Nightline 8/19: Firefight over swift boats -- Kerry shoots back

[Bozita]

This could be good.

 
Nightline Daily E-Mail
August 19, 2004


TONIGHT'S FOCUS: It sounds like John Kerry has decided that the pushing and criticism have just gone too far. Today he sounded angry as he took President Bush on. He was referring to the campaign ad funded by a Republican group that attacks the veracity of John Kerry's war record. Kerry accused the President of letting others do "his dirty work" and invoked the President's own words "bring it on" to challenge him to a one on one debate on their respective war records. The President has not responded. So what happened to make Kerry so mad? And why did he do it now?

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A Republican-funded campaign ad disputing John Kerry's war record has been airing in a few battle ground states since the beginning of the month. The ad consists of interviews with Vietnam veterans, some who served with Kerry and have supported him in the past. They all say he's lying about his record. Today, the Washington Post broke news with documents that directly contradict one of those veteran's assertions against Kerry in one of the ads. Meanwhile, the President is being accused of not being willing to condemn these specific ads while continuing to say that he won't criticize John Kerry's war service for this country.

But the story has continued to grow and it seems to have reached a peak level. It's the lead topic on talk radio and the cable stations and is taking on a life of its own. This has led some senior members of the Democratic Party to push John Kerry to hit back, saying that his strategy of just letting the attacks happen was not working. So today, in front of a room full of firefighters, John Kerry switched tactics and turned to his own wartime service and experience to announce his next move. "More than 30 years ago I learned an important lesson. When you're under attack the best thing to do is turn your boat into the attack. That's what I intend to do today." Anchor Chris Bury bring us an anatomy of a story fueled by the media. How did it get so big so quickly?

So why did he do it? Did he take a lesson from Michael Dukakis who didn't counter attack in his bid for the Presidency? Why now, at this point in the campaign? Has it really reached a point where not responding would harm his candidacy? And what's the effect on the voter? Chris Bury talks to campaign reporters about how we got here and what might happen next.

I hope you'll join us.

Gerry Holmes and the Nightline Staff
Nightline Offices
ABC News Washington Bureau

[Bozita]

1. 30 minutes to airtime

[buycitgo]

2. NOW!!!

[buycitgo]

3. did anybody see the fat PIG vet with the DESERTER?

some bloated assclod said this: "we got a candidate out here with two self inflicted scratches, and I take that as an insult!" direct quote, from tape I'm making

he said that to BUSH!!! his response, with a nice smirk: "I appreciate that. thank you!"

words fail me

NOW they're showing ONeill, making another heinous accusations

[MO_Dem]

5. I saw that

it was really disgusting--did ya notice Duhbya's unconcealed smirking when he said it?

On edit--of course, you mentioned the smirk. I'm a little slow tonight!

[Bozita]

7. That smirk was as good as a signed confession

Reminded me of Bush in South Carolina in 2000. There was a vet in the audience who slammed McCain. Bush? He smirked ... just like tonight.

[Guaranteed]

4. As long as we respond to this surely and harshly,

no one will believe this that doesn't already want to. And those that do ought to be shamed.

[DaveinMD]

6. ugh!!!

Blankely and a center right journalist. You've got to be kidding me.

[TacticalPeek]

8. I think I heard Blankley say that people already know

that Shrub "didn't serve", no biggie.

I need to check a tape or transcript; like, "everyone knows he did not serve". Maybe that's subconcious pre-emptive counterpoint to more AWOL woe ahead for aWol?

Or maybe I didn't hear it straight? :shrug:

[buycitgo]

9. close enough.....he said something about it already having

been vetted, and that it isn't an issue anymore

as if Kerry's hadn't been, through his four senate campaigns

it's SO obvious that it's media driven; the ad only appeared in three states, and has been the constant topic of discussion among the HERD for two weeks now

Kathleen Hall Jamieson came close to nailing it, but refused to place more of the onus on the Bush

Nightline, as usual, was pretty much worthless, downplaying both the pug/media hand in glove act as much as they could