BREAKING NEWS
MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 2:26 p.m. ET Aug. 23, 2004CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush says a veterans' group should stop television ads criticizing John Kerry's war record.

The president's criticism of the ads by Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth came as Bush denounced all TV ads by outside groups attacking both Kerry and himself on Monday and called for a halt to all such political efforts.

“I think they're bad for the system,” he said.

When asked specifically whether the ads by the group "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" should be halted, Bush said: "All of them. That means that ad, every other ad. Absolutely."

"I can't be more plain about it," Bush said. "I hope my opponent joins me in condemning these activities of the 527s (political groups that sponsor to ads). I think they're bad for the system."

On one hand, Bush's remarks fulfilled one request made by the Kerry campaign and voiced by Kerry running mate, Sen. John Edwards, on Saturday. "This is a moment of truth for George W. Bush," Edwards said at a Democratic rally. "We're going to see what kind of man he is and what kind of leader he is. ... We want to hear three words: Stop these ads."

But Bush's comments did not satisfy a broader demand from the Kerry camp and Sen. John McCain, one of Bush's own key supporters, that "the Bush campaign should specifically condemn the ad.''

Meanwhile, the Kerry campaign continued to battle the charges made in the ad — that the Democratic senator had lied about wartime events in Vietnam for which he received five medals.In a conference call with reporters arranged by aides to the Democratic presidential candidate, Navy Swift Boat officers Rich McCann, Jim Russell and Rich Baker said Kerry acted honorably and bravely and was well-qualified to be the nation's commander in chief.

“He was the most aggressive officer in charge of swift boats,” Baker said.

Additionally, crewmate Del Sandusky said at a news conference in Harrisburg, Pa., that he personally witnessed the battle action for which Kerry received Silver and Bronze stars and two of his three Purple Hearts.

“He deserved every one of his medals,” Sandusky, a retired computer repairman who drove Kerry's boat for nearly three months.

• 'Issues'
Aug. 22: An advertisement released by the Kerry campaign aims to combat those from Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, and blames President Bush for the efforts of the "front group."
Kerry-Edwards 2004


The attack on Kerry's war record has dominated the presidential campaign in the days since Swift Boat Veterans For Truth began airing its commercial in three states.

With polls suggesting Kerry's standing was beginning to slip — at least among veterans — the Democrat last week called on Bush to call for the ads to be pulled from the air. He also accused Bush of allowing front groups to “do his dirty work.”

Bush's campaign heatedly denied any connection with the anti-Kerry group, and called on the Democratic challenger to join the president in a call for all outside groups to pull their ads.
Bush has himself been subjected to a multimillion-dollar barrage of attack ads aired by groups seeking to help Kerry win the White House.

Earlier Monday, Kerry accused Bush of standing silent just as he did four years ago when supporters waged a campaign of “lies” to destroy the White House hopes of McCain when Bush and McCain were foes in the 2000 Republican primary campaign.

Kerry's charges of a "smear" by the Bush campaign followed a number of charges and countercharges about the matter on television talk shows and elsewhere Sunday.

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth says Kerry didn't deserve his Purple Hearts, lied to get his Bronze Star and Silver Star, wasn't fighting in neutral Cambodia as he said he was and that he unfairly branded all veterans with his 1971 congressional testimony about atrocities in Vietnam.

A new Kerry campaign ad says Bush smeared McCain four years ago and “Now, he's doing it to John Kerry.”

A former Vietnam prisoner of war, McCain lost the South Carolina Republican primary in 2000 after Bush supporters accused him of opposing legislation to help military veterans. McCain never recovered from that primary loss.

No proof
One of Kerry's accusers acknowledged he had no documentary proof for his allegation that Kerry fabricated reports in an incident for which the Massachusetts senator received a Bronze Star. The reports say Kerry was under enemy fire when he rescued a fellow crewman.

“I do not have a single document,” Van Odell said on “Fox News Sunday.” “I have the fact that I wasn't wounded in that 5,000 meters of fire that he wrote about. ... There was no enemy fire from either bank.” He said he had seven eyewitness backing up his version of events. Other witnesses say there was enemy fire at the time Kerry made the rescue.

1/52/53/54/55/5

• 'Any questions?'
This 60-second anti-Kerry ad features Vietnam veterans who accuse Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry of lying about his Vietnam War record and betraying his fellow veterans.

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth


• 'Issues'
Aug. 22: An advertisement released by the Kerry campaign aims to combat those from Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, and blames President Bush for the efforts of the "front group."

Kerry-Edwards 2004


• Kerry defends war record
Aug. 19: John Kerry responds directly to attacks on his Vietnam military service Thursday, accusing President Bush of relying on front groups to challenge his war record.

MSNBC TV


• Firing back
Aug. 19: John Kerry's campaign releases a new ad that responds to one from "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" that attacks Kerry's war record.

Kerry-Edwards 2004


• New ad critical of Kerry
Aug. 20: The independent group "Swift Boat Veterans For Truth" releases a new ad criticizing John Kerry's congressional testimony on atrocities committed in Vietnam.

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth




Former Sen. Bob Dole, a World War II veteran and 1996 Republican presidential nominee, suggested Kerry apologize for his 1971 testimony to Congress about atrocities U.S. soldiers allegedly committed in Vietnam.

Dole, who has a disabled right arm from war wounds, said Kerry received an early exit from combat for “superficial wounds.” He called on the nominee to release all of his Vietnam service records.

Dole told CNN's “Late Edition” that he warned Kerry months ago about going “too far” and that the Democrat may have himself to blame for the current situation, in which polls show him losing support among veterans.

“One day he's saying that we were shooting civilians, cutting off their ears, cutting off their heads, throwing away his medals or his ribbons,” Dole said. “The next day he's standing there, "I want to be president because I'm a Vietnam veteran.' Maybe he should apologize to all the other 2.5 million veterans who served. He wasn't the only one in Vietnam.”

'Superficial wounds'
Dole added: “And here's, you know, a good guy, a good friend. I respect his record. But three Purple Hearts and never bled that I know of. I mean, they're all superficial wounds. Three Purple Hearts and you're out.”

RELATED STORY
WashPost: Swift boat accounts incomplete, flawed



Kerry spokesman Chad Clanton replied: “It's unfortunate that Senator Dole is making statements that official U.S. Navy records prove false. This is partisan politics, not the truth.”

Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said he didn't think Kerry had waited too long to respond to the attacks.

“The same effort was made by some Republicans with Bush against John McCain four years ago. It was resented then. It's resented now by the American people,” Levin said on CBS' “Face the Nation.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

By PETE YOST

(AP) President Bush gestures as he answers questions after his defense meeting on his ranch Monday, Aug....
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CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - President Bush on Monday denounced campaign commercials aired by outside groups, including an ad that accuses John Kerry of lying about his combat record in Vietnam.

"That ad and every other ad" run by such groups have no place in the campaign, Bush said when asked about the commercial sponsored by Swift Boat Veterans For Truth that has roiled the race for the White House.

Asked directly whether his Democratic rival for the presidency had lied, Bush said, "I think Senator Kerry served admirably and he ought to be proud of his record."

Personally, I think this whole 527 money thing is a mistake. Both sides can hide behind it - and as far as I'm concerned both sides have.

I say it's best if someone does thier own ads and is responsible for their content. Left or right wing hit squads can't be good for the system. I'd love to see them all banned.

"I'm fisherdan and I support this post."

I'd like to see them ignored.

It really is amazing how this election has been sidetracked by a war 30 years ago. Bush this and Kerry that about Viet Nam.

Hey man..........Viet Nam is over. I'd like a little more of what's happening NOW, and what's going to happen.

It's more of the same old two-party tactic though. Press a hot button issue (war, abortion, gay marriage, record labels) and let people snipe at each other and ignore how ineffective either party has been in putting forward decent candidates. This Viet Nam thing as just the same old same old.

Outlawing the ads is not the right thing to do. If people want to pool their money to make their voice heard, they should be able to, whatever message they send. It's up to the responsible voter to take the ads for what they are.........

You'd think voters would tire of it........and maybe some will. But it won't end, and in this country it shouldn't.

Dan

Sidetracked you ain't kidding, what ever happened to debates...

"It's up to the responsible voter to take the ads for what they are........."


Sadly Dan, that's EXACTLY why we see so many of these soft money ads. America is SORELY LACKING responsible, reasonable, informed voters and BOTH parties know it! Hell, they count on it!

It's just like you said... as long as we can be manipulated into partisan bickering over stupid issues, it is us, the average American voter that is the inevitable loser.

Most voters even the ones that think they are informed are not. Case in point right here on the ITLBF forum many complain about the deficit and cite it as one of there top three issues with the current admin. All the info they need to truely understand what is causing the deficit are online and readily available. Yet they choose not to research and understand the issue for themselves because it's easier to just assume the other guy has a better solution. So most voters are subject to these ads because it's easier than thinking and certainly easier than doing. Americans on the whole have a reduced attention span primarily due to the TV remote.

Increasing deficit = war = Bush = Vote Democrat