The Swiftboaters' new ad focuses on what effect John Kerry's words and actions as an anti-war activist had on the POWs and other Vietnam vets. Former POWs Cordier and Galanti were very effective, but I wish that each time they were shown that they had been re-identified as POWs. Yes, I know that's not how it's done: identify once and not thereafter, but when the last man spoke, I couldn't remember if that was former POW Galanti, or the non-POW wounded vet, Joe Ponder. I think they should have focused solely on the POWs, and used another ad to talk about Kerry's denigration of Vietnam veterans in general. The POWs are the heavy artillery and make the poor wounded vet look like a pop-gun.
It's a very good ad. I just felt the impact was diffused a bit by the presence of a non-POW.
(Via Ace.)
UPDATE:
The Kerry Campaign has filed a complaint with the FEC against the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. Also, yesterday it was reported Kerry manager Chad Clanton had contacted booksellers demanding they remove the Swiftboaters' book "Unfit For Command." For a group that a few months ago couldn't get a major news outlet to come to their press conference, they sure have become target number one for the Kerry Campaign.
I smell fear.
I'm not sure exactly what the smell is from, but it does stink.
None of this makes any sense, though. The Swifties are a small group with limited financial resources. IIRC, their entire initial budget was around $225,000 from all sources. That would have been enough for the first ad to air a couple of times in only a few areas.
The DNC steps in and tries to give TV stations a reason NOT to broadcast it at all, which immediately makes it news. Big time. Which then also advertises Unfit For Command even more. Big time. (I think it's going to show as #3 on the NYTimes list on Sunday.)
Now those "dingbats" are trying to quash the book (more free advertising for it and the Swifties) plus the bogus FEC complaint?
The only thing any of these maneuvers has accomplished is to keep Swiftvets in the news constantly, and by extention Johnny's VN record -- the only thing it seems he's running on, which really doesn't stand up to scrutiny anyway.
None. Of. This. Makes. Sense. They can't be this stupid, or can they?
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Donna (yep, me too)
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