Election History - 8/24/04 - Bush/Cheney Lawyer Resigns -Acknowledges Advising Swift Boat Veterans

[Median Democrat]

Just another reminder why this election will get even tougher, and the polls are likely to tighten. The GOP plays dirty.

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/25/ginsberg.swiftboat/

/snip

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A legal adviser to the Bush-Cheney campaign resigned Wednesday after revealing that he had also advised the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the 527 group that has launched a campaign to discredit Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's military record.

* * *

Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is a so-called 527 -- named after the federal provision that makes such organizations tax exempt and allows them to accept unlimited donations.

The group has aired commercials in several battleground states criticizing Kerry's record and accusing him of lying about the mission that led to him being awarded the Bronze Star in the Vietnam War.

In his resignation letter, Ginsberg said there is "a stunning double standard" between the news media's focus on "the activities of 527s aligned with John Kerry and those opposed to him."

"I cannot begin to express my sadness that my legal representations have become a distraction from the critical issues at hand in this election," Ginsberg wrote.

"I feel I cannot let that continue, so I have decided to resign as national counsel to your campaign to ensure that the giving of legal advice to decorated military veterans ... doesn't distract from the real issues upon which you and the country should be focusing."

Ginsberg is the second Bush-Cheney adviser to separate himself from the campaign over the group, which has accused Kerry of lying to get his three Purple Hearts, Silver Star and Bronze Star during his Vietnam service.

Retired Air Force Col. Ken Cordier, an unpaid adviser to the campaign on veterans' issues, resigned earlier this week after he appeared in a new ad taking on the Massachusetts senator for his antiwar activities when he returned from Vietnam.

The Kerry campaign filed a complaint last week with the Federal Election Commission alleging that the group illegally coordinated with the Bush campaign.

The Bush campaign called the complaint "frivolous and false." (Kerry files FEC complaint against swift boat group)

/snip

[MBS]

1. thanks for the timely reminder. n/t

[Xipe Totec]

2. Aw, poor guy... give Ginsberg something for his pain and suffering

Too bad they don't come in a purple box.

[blm]

3. It also reminds that Kerry DID fight back against the group and exposed Bush's ties to the group.

But since the corpmedia has managed to downplay all his counters at the time and over the years, even many Dems believe no counter ever happened.

[Median Democrat]

4. Again, The Key Issue Is Big Media's Cooperation With The GOP, Not Strategy

Big Media loves to attribute Democratic losses to some sort of campaign strategy failure. However, the real, consistent reason is Big Media's heavy cooperation with the GOP. Fox News just runs propaganda 24/7. ABC runs hit pieces disguised as fictional dramas (Path to 9/11). Finally, CNN and MSNBC mostly just follow along with the narratives offered by Fox and ABC. This will be a very tough election unless Democrats are willing to outwork the GOP.

[blm]

5. I just couldn't wait to see FLYBOY every time CNN aired it in 2004 - all 20 times.

.

[blm]

6. And why is Obama meeting swiftliars' moneyman as if he has a legitimate voice in the campaign?

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[Median Democrat]

7. Like It Or Not Pickens Is A Player On Alternative Energy Sources

What energy industry companies do you suggest that Obama deal with or meet with? I would guess that the energy industry is heavily Republican.

Or, are you proposing that Obama develop an energy plan without the input or support of any energy industry types? This is a nice concept, and idealistic, but unrealistic.

My take is I would rather have T. Boone Pickers in the tent pissing out, rather than the other way around.

[blm]

8. Pickens is proposing a FASCIST energy plan where wind and water is privately owned by HIM.

WTF does like it or not have to do with it? Do Dems side with fascists just because they wrapped a plan up in green paper that won't last long?

[Median Democrat]

9. Are You Suggesting A Litmus Test? Look At Today's Event In NM

Obama is not endorsing Pickens. He said so today in a NM townhall. He noted Pickens role with Kerry. However, he said that he wants to develop a new energy plan with input from the energy industry.

Now, are you suggesting a Bush Justice Department litmus test where we verify their idealogy before we deal with them in their area of expertise? I thought we criticized the Bush justice department for such tactics.

[blm]

10. Have input from credible energy brokers not the fascists looking to privatize wind and water.

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