Bush, his family have many ties to Swift Boat vets

[onefreespiritedchick]

Some who now rip Kerry previously praised him


MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 4:56 p.m. ET Aug. 20, 2004

The veterans' group behind the controversial TV ads that question Sen. John Kerry’s Vietnam war record has extensive ties to President Bush and his family, other high-profile Texas politicians and Bush’s chief political aide — ties that have raised questions about possible illegal coordination between Bush’s re-election campaign and the group.

Described as a “web of connections,” the links between the Bushes and the group were detailed in a Friday piece in the New York Times that also listed inconsistencies in some of the veterans' own public statements on their regard for Kerry.

How the group known as the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth "came into existence is a story of how veterans with longstanding anger about Mr. Kerry's antiwar statements in the early 1970s allied themselves with Texas Republicans," The Times said.

The group's ads accuse the Democratic presidential nominee of exaggerating his war record to win war medals and say he is unfit to be president.

"A series of interviews and a review of documents show a web of connections to the Bush family, high-profile Texas political figures and President Bush's chief political aide, Karl Rove," the Times reported. "Several of those now declaring Mr. Kerry 'unfit' had lavished praise on him, some as recently as last year.


MSNBC
The story appeared in the Times a day after Kerry fought back against the veterans' allegations, accusing Bush of using a Republican front group “to do his dirty work” and challenging Bush to debate their wartime service records. “Well, if he wants to have a debate about our service in Vietnam, here is my answer: Bring it on,” said the Democratic presidential candidate, reviving an old war and campaign slogan amid strong urging from party leaders for him to respond to two-week-old GOP assertions.

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5771731/

[opihimoimoi]

1. As usual, our El Grwaco President will lose in the end for he wears a

knitted sweater to do battle....with the 3 Amigos, Kerry/Edwards/Moore

[Moderator]

2. Title doesn't match the story

also copyright violation.