White House repudiates anti-Kerry ad

[Nambe]

COLUMBUS, United States (AFP)

The White House distanced itself from a commercial by a controversial veterans' group that accuses Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry of lying about his service in Vietnam.

"We have been very clear in stating that, you know, we will not and we have not and we will not question Senator Kerry's service in Vietnam," spokesman Scott McClellan said as US President George W. Bush made a campaign stop here. ..

.. McClellan coupled his comments about the ad to a broader call for closing the loophole that allows the groups, most of which are hostile to Bush, to operate.

"The president deplores all the unregulated soft money activity," he said, calling the ad "another example of the problem with the unregulated soft money activity that is going on." ..

Ride Don’t Drive It’s Global Cool

[shoelace414]

1. that;'s not repudiating

that's like apologizing by saying "I'm sorry you took offense"

[arwalden]

5. Or "I'm sorry if anything I said was misunderstood"

[Karenina]

35. Another FLIP-FLOP???

wicket Thu Aug-05-04 05:57 PM
Original message
The White House has DECLINED to condemn the Swift Boat liars!!!!

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040805/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_mccain

Republican Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called an ad criticizing John Kerry's military service "dishonest and dishonorable" and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as well.

The White House declined.

-snip-

White House spokesman Scott McClellan declined to condemn the ad. He did denounce the proliferation of spending by independent groups, such as the anti-Kerry veterans organization, that are playing on both sides of the political fence.

"The president thought he got rid of this unregulated soft money when he signed the bipartisan campaign finance reform into law," McClellan said. A chief sponsor of that bill, which Bush initially opposed, was McCain.
--------------------------------------------------

And then Scottie uses this as a chance to take a swipe at Campaign Finance Reform (McCain's bill)!!!!!!!

[MISSDem]

25. It's like saying "the jury will disregard that testimony". Right. Once

you have heard it it is hard to forget it, especially if you want to believe it anyway.

[arwalden]

37. OUT-Standing Comparison, MissDem!!!!!

That's precisely what this is like. You can't "un-ring" the bell.

-- Allen

[SayitAintSo]

42. "Pissing in the Milk...." That's what it's called....

Once you've done it, you can't strain it out - damage done.

Hope these fuckers burn for this....

[Myrina]

47. I was thinking the same thing !!!

:yourock: Brilliant !!

[saracat]

49. Diitto! Lol!

And then they turn the blame on 527, implying that it's the Dems fault for using them!

[rangerfan]

2. Sounds more like tap-dancing than repudiation.

[HuckleB]

3. Of course he deplores "soft money."

He doesn't want to have to play on a flatter playing field.

Nevermind that the White House wouldn't have done dick, if McCain hadn't put the issue out there.

[wryter2000]

4. Yeah, right

<nudge-nudge, wink-wink>

[joefree1]

6. Yeah, wouldn't want this campaign to be about military service

Would we?


Download the free bumper art here:
http://ediablo.com/eDiabloGallery.html

[Cocoa]

7. they will not and they have not and they will not?

:dunce:

[displacedtexan]

13. Huh?

Sounds like the email I got from Pappageorge (Suppress the Detroit vote guy), in which he claimed he didn't know that 'suppress' was a 'code word.' He thought it meant 'reduce.'

And 'reducing' the Detroit vote is not a bad thing?

What total idiots! All of them!

And mean!

And that's a lethal combination!

[JDPriestly]

15. The White House should state clearly that there is no

evidence to support statements questioning Kerry's military service record.

I read in the L.A. Times that one of the men accusing Kerry claims to have been the doctor who treated Kerry for one of his wounds. If that were true, why didn't the doctor note his doubts in Kerry's medical records at the time he claims he treated Kerry. "Memories" of such incidents if not recorded immediately are not reliable. The doctor was in an extremely stressful situation and was probably treating many patients. He could easily have mixed up his "memories" about different people he treated. His "memories" are awfully convenient. Sometimes, even the best intentioned people remember what they want to believe as the truth.

[lukasahero]

21. Refuted by Franken

Apparently the name of the doctor in this group is not the name of the doctor who signed off on his hospital form.

[LiberalBushFan]

8. Does this whore journalist even mention McCain?

I voted the story a 1, because it ignores that obvious fact that it was a response to McCain and makes it seem like they had the integrity to denounce it themselves.

[BrotherBuzz]

9. White House can't repudiate the ad....

until the Friday afternoon news dump. Dontcha know?

[k in IA]

10. That is a shitty and incorrect headline. In the article, it says

they "distanced" themselves from it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

11. Headline is inaccurate

but you already knew that, didn't you?

[DaveFL99]

12. Now Kerry should disavow any connection to the CHB articles

that said Bush was crazy and on drugs.

It's only fair that Kerry go on a major news show and tell the American public that he has no proof that The Shrub is a drooling wacko as described at www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_4921.shtml

[displacedtexan]

14. That's hilarious! n/t

[Tempest]

16. There are very big differences

1. The story is not a campaign ad.
2. The story doesn't mention Kerry, or support for Kerry.
3. Capitol Hill Blue is not the source of the article.

[sandnsea]

26. Somebody should make one

So Kerry can disavow it. "We will not question Bush's mental stability"

[Tempest]

27. Better yet

"We don't believe there is any question on Bush's mental stability."

[sandnsea]

33. Yeah, that's better. lol n/t

[Lizzie Borden]

40. I just can't stop laughin...

n/t

[Lizzie Borden]

41. I just can't stop laughin...

n/t

[yardwork]

43. I think we need to include more detail....

just to be sure that the public understands.

Kerry could say, "We condemn the stories from numerous White House senior staff that have appeared in so many news articles stating unequivocably that the president is a drooling dope fiend who wanders the halls speaking in tongues, faints during staff meetings, and says a lot of bad words that any Christian would deplore.

We think it is just terrible that the press feels the need to publicize personal details like this about the president and his illnesses. Also, we feel that the president should be supported, not mocked, as he struggles with these personal issues."

That ought to do it!

[JerseygirlCT]

45. Perfect! nt

[cthrumatrix]

17. what a shameful day.... we have had too many with this clown in office

[unfrigginreal]

18. LOL - I'm still looking for Ed Gillespie's byline but I don't see it.

The groups -- the best known of which, MoveOn.org, has fiercely attacked Bush -- are known as "527s," a reference to the tax-code provision that grants them special status.

[RamboLiberal]

19. Anyone note it was the firm McCain used for his ads

The ad, scheduled to air in a few markets in Ohio, West Virginia and Wisconsin, was produced by Stevens, Reed, Curcio and Potham, the same team that produced McCain's ads in 2000.

"I wish they hadn't done it," McCain said of his former advisers. "I don't know if they knew all the facts."

Asked if the White House knew about the ad or helped find financing for it, McCain said, "I hope not, but I don't know. But I think the Bush campaign should specifically condemn the ad."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/08/05/politics/main634123.shtml

McCain needs to repudiate this ad firm as well. And Repugs should tell them they'll never use them again. They need to be bitch-slapped.
You know I think this has blown up in Rove's face! I think Karl is losing his touch. Everyone is on to him.

And if you haven't gotten it yet - get the DVD Bush's Brain - about Karl Rove by a couple of Texas journalists who know Rove and his dirty tricks bag. They cover what Rove did to McCain in SC. I just wish they had covered the dirty crap that was pulled on Gore as well. I bet the Kerry campaign has read the book and seen this DVD.

[Avalon Sparks]

38. I think..

That firm is the same firm that smeared McCain in the primaries against Bush in 2000.

It wasn't a firm McCain used for his ads, although it does read that way...

[Kool Kitty]

20. Sorry, Scottie, you droning little shithead.

We need to hear an outright, out-front denouncement of this ad. This little statement doesn't half do that.

[AngryAmish]

22. Be nice to Scottie

You'll make him sad.

[Kool Kitty]

23. He already is sad.

A sad excuse for a human being.

[gatlingforme]

28. as far as press secretaries go he STINKS. He is a bad liar too.

[Kool Kitty]

48. He is a nightmare, isn't he?

I didn't think it was possible, but this guy is so bad that I almost miss Ari Fleisher. Almost.

[gatlingforme]

50. LOL, at least Ari had somewhat of a sense of humor about his lying.

[Kool Kitty]

51. My thought exactly.

At least Ari could be somewhat entertaining and actually displayed a trace of emotion once in a while. Scott barely even blinks.

[maxrandb]

24. Like I said in a previous post

It does not matter. They got what they wanted, which was to get this piece of crap into the news. Just watch and be amazed as it is folded, spindled, rehashed and rerun on all the major networks.

This ad is good for about 15 days on Rush and Hanity, then Fox news will run with it. Next thing you know, CNN will feel they have to run it because they don't understand that Faux's ratings are what they are because they throw red meat to the lions, or what we like to call "preach to the choir". The people that watch Faux News are never going to change. Why waste your time trying to change for them. Faux will always have a block of mouth breathing, knuckle dragging neanderthals watching them, because it's been drilled into their heads for the past 20 years that they have no other place to go. Remember, the only, and I mean to them, THE ONLY reason Repukes were out of power for 50 years was because of the "librul" media. Of course they are going to run to Faux. It's the same with talk radio. All you have on AM radio now is 3 hours of Rush, followed by 21 hours of people that agree with him. It's all because they (neo-cons) only want to hear what they want to hear. ergo, talk radio.

We need to have someone make a similarly disgusting ad to counter this. Swiftboat Vets have already shown us that you don't need to be concerned with facts to be disgusting. Fight fire with fire I say.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

29. Right: "pay no attention to this ad which we must call your attention to"

:eyes:

[maxrandb]

31. Just Like Willie Horton

If memory serves me right it ran on about 2 stations. Did not matter. You could actually catch the whole ad about 50 times a day on CNN as they talked about it. Nothing like free advertising from our "librul" media, eh?

[progressivebydesign]

30. BUT the people doing it ARE BUSH CRONIES...

.. Bullshit! Bullshit! Bullshit! These attacks, their website, and now the piece of shit BOOK are ALL have Bush and Rove all over them.

NOW. it's up to us, and some REAL journalists to PROVE that the bastards are tied into the Bush camp. And, it can be done..

[oneighty]

32. Senator Bob Doles first purple heart

was caused by an errant hand grenade which he threw, bounced off a tree exploded, his leg was cut. The wound was bandaged he returned to duty the next day. A self inflicted though unintentional wound? (I guess)

My source? A news magazine article I read long ago. The democrats never used that against Senator Dole. Why? Because Democrats respect those that have served.

Republican's have no respect for military men and women.

IMHO.

180

[MaineDem]

34. Not good enough, Scottie (nt)

[debm55]

36. Is John O'Neil in on this?

John O'Neill was paid by Nixon to "distroy" John Kerry in the '70's.
O'Neill and Kerry had a debate on Dick Cavett's show where Kerry ripped him another hole.
>
Ted Sampley is another name to look for as he did the same smear campaign on McCain.
>
Would like to see some investigative reporting done on who is actually funding this smear campaign.

[JohnKleeb]

39. yes O'Neil is in on it

[AlFrankenFan]

44. "we will not and we have not and we will not question Senator Kerry's...

service."

Biggest lie of the century...scratch that, day.

[BadGimp]

46. the important thing for them is..

They got the blood in the water.

No way we can get it out.

[The_Casual_Observer]

52. Nothing was repudiated except MoveOn's ads

That bastard simply redirected the discussion to MOveOn's campaign.

[Tight_rope]

53. Run if you want:..But we know the Bob Perry is in Houston and

gave one hell of a donation to produce this ad...and you know Bush is still quiet friendly with his Houston Klan.

[0rganism]

54. Another Friday bombshell, who woulda guessed?

Just EVERYONE ON THIS FREAKING FORUM, that's who.

Sheesh. It's annoying to be right so damn much of the time.

[CookieD]

55. Whom did Scott McClellan have to blow ...

... to get them to use "repudiate" in the title of the story?

Now every time some decent person demands that the White House repudiate this lying ad, the Rethugs can hold up their newspaper headline and claim they've already done it.

This not a repudiation!

[Geo55]

56. It's a no brainer

They can't possibly confront JK's military vs. Dickheads....
just let the scum put it out there...then it's high road time for the Evil Empire(the real one , Ronald)