Nightline Tonight: Swiftboat Vets

[Connie_Corleone]

(From their email)

TONIGHT'S FOCUS: Service in the Vietnam War, or lack of service, has become an issue in this election. John Kerry is running on his service record, the President is still dogged by questions about his service in the National Guard. Now there are veterans for Kerry, and veterans against him.

(snip)

Now I say people are angry because we have gotten a number of e-mails, starting the day the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth began their campaign, accusing us of all sorts of bias and worse for not investigating their claims. Whatever happened to patience? We wanted to investigate, but that takes a little time, but these days, unless there is some sort of instant response, it's clearly evidence of a conspiracy, or bias, or worse. Not sure what the "worse" is, but it seemed like a good way to end the sentence. I am increasingly convinced that we have lost something important in this country, and that's the capacity for honest disagreement. These days it's not enough that you have to prove the other person is wrong, you have to attack them and prove that they are a bad person for being wrong.

(snip)

In any case, we're going to take a look at all this tonight. Correspondent Jake Tapper will take a look at the dispute, the dueling groups of swift boat veterans, and the political connections on both sides. He'll also try to sort out the accuracy of the claims on both sides, although, as I said above, I don't expect that to satisfy anyone. And I don't say that with any happiness. Correspondent Mike Cerre, himself a veteran of Vietnam, will look at the split within the Vietnam veteran community as a whole. And does this dispute matter to other voters?

[SaveElmer]

1. Both sides my ass!!!

By saying there are two sides confers legitimacy on the SwiftBoatJerks claims...

There are not two legitimate sides to this...these people are out and out liars, and it doesn't take a weeks worth of investigation to find that out!!!

I'll be watching Letterman!

[buycitgo]

3. if they go into any detail about how CLOSELY aligned

these fux are to the Booshit campaign, then it will be worth it

they keep claiming to have no ties, and that's a TOTAL lie

will they talk about ONeill's Nixon/Colson connection

how ironic, on this thirtieth anniversary of his resignation

bet they don't, btw

[GiovanniC]

11. Thirteen Years, Really?

2004 minus 13 equals 1991.

[buycitgo]

12. really

really reread my post

really

[GiovanniC]

14. Really, I'm Dyslexic

Really.

[buycitgo]

35. really?

I couldn't help that other post

really

[Onlooker]

2. Even more interesting would be ...

Even more interesting would be to look at the dispute between those who claim Bush fulfilled his National Guard service, those who claim Bush was AWOL, and those who claim that Kerry defended our country as a young man while Bush snorted his youth away.

[buycitgo]

4. better YET if they devote EXACTLY AS MUCH time

to the AWOL story as they do on the Kerry liefest

[rucky]

6. or maybe looking at both sides of the "does a chicken have lips?" debate

those who say they have lips deserve equal time.

as do those who say the Earth is flat.


and NAMBLA

I say the Pope is Jewish.... do I get on Nightline, too?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

26. Maybe They Will Revisit Slavery?

NT

[senseandsensibility]

5. Ewwww....

Sounds like they're already scared to death because of all the mean freeperhead e-mails they've been getting. Notice that they're not scared of liberals chastising them for bashing a true war hero. Sounds like we have some work to do, DUers. Have you e-mailed any news programs about this? The more people who scream the truth at these mediawhores, the better. Right now, they're scared of offending the freepers, as usual. The truth is on our side. Are we going to use it?

[buycitgo]

7. excellent point

and what do you want to BET they cite Foxcheck, and say that theres' NO way to tell who's lying

wonder how they'll reconcile Thurlow's and Kerry's medals in the same firefree situation

can't wait

this is their LAST chance for me

[senseandsensibility]

8. Thanks!

Just e-mailed Nightline. My e-mail is below. I hesitated because I have been on vacation for the past week, and don't feel that I am very well informed on this issue. I know that many DUers are much better informed than I am, (such as you), and I hope that everyone will e-mail them before tonight's show.

My e-mail:
I understand that Nightline is going to cover the Swiftboat veterans tonight. Apparently, you have received some mean e-mails from rightwing kooks attempting to influence your coverage. You seem to be unusually affected by this. It seems that you still haven't realized that these are mass e-mails organized by FreeRepublic.com and other right wing sites. The vast, vast majority of your viewers do not agree with their views.

Remember, not so long ago, when the media was intimidated by such groups not to question the Bush administration's case for the Iraq invasion? The results were disastrous for our country. Forget about the mean e-mails. They're irrelevant. Tell the truth. Here is my final request: devote as much time to the very real questions surrounding Bush being AWOL as you do to these bogus, disgusting charges against a true war hero.

[buycitgo]

9. GREAT insights into the crux of the issue

I've posted a version of that, as well

if they tell the TRUTH, what on earth does it matter if they're contacted by the other side

the Washington Post almost didn't run with Watergate preCISELY because of pressure from the WH, though they were sure of their story.


they're largely lazy cowards, galloping safely along with the CW herd, never daring to stray from the story line

that's what they did to Clinton, to Gore, and FOR the cheery, honest, downhome, comfortable in his own skin Chimpanzee

the disgust me beyond all imagining

edit: got the email address?

[senseandsensibility]

17. I just

went to abcnews.com and clicked on nightline, then contact us. I think I will also send my thoughts to the actual e-mail address listed in the post below. Please do e-mail your thoughts. I think you have the facts at your disposal that I lack.

[KharmaTrain]

45. Send Some Snail Mail, Too...

More than ever, a written letter is gonna carry more weight than a gazillion emails. I'd suggest to those who feel so strongly to write Nightline, do so and also pop a copy...with a handwritten signature...to the network.

Also CC a copy to your local affiliate and ask that your letter be placed in the station's "Public Inspection File". Stations are required to do this or could face heavy fines or, in theory, loss of license.

[JDPriestly]

10. Both Sides

So they are looking at "both sides." This reminds me. We lived in Austria when my children were small. My oldest daughter was in the second grade in an Austrian school when Reagan shamefully placed a wreath in ceremony at a German WWII cemetery. My daughter came home from school very upset shortly before that and told me that Americans were evil because they had invaded Austria and occupied the country. After talking to my daughter, I realized that her teacher had told the children the occupation of Austria by the four powers, but had never told them why the Americans, British, Russian and French armies had entered Austria.

Very upset, I went to my daughter's school and confronted her teacher about this. Do you know what she said? Well, I did not talk about that because some of these children are growing up in homes where they have heard both sides of this story!!! Sometimes the "other side" of the story is a pack of lies and honest people don't repeat it.

How can I e-mail my comments to Nightline?

[senseandsensibility]

22. It's listed below

[email protected]. Please e-mail them. We all need to let them know that some charges are just smears, making "balanced" coverage of both sides misleading. If the facts prove that a charge is wrong, that should be stated clearly. I can tell by your post that you have a lot to add to this discussion, so I hope you make yourself heard.B-)

[Cocoa]

13. Foxcheck, I love it

I'm predicting Nightline will follow the same strategy as Factcheck, who pretends to be watching both sides, but consistently drops the ball on all the Big Lies of Bush.

Thus my email to Nightline:

Dear Nightline,

You apparently have decided to participate in the propagation of this smear against Kerry.

Any justification you come up with to devote a program to this smear will ring hollow, especially considering the way you covered the Bush AWOL story in 2000. That is to say, you did not cover it at all.

I remember how Peter Jennings embarrassed ABC News by dismissing Michael Moore's statement about Bush missing National Guard service, which was infinitely more valid than the Swiftboats smear.

[senseandsensibility]

23. I'm glad

you mentioned that episode with Peter Jennings. He was so ignorant. Even I was appalled, and I have zero expectations when it comes to these mediawhores.

[Tom Rinaldo]

15. Anyone have Nightline's email address handy?

Could you post it? It will speed up replies...

[Connie_Corleone]

16. [email protected]

The freepers are emailing them too right now.

[2Design]

25. isn't it [email protected]

[senseandsensibility]

28. The show is spelled

Nightline, but when I used the [email protected] address it went through.

[2Design]

29. ok this is what I sent

I have used [email protected] before. So I sent it to both.

Bush was AWOL and a deserter.

These other swift boat guys didn't like Kerry reporting the abuse and torture of Vietnam. Just like Rumsfeld doesn't like pictures of abuse and torture of current war.
Kerry was and is a strong leader.

I hope Nightline will show more of Kerry's positives unlike during the convention when nightline seemed to be on a witchhunt.

Eileen :)

[senseandsensibility]

30. You really got to the

point, didn't you? I think you're completely right.:bounce:

[Connie_Corleone]

34. That's what I get for copying it off FreeRepublic

DOH!!

:dunce:

[WiseMen]

18. Sent this to Niteline: takeoff from my analysis

Dear Mr. Koppel, I have heard that Niteline tonight will feature Kerry and Vietnam Vets. I am excited to watch but am, at the same time concerned that Niteline show will inevitably end up buttressing Rove’s well calculated and timed “swift-attack” which goes to the heart of the Democratic challenger’s strength: his honest, honor and credibility in the role of Commander-In-Chief.

It is clear that the brazenness of the Rove attach took Democrats by surprise: they had no well-packaged counter-attack to rollout. At this point the evidence of talk shows, talk radio and newspaper editorials is that Rove’s goal of insinuating doubt about Kerry’s record of service into public discourse is being achieved by a perverse use of the well ingrained media “on the one hand, on the other hand” model of covering a controversial story.

I worry that Niteline may fall into the same diabolical trap.

Consider the genius of an attack which is at once Pragmatic, Preparatory and Pre-emptive:

1. Rove has been ruthlessly pragmatic in achieving the element of surprise. He used the same passionate anti-Kerry Vet team with materials developed and road-tested as far back as the Nixon era; committed old-time right-wing campaign financiers who could keep a secret; and the same hit-piece producers who effectively smeared and ended McCain’s presidential campaign.
2. The swift-attack is precisely preparatory of the Republican Convention, serving to soften-up the Kerry-leaning undecided vote for what the NYT describes as concerted “effort to feature Mr. Kerry as an object of humor and calculated derision.”
3. A truly high-risk attack, Roves swift smear is most importantly a pre-emptive strike. The looming threat against Bush’s relative credibility in leadership of our military forces is the anticipated release of George Butlers “John Kerry” movie. This movie is expected to put Kerry’s service to the nation in the most favorable light if not in heroic proportions. The Bush campaign clearly wishes to cast doubt about the factual basis of Kerry’s service record, before the movie is screened.

John McCain tried to respond to the Vet Attack Ad with little effect. The Kerry campaign has provided documentary evidence that the Ad is fraudulent, to no effect. It is possible that a Niteline expose of the Rove operation could be effective in bring forward the truth. But, if it takes a “he says versus he says” approach it only serves the Bush campaigns objective of casting doubt on honorable service to the nation.

[senseandsensibility]

19. Thank you

for going into such detail. Very well said and persuasive. :toast:

[enki23]

20. jake tapper is doing it? he should give it a relatively fair shake

.

[imax2268]

21. just fired off my own email

to them...

let's hope it works...

[David Zephyr]

36. Tapper is Alright.

This should make it interesting, enki23.

[2Design]

24. Nightline has really been hitting kerry....during the convention

there coverage was sickening.... I think I have stopped watching them. They are sell outs.

Ted Kopple tried to put words in springsteins mouth....trying to say he was doing tour because he was against bush instead of for Kerry...

Well I am for Kerry and it did not start out that way... I love our team

[senseandsensibility]

27. I know how you feel

ABC is biased just like the other networks. I still hope you'll take the time to e-mail them about their coverage tonight.:-)

[progressivebydesign]

31. While I appreciate their attempt to be balanced and researched..

.. the thing they don't seem to understand is that one side of this horrid debate about Kerry's service is NOT coming from a place of knowledge. It's coming from a 30 year hatred of Kerry by that nut O'Neill. It's coming from Merry Spaeth, who's late husband was close to George Bush. It's coming from a legion of people funding this hate-group, all people who have STRONG political ties to either Bush or Rove. On the OTHER side... we have people who were ON the boat WITH Kerry... people who depended on him daily for their own survival. Except for that one nutty guy, his CREWMATES (WHO WERE ACTUALLY THERE!) all agree about Kerry's service.

It's disgusting to see how they are attacking a Veteran. Disgusting. It is in the same vein as the Willie Horton ads, the smear of John McCain, the smear of Max Clelland, and the smear of anyone who has run up against the likes of Lee Atwater or his slimy protgees, Bush and Rove.

ABC needs to NOT look at it as a he said vs. he said. It's DEEPER than that... and much, much uglier and shameful.

[senseandsensibility]

32. Please, please e-mail them

if you haven't already! Those are the kinds of facts that need to be thrown in their faces. If you wrote just what you wrote here, it would be very persuasive.:hi:

[Tom Rinaldo]

37. I sent Nightline this email

"Lost in this so called controversy about John Kerry's
service in Viet Nam is this simple fact. John Kerry
volunteered to be sent to Viet Nam, where he risked
his life for his country. George W. Bush did not. The
number and severity of the wounds Kerry received would
not be subject to debate had he pulled strings and
joined the National Guard instead. Consider this; how
many times was John Kerry shot at in Viet Nam? A few
inches difference here or there, on any number of
occasions, and Kerry would have been buried with full
military honors rather than receiving his purple
hearts. The men who served with John Kerry on his
Swift Boat testify to his courage and judgement under
fire.

Now compare the military service of these two men,
John Kerry and George W. Bush. George W. Bush skipped
taking a required physical exam while in the National
Guard, causing him to be grounded as a pilot, thereby
wasting the tax payer money spent training him to fly
fighters. John Kerry cruised the Mekong River under
fire, personally pulling a man to safety out of its
waters while under direct attack.

Kerry's political opponents second guess his judgment
under fire, and that of the U.S. Navy, which granted
John Kerry several honors for distinguished and brave
service to his nation. I question the judgment of
those who dishonor a man who answered the call to
serve his nation in combat, while honoring one who
safely avoided it."

[senseandsensibility]

38. Bravo!

Well done. Your letter says it all. It's very well written and impossible to argue with, IMHO.:toast:

[jfxgillis]

33. I got a feeling they're going hoist the swiftvets on their own petard

I wrote to [email protected] this morning and told them to compare the swiftvets current "affidavits" with the after-action reports they wrote at the time. Politicalunit wrote back and said: Watch Nightline tonight.

:^{)

Come to think of it, "hoisted on their own petard" is pretty appropos for a bunch of Navy liars!!

[WiseMen]

39. Is this definitely on Tonight? I am West Coast

[Chomskyite]

40. Don't worry about this

Jake Tapper is with us.

[cynatnite]

41. So Far

Nightline sure has poked some serious holes in the swift vets.

If nothing else, an ax to grind over his testimony back in 71.

Cyn:)

[Hamlette]

42. has anyone seen it?

it just started here but I don't want to watch it if it's going to make me mad.

[Jackpine Radical]

43. I can't get Nightline. What's happening/happened?

[alarcojon]

44. Some discussion here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=109x11858

unfortunately, I didn't get to see it either. Anyone know if/when it will be replayed?