The Nation: Return of the Swift Boaters (must read, unfortunately)

[beachmom]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080102/cm_thenation/20080107hayes

More than three years after John Kerry's bitter defeat, at the dawn of what looks like a far more promising campaign cycle for the Democrats, the party is still haunted by the specter of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Once upon a time, "Swift boat" denoted an obscure military vessel, but thanks to the activities of this group it has come to represent movement conservatism's penchant for ruthlessly (and effectively) smearing any and all political opponents, from a sitting senator and war hero to an 11-year-old boy with a cranial fracture.

Research by The Nation into Federal Election Commission records of the group's top twenty donors reveals that they've been remarkably active in this cycle, contributing and bundling nearly $200,000 to presidential candidates. This does not bode well.

They mention the usual suspects like Perry and Pickens, and then go on to who they are donating to this cycle:

The most notable recipient of Swift Boat largesse is John McCain, erstwhile front-runner and Stand Up Guy. When the Swift Boat ads were first unleashed, McCain was alone among his Republican colleagues to condemn them. A fellow Vietnam veteran, a good friend of Kerry's and a former target of smears about his own service, McCain called the ads "dishonest and dishonorable," a "cheap stunt," and he urged Bush to condemn them. But in pursuit of the GOP nomination, McCain ditched the mantle of maverick for that of hack, and his once-floundering, possibly rejuvenated campaign has been aided along the way by $61,650 from Swift Boat donors and their associates. "There is such a thing as dirty money," said Senator Kerry in a statement, after The Nation informed him of McCain's FEC records. "I'm surprised that the John McCain I knew who was smeared in 2000 and thought so-called Swift Boating was wrong in 2004 would feel comfortable taking their money after seeing the way it was used to hurt the veterans I know he loves." (McCain's office did not return calls for comment.)

Of course, there is another candidate who has taken more Swift Boater money: Romney -- no surprise there. Glad to hear from Whometense that he's crashing and burning. Huckabee, OTOH, only received one single donation. The Swift Boaters don't like the Huckster, who sometimes raises taxes and feels some empathy to the poor once in a while. Kerry actually said Huckabee was one of the most "interesting" candidates in the GOP field; I wonder if he knew that Huckabee was largely untainted with SBVT money.

This all supports the notion that the people behind the Swift Boat operation are chiefly concerned with the continued upward redistribution of wealth that is, more or less, the contemporary GOP's raison d'être. In 2006 Perry ponied up $5 million to start the Economic Freedom Fund, a 527 group devoted to attacking Democratic incumbents, and landed a large donation from prominent Swift Boat donor Carl Lindner. All of which is to say that the Swift Boaters aren't some kind of side show, a coterie of vicious mudslingers operating at the edges of respectability. They are the show. They are modern conservatism's core funders and beneficiaries. With conservatives staring straight into the abyss, their activities in this election cycle could very well make the Swift Boat smears look tame by comparison.

Anyway, read the whole thing. I would love to spread this story far and wide, but let's face it: all the focus is on the caucus tomorrow and the primaries coming up. But keep this article nearby, because it is completely in line with what Kerry was talking about when he went after Pickens. It's not about Kerry; it's not even about swift boats. It's about money and power.

[karynnj]

1. wow Thanks for posting this

I thought I had understood what Kerry was saying on why they had to be fought again, but this is a far bigger operation than it sounded like - though I knew it had to be serious for Senator Kerry to expose himself to their hatred again when he himself was not running and could have ignored it. I seriously doubt their are enough believers in the state he has served for decades.

His comment on McCain is fascinating and immensely sad - notice the tense of the verb - "I'm surprised that the John McCain I knew" and the fact that he gets back to the fact that these charges most hurt the veterans. These words bring back Tay Tay's comment after Kerry opted not to run for President that after seeing the video of the Kennedy Center at Harvard's review of the "Hidden Wounds" video that she had wondered if he would given the concern written on his face when Del S. spoke of how many of the crew suffered from PTSD and it was clear that Del was one hurt by the 2004 attacks. These people are really without conscience and it is sad McCain joined them.

[ProSense]

4. McCain is sad!

I guess he decided that he couldn't beat them so rather than fight, he sold his soul!

Very sad!

[karynnj]

6. I love JK's comment as it shows his sadness and makes it about others, not himself

I think you're right - McCain really did sell his soul. If he simply was concerned about what Kerry would do in office - such as ending this pnac idiocy - that would explain not defending Kerry more and why he spoke at that awful convention. Then you could at least say what he did had some noble (to him) reason. Taking SBVT money now puts him in the gutter.

What it shows is that there are worse things than losing the Presidency - even when the loss was because of smearing. That likely happened to both JK and JM. Even if McCain wins the Presidency - he has lost everything he ever stood for to many good people who supported him.

[ProSense]

2. The media and everyone else

knows the Swift Liars were/are GOP surrogates. There have been a number of posts here a DU linking McCain (Whome posted one) and others to that money. After the Foxie hearings, it should be pretty clear that these people are the GOP's primary funders.

While everyone ignores their influence, the hypocrisy of Swift Liar-funded RW groups is becoming ingrained into organizations that have always remained above the political fray.

[ray of light]

3. beachmom, thanks for posting this.

I wouldn't have seen it. I have to admit that I am avoiding most of the sites, gd etc...because I am sick and tired of the infighting and the primary stuff.

[wisteria]

5. We can hope that a majority of people in this country know what liars

and scum the SBV are. As for McCain, just when I think he has been trying to redeem himself, he goes and allows himself to become slime again. Romney doesn't surprise me though, it fits his sleazy character. And,of course I bet we can count on the media to assist in smearing and assisting in lying about our candidates just for fun.

Thanks for posting. It is better to know what the Democrats might be up against rather than be surprised.

[TayTay]

7. And we're not gonna take it, anymore

As Democrats we are sick and tired of having good people smeared by these professional liars. We need every Democrat to fight what is going to be one of, if not the, dirtiest campaigns, top to bottom, in American history.

We're not gonna take it anymore. Period.

There are plans afoot to fight. I will be most humbly requesting your help in short order on an ambitious project to protect the good names of all our Democratic candidates.

We're not gonna take it anymore. Period.

[wisteria]

8. I can't imagine it being any worse than it was for Senator Kerry.

He was out their fighting this by himself. Bush isn't running and Rove is more or less out of the picture. Now, when it is to late to help Senator Kerry we are getting our act together.

I will certainly do what I can-for all of our Democrats,(I hope they will recognize and appreciate this and remember that we made it easier for them to win) but I will always remember how Sen. Kerry could of used this help and it wasn't there for him.

[politicasista]

10. That point gets overlooked

but I agree with it.

[YvonneCa]

13. Good...

...I think we're all ready for the fight. And ,I have to say, I'm really proud of all our Democrats(even though none measures up to JK). I watched them all on C-Span last night and they all know what needs to be done for our country. I was impressed. I am also sad that Biden and Dodd have dropped out, although I understand why. They did our country a HUGE service by their contribution to the debate. Thank you, Senators! :)

[cadmium]

9. thanks I"ll read and spread around. n/t

[beachmom]

11. The non-Swiftboater won the GOP Iowa Caucus. Now I'm not a fan

of Huckabee (except when he talks about health & losing weight & music education), but isn't it something that the guy who only got one piddly donation from the Swift boating crowd WON the first state?

People talk about how it's going to get nasty on the Dem side; I think actually it is the GOP side where it is going to get UGLY. The Swift Boaters have a new enemy that needs to be destroyed; no matter that he is a Republican. We should observe the next few weeks and see what happens on the GOP side.

[wisteria]

12. Funny you should bring this up. All the Repub talk radio programs today

bashed Hukabee saying he really isn't a Republican and doesn't have Republican ideas. Hannity especially.