QandO

August 13, 2004

Cracks in the dam
Posted by Dale Franks

Kathleen Antrim's column in the San Francisco Examiner says that Kerry's problem with the Swiftvets is a problem he asked for. And now that he has it, there's only one thing he can do to make it go away.

The worst part of this political fiasco is that it could have been completely avoided. With a little work, preparation and organization, Kerry or his staff could have shown these veterans a little common courtesy by finding out where they stand regarding his candidacy and asking their permission to use them as references. This was a huge mistake, and it's costing Kerry dearly.

But like an old fish story in which the catch keeps getting larger with every telling, Kerry didn't stop at telling tales of war crimes.

He also told the Senate, in 1986, that he was illegally in Cambodia.

Kerry said, "I remember Christmas of 1968 sitting on a gunboat in Cambodia. I remember what it was like to be shot at by the Vietnamese and Khmer Rouge and Cambodians, and have the president of the United States telling the American people that I was not there; the troops were not in Cambodia. I have that memory which is seared -- seared -- in me."

Utter lies, total and complete exaggerated lies, the Swift Vets claim. So, this fish tale stinks worse each time Kerry drags it out.

With accusations flying, Kerry's version of free speech has shrunk down to only one veteran: himself. All others must be silenced.

This is called "damage control," folks, and it's in high gear because Kerry knows he's in trouble here. Big trouble.

Of course, this whole matter could be cleared up if Kerry would release his Vietnam records and his personal journal. It's a simple matter to release these records, requiring only a standard Form 180.

So, Mr. Kerry, if you haven't been making up stories, and if the Swift Vets are lying, then release your records and prove your case. Trust the American people to discern the truth. Or have the courage to admit you lied, over and over again.

Yeah, I'd like to get a look at those records, myself.

Via Instapundit, who remarks this is the first crack in the big media blackout on the Swiftvet story.

Outside of FOXNews, the mainstream media has been silent about both the Swiftvet ellegations, and, to the extent possible, about the Cambodian stories as well. But I doubt that they can keep it silent forever.

Moreover, having them do so doesn't particularly help Kerry, or the media, for that matter. Failing to cover the story makes it look as if they are intentionally covering for the Democratic candidate. Considering that an ever greater percentage of Americans are coming to find mainstream media outlets untrustworthy, this blackout on the Swiftvets might end up hurting both Kerry and the media.

Kerry has made his Vietnam service a centerpiece of his campaign. Now, nearly 9 out of 10 of his fellow swift boat vets oppose him. That's a legitmate story, whether you like it or not. If the campaign line is, as John Edwards famously said, that all we need to know about John Kerry is to talk with he fellow swift boat veterans, then it's poor form to complain when we do, and those veterans tell us something that KE04 doesn't like.

TrackBack