Andrew Sullivan blog: When Did We Become Rome? Swiftboating

[beachmom]

Nice to see some Sully readers pointing out that things got really out of hand with our politics when John Kerry's war record was smeared. It hasn't been the same since:

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2011/06/when-did-we-become-rome-swiftboating.html

I felt that the swiftboating of Kerry was a really seminal moment, because the stories were completely untrue, and the election was close enough that I believe Kerry would have won if it weren't for the smear. When I talk politics with people I know, I tend to give that more emphasis than they do. But I felt like a lot was riding on that election, and that it was decided by accusations that were really emblematic of the kind of decadence we're talking about. The birther stuff is just as crazy, but I don't know that it's had the same impact as the swiftboat campaign.

Read more at the link, and the awful picture we all remember from the RNC convention back in 2004.

[karynnj]

1. It's comments like this that make me respect Sullivan

His comment here really is true - even if few people who would ever have voted for Kerry believed it. You posted once about how the goal was not so much convincing people, but getting people to question Kerry's truthfulness and integrity.

The fact is that without those lies, there would have been a different campaign - one that likely ended with one of the ads including some of the amazing footage of Kerry reuniting with Rassman. I remember when I first saw it - it was compelling - the more so as it was unscripted. People were terrified or even terrorized. Kerry was the candidate who could be the reassuring hero/father/leader who had the wisdom to get us out the fear and darkness.

[wisteria]

2. I truly do not want to go back to 2004 and relive these moments. It is over and done with.

It was devistating to me. I thank AS for recognizing what true effect the lies had on our nation, but now, we can only hope that history gets it right.

[MBS]

3. YES. n/t