Since Kerry is considered GOD I am sure this will be considered controversial. Just reposting from CNN

consider it spreading the word

Group's ad says Kerry lied
By Mark Memmott, USA TODAY
One of the harshest ads of the presidential campaign goes on TV in three states Thursday. Members of the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth accuse Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry of lying about his Vietnam War record.
The ad, called 'any questions' is the toughest political ad since an anti-Bush spot called 'Fire Rumsfeld' (showing a hooded Statue of Liberty to remind voters of how U.S. soldiers had abused prisoners in Iraq) was aired by the liberal group MoveOn.org in late May. (Related items: McCain condemns anti-Kerry ad | View the ad)

The Kerry campaign and some of his Navy crewmates from the war condemned 'any questions' Wednesday and said Republican activists and money were behind it.

Bush-Cheney '04 spokesman Steve Schmidt said the campaign had nothing to do with the group and 'has never and will never question Sen. Kerry's service in Vietnam.'

Most controversial is the ad's claim that Kerry has lied about a March 13, 1969, incident that earned him a Bronze Star. Kerry and the other men with him that day on a small Navy swift boat patrolling the Bay Hap River, have said Kerry endangered his life while pulling Special Forces Lt. Jim Rassmann into the boat as the enemy was shooting at them.

In the ad, former Navy 2nd class gunner's mate Van O'Dell says, 'John Kerry lied to get his bronze star. I know — I was there.' In an interview with USA TODAY on Wednesday, O'Dell said he was on another swift boat at the scene. He said there was no enemy gunfire directed at the boats.

Rassmann, in a conference call arranged by the Kerry campaign, called O'Dell's account 'pure fabrication.'

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth says it has 250 members. Most have disliked Kerry for more than 30 years. The reason: He protested against the Vietnam War after returning home, and in 1971 said on national TV that he and others in the U.S. military committed 'atrocities.'

The Kerry campaign pointed to that fact that $100,000 of the $158,000 that Swift Boat Veterans for Truth had raised by June 30 had come from one source: longtime GOP contributor Bob Perry, a Texas home builder. Swift Boat Veterans for Truth says it will spend $500,000 to air the ad in: Ohio, W.Va., and Wis. By Wednesday evening, it had bought $156,000 worth of time in seven small cities.

I read a similar article in the times this morning. First of all, that's justone side's spin on it. The veteran's group who put it out has close ties to the republican party. Kerry had a lot of people who were ACTUALLY WITH him, say he didn't lie. According to the NYT one of the spokespersons for the group is a doctor who claims to have treated John kerry. however, the Kerry camp has denied this and has proven it to be untrue with kerry's medical records. These people have absolutely no proof. It's their word against the people who were in kerry's boat's words, and I think the people closer to him are more credible, but as they say, there are 3 sides to every story.


As far as criticizing Senator Kerry for coming home from vietnam only to protest the war, there's nothing wrong with that. He saw the war first hand and decided it was wrong. The fact that he can see these complexities and reevaluate his opinions and realize the world is not black and white is an honorable and commendable thing. If only bush had the same capacity for understanding complexity.

All politicians lie.

I still HATE Bush.

1) I don't think any one considers John Kerry God- don't you think that's a little excessive? As a God fearing Liberal- yes they do exist- I find that pretty insulting. Although I do consider George W akin to the devil.. ha, just kidding.

2) McCain- a Republican- has come out basically saying that this is a lie and asked Bush to denounce the ad. The White House has said they had nothing to do with the advertisement and Kerry honorably served in Vietnam. I think it's pretty disgusting that someone goes and basically puts their life on the line, but because the experience changed the way they felt about the war, they aren't considered a hero anymore. This is the same sh!t the Bush camp did to McCain in 2000- basically smeared him and told the public he wasn't a war hero after he spent 4+ years as a POW- that to me is another testament as to how slimey your buddy George W is.

3) What's the deal with people changing their minds- have you never changed your mind after learning more information about something? That's just called the learning process.. what if people didn't want to 'flip flop' once confronted with evidence that the Earth was round- so they mainted it was flat because changing your mind is bad.. it's just ridiculous. Although sound Republican dogma as they don't ever learn or grow- every time they get in office they change to supply side economics- and every time they do, the economy gets sluggish.. duh.

Yeah, this should actually be irrelevent to teh election as both the Kerry AND the Bush camps have denounced it. They said they would never question Kerry's military service.

So basically, everyone knows that it's all BS

ETA: That CNN article says they've haed Kerry for 30 years. memories cna change a lot over time, especially ones from 30 years ago. if you've hated someone for 30 years, I think you'd probably be inclined to remember things in a more negative way, that is, if you're not lying. And it makes me want to throw up, knowing that they hate him for protesting the war. 30 years later we all know it was a mistake at best and an atrocity. Hindsight is 20/20, but not for these people. And some people, like Kerry, caught on pretty quickly

THEY ALL LIE..

ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN BUSH.. IMO..

Wow this campaign may be the most important yet.

I am on the fence about who to vote for.

One could be a COWARD based on the information presented ..Kerry looks like a good guy but I dont think he can lead this country in wartime...he'd be a by the numbers kinda of president . The other has personal vendettas to settle and that in itself is unstable.

. I dont know who would make a better president... just bring back clinton.

The thing is, it's a 'he said/he said' situation.

One man could be right or wrong. We just have to believe who we want.

It's not that controversial to be honest.

USA TODAY, there's a quality source for ya...

i don't know what the big deal is, like Maribelle7777 had mentioned 'he said/he said'...

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Posted by myasmom

The whole election is based on he said/he said. There is proof to discount both sides...which is sad.

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one must dig a little to find the 'truth', but unfortunately the main stream media is all drama, no substance...

I dont trust the media..and thats one reason why the truth is so hard to uncover. What may appear as fact even after some digging..can still be fiction.....especially how partial documents can be leaked and appear as proof. Unless all the pieces of the puzzle are infront of me I dont trust 100% and thats hard because rarely do 'we'get to see All.