnam, they've had it in for Kerry because he didn't join in the good 'ol boy coverup and did as much as anybody to expose it. Military mafia gets even.