I just read a book that provides the background of the Swiftboat Vets campaign against Kerry in 2004. It is called To Set the Record Straight. It is a little odd that Amazon shows only a paperback edition at a price of $25. The authors have a website also called To Set the Record Straight. The website also lists the book and I bought two copies at a slightly higher price for hard cover. It is a very good read and I highly recommend it.
My review should be up on Amazon soon and I won’t repeat it. The other reviews are interesting. Several are from vets who provide additional documentation and a couple are from disgruntled Kerry supporters still fighting the war of 2004.
It’s leftist dogma now that the Swiftboaters was a wholly unwarranted and fraudulent attack emanating from the mind of Karl Rove.
They accuse critics of “swiftboating” Obama by showing the Wright videos, when not so long ago they used to boast of “borking” yet another Republican judicial nominee. That was then, this is now.
Ah, Carol…I think it is because they believe they are on the side of aggressively nonsecular angels, and are thus 200% Correct. To defend what is Correct is all important. Much more so than truth or fairness.
And sadly, some of my rightwing brethren fall into this trap, as well.
Actually, “swiftboating” is not a bad term for the Wright tapes.
Accurate ? Check.
Outrageous ? Check.
Devastating to the candidate ? Check
Sounds OK to me.
“Swiftboating” (v.) – telling the truth about Democrats
It is the absolute hypocrisy that bothers me. I don’t mind people being partisan. But when they attack a Republican for habits for which Democrats get a “pass,” that annoys me no end.
With the Wright business, notice how the Left tries to bring up McCain’s pretty outrageous minister friend. But McCain didn’t go to that church for two decades, was not married by that minister, did not give thousands of dollars to that church, and—to me, most importantly—raise his daughters under that man’s weekly sermons of “hate Whitey.”
Especially given his mother’s race, and the race of the grandparents who raised him.
But we are told to move along, that McCain’s minister somehow said worse.
Puh-leeze.
I don’t care about a strict code of behavior for candidates. In fact, I think it is a good idea. But let’s apply that code equitably.