War Vets' Lawsuit Against Kerry Heats Up

[AGENDA21]

"Vietnam veterans will not be intimidated by John Kerry," retired Air Force Colonel George "Bud" Day said in response to the Massachusetts Senator's newly created legal expense trust fund to finance his court battles against a group of highly-decorated Vietnam War veterans.

Col. Day added, "Why one of the wealthiest men in the Senate would expect others to pay his lawyers and use questionable Senate privileges against veterans is shameful."

Col. Day is chairman of the Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundation (VVLF), a group of Vietnam combat veterans who sued Sen. Kerry for "conspiracy and defamation." Day is the most decorated Air Force veteran alive, a Medal of Honor recipient, a veteran of three wars and a former Vietnam POW held captive for over five years.

Sen. Kerry recently filed papers with the US Senate creating a "legal expense trust fund" to handle costs associated with his defense in the VVLF lawsuit. This action appears to be questionable since he's defending actions he undertook before he became a member of the US Senate and while he was running a presidential campaign which has nothing whatsoever to due with Senate business. Ironically, the account is named "Fund for Truth and Honor."

http://www.postchronicle.com/commentary/article_21213621.shtml

[C_U_L8R]

1. Those lying creeps

are gonna get everything they deserve.

[bigtree]

2. thye don't take into account the tax dollars Bush used as he orchestrated

the Swiftliar's attacks on Kerry during the campaign.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[liberalnurse]

5. I second that observation....

Scroll around and look at all the flame bait litter droppings this morning!!!!!!!!No discussion, just the :puke:

[boobooday]

9. Yes, one post after another

All in the same vein, hit and runs!

[liberalnurse]

12. My alert trigger finger

is beginning to itch.:eyes:

[MH1]

13. I'll third it.

There's a convenient little link with a red arrow next to it, at the bottom left of the op.

[chelsea0011]

4. So do they really want to rehash atrocities in Vietnam?

I really don't see this as doing any good to any veteran. So why is this group so dedicated to getting their good names back? They are only interested in getting Kerry and keeping the right wing smear campaign rolling along.

[displacedtexan]

6. What's your opinion on this story?

And this one you posted a few minutes ago?

[AGENDA21]

11. Its cleary a distraction but its something bush supporters

will not understand!

[MH1]

14. A heads up...

I think you need to supply some commentary stating your point of view, and some context info (espec. when linking to a right wing smear site - read the DU rules).

Just some friendly advice, especially if you are really on the side of Dems. Your posts aren't presenting that impression this morning. Just sayin.'

[AGENDA21]

18. Thanks...if you read my previous posts you will

Realise im not anti-dem...anything but that.

[fedupinBushcountry]

23. What is your agenda?

"You can count on the right wing reaching into their deep pockets to spread a lie, so our job is to make sure the truth prevails and knock back Republican Swift Boat-style attacks forever," David Wade, a spokesman for the senator, said Wednesday.

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/14164277.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

[MH1]

7. Dude (ette?) - this looks like a right wing smear site.

Why are you posting this crap here?

Yes there is some legal action around the Swift Liars lies...and Kerry has set up a legal action fund to handle it (pretty normal stuff under the circumstances)...why would you post the hit piece without any context from more reputable sources?

Just askin'.

[tsuki]

8. Col. "Bud" Day is a complete ass. He and his bully boys went to

Democratic Rallies last election to disrupt them.

[oasis]

26. Swift Boat Brown Shirts for Bush. (eom)

[tsuki]

45. I think of them as the Bushstapo. eom

[displacedtexan]

10. Oops! Make that 3 anti-Dem stories you've posted.

I found another one. Don't you have an opinion?

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[trumad]

20. From my years here on DU

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck--- then 100 percent of the time--- it's a fuckin duck.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AGENDA21]

16. You may call it that...but i would call it keeping informed

of the opposition...theres many threads on this forum regarding the activities of repubs and what there latest accusations are!!

[Catchawave]

21. But the "President" of this organization

Provided the "facts" ? This organization bilks money out of VN vets to protect their "honor" :rofl:

It's not a reliable source for staying informed, it's another Swiftie smear machine.

[salin]

25. the opposition is dwindling daily

almost to the point where they will not have to be worried about much longer. Bushco is 'taking care of his own' (in terms of killing off support) quite nicely these days.

[AGENDA21]

27. And the polls do seem to confirm that...so

the dems should win back the house...however still 7 months to go.

[salin]

29. and the Kerry vs Swiftboats has anything to do with this...??

?? Frankly local concerns (eg growing economic insecurities), combined with a national distrust of Bushco and Bush fatigue are likely to dominate voting patterns in local congressional races.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[proud2BlibKansan]

41. Good call

:rofl:

[tabasco]

49. Stop posting your wingnut crap here.

All of us here are quite aware that these sites exist.

If we wanted to see the content of those sites, we would visit them.

[acmejack]

17. The VVLF in their own words!

The VVLF from their news release: "The Swift Boats organization has morphed into a broader, but no less nobler, mission by establishing the VVLF."

What else needs to be said...

[wisteria]

19. Why post this RW smear piece? Kerry should sue these lying bastards! n/t

[lonestarnot]

22. can anyone say "countersuit" for defamation?

[Jim Lane]

24. Probably not

In most jurisdictions, statements made in legal papers are privileged. They can't be the basis for a defamation claim if they're relevant to the litigation in which they were filed.

Press releases about the suit would be a different matter, but expressions of opinion are constitutionally protected and are never defamation. A statement that Kerry is one of the wealthiest men in the Senate isn't defamation because it's true. A statement that he should therefore bear all the litigation expense himself isn't defamation because it's opinion.

More broadly, I agree that the real purpose of the suit against Kerry is to keep the smear campaign alive. A countersuit would only further that goal. The time to give it more publicity is when the court renders the judgment in Kerry's favor. Then he'll actually be better off than he was in 2004. My inclination is to think that the Smear Boat Vets made a mistake by suing Kerry.

[karynnj]

28. The headline of the article that he wants taxpayers to pay

is misleading and inaccurate though that may just be the RW rag.

I assume the person you responded to may have been referring to the lies in the film itself. But this way isn't the burden of proof on them.

[lonestarnot]

30. Well if I were evaluating, I would say that a countersuit is a chance to

stop the smear once and for all. Spend his own money to counter. Stop asking for donations from us for shitsake, he's a rich man. Countersuit would not further their goal. For once he'd be on the offensive rather than tucking his tail and asking for contributions to a legal fund.

[Octafish]

31. Kerry's a HERO. Bush is a ZERO.

That's REALLY what has the conservative underwear all bunched up.

[lonestarnot]

33. Thank you Octafish!

[XanaDUer]

34. Bingo.

:hi:

[countryjake]

35. The MOST honorable thing Sen. Kerry ever did was stand up for Nam Vets...

back in 1971! He pointed his finger at the bastards who mired us in that mess and blamed our government for perpetrating a war that brought down thousands and thousands of decent soldiers, his comrades; he correctly put the responsibility for all the atrocities and murders of countless Vietnamese directly upon the shoulders of the warmongers who sent out troops over there! It was THE BIGGEST TRUTH he has ever told and the MOST HONORABLE statement he has ever made, without a doubt.

If that same man had run for president with those same principles and the same dignity he held way back then, there would be a different person in the White House, today.

I didn't know he was still under attack and still trying to defend his long-ago stance. I didn't send any cash to promote his run for the presidency but I sure as hell will contribute to fight this farce being drummed up by those assholes!

Thanks for bringing it to my attention. Those warmongers are the true cowards of our society and should be stopped at any expense.

Contribute NOW to the Fund for TRUTH and HONOR!

[alfredo]

36. this whole article has a reich wing slant.

[Kingofalldems]

37. Who are you kidding?

You can't fool DUers.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MH1]

42. Heh... G. Gordon Liddy?

That paragon of ethical and lawful behavior?

And so handsome too...

:sarcasm:

:puke:

[Neil Lisst]

40. guys like this are reason one I never joined VFW

Because I become irrational when some vet starts going on and on about Jane Fonda or "the politicians who lost it for us!"

We lost because hundreds of millions of Asians wanted our asses gone, and ultimately, so did the American people, most of whom realized it was a stupid war that wasn't accomplishing jackshit.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

43. Interesting RW source. "friends of tPC" links say it all.

[MH1]

47. Check out the author of the article, Jim Kouri

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/18/172127/546

[DanCa]

44. Wtf are they talking about?

It's the Bush regime that's been cutting off their vet benefits and closing down the VA damnit.
Not to mention that the Bush Crime Family has been starting and provoking words since it "took" office. My gawd how powerful is the Bush kool aid?

[MH1]

46. About the author of that article, Jim Kouri

Put on your hip waders and have the gas mask handy for the stench -

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/18/172127/546

[Vektor]

48. It's considered pretty gauche

to post links to RW smear sites here. DU is the last place anyone ought to be further perpetuating this bilge.

Thanks for the heads up, but we all already know that the Swift Scum Maggots for Bush are a bunch of lying, slanderous, no-dick, opportunistic wastes of life.

[tabasco]

50. These people are just plain sad.

Just as sad as pathetic freepers, too cowardly to join the service, but who spend hours posting on liberal websites to fight the "culture war."

Just plain sad.

[Moderator]

51. Locking

Flamebait.