Kerry-Edwards 2004 Issues 'Smear Boat Veterans Newsletter'

[bigtree]

8/31/2004 11:38:00 AM

Contact: Chad Clanton or Phil Singer, 202-464-2800, both of Kerry-Edwards 2004, Web site: http://www.johnkerry.com

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by Kerry-Edwards 2004:

Smear Boat Veterans Newsletter

The Latest on the Failed Efforts to Smear John Kerry's Military Service

August, 31, 2004 -- Volume I, Edition 2

"By refusing to specifically condemn this smear, George W. Bush is insulting the military service not only of John Kerry but all veterans who have served this nation. President Bush could stop this smear right now. Yet he still refuses to heed Senator McCain's call to specifically condemn it," said Kerry campaign spokesman, Chad Clanton.

$40 Million Memory -- Smear Boat Veteran's Fuzzy Memory Clear Up After Receiving Federal Contract From Bush Administration

Web Of Connections Grows Wider: $40 Million Contract From The Bush Administration And A "Swift Shift In Stories" Four days ago, retired naval Rear Adm. William L. Schachte Jr. seconded accusations made by the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth seeking to discredit Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry's record in Vietnam. But since then, Democrats have discovered that Schachte is also a long-standing supporter of President Bush and a lobbyist whose client FastShip Inc. recently won a $40 million grant from the federal government. According to a March 18 legal filing by Schachtes firm, Blank Rome, Schachte was one of the lobbyists working for FastShip on issues such as the effort to win funding for a new marine cargo terminal. On Feb. 2, Philadelphia-based FastShip announced that it would receive $40 million in federal funding for the project. In addition, David Norcross, Schachte's colleague in the Washington office of Blank Rome, is chairman of this week's Republican convention in New York. Records also show that Schachte gave $1,000 to Bush's 2000 and 2004 campaigns. (Washington Post, 8/30/04)

RNC Delegates Wear Fake Purple Hearts to Convention in an Effort to Smear John Kerry

Bush Republican Delegates Wear 'Fake Purple Hearts' To Smear Kerry. "Convention-goers were handed bandages with purple hearts on them Monday night by a GOP delegate in a swipe at Democratic nominee John Kerry's war record. The bandages were handed out by Morton Blackwell, a longtime GOP activist from Virginia, with the message: 'It was just a self-inflicted scratch, but you see I got a Purple Heart for it.' " (AP, 8/31/04)

WEB OF CONNECTIONS CONTINUES TO GROW: Fake Purple Heart Effort Comes Back to Karl Rove

Much more: http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=35444

[ugarte]

1. Don't stop at a news letter

The message should be: this isn't politics. This is personal and disgusting and it's coming from Karl Rove.

[bigtree]

2. Did you read the release?

This and all other Kerry usnewswire releases are picked up on Yahoo, BTW.

[ugarte]

4. I read it. It;'s a great start, but they're words on a page

I want to hear these words coming from John Kerry's mouth, with Teresa at his side, looking pissed off. This is personal, requiring a personal response. People want to see him kick Bush's cowardly ass for this.

[bigtree]

5. They have been there all along

It's high time that you started to pay more attention if you actually want to hear these things, and I don't mean pay attention to network or cable news. Try following our nominee's campaign. The news link for the article carries daily releases from the campaign. Instead of sitting on them, try using the Media Blaster to help dissiminate the efforts.

[ugarte]

6. When I say 'I', please understand

I'm speaking for the average person who ONLY gets news from cable or network TV. They're not going to go looking for Kerry's response. They want to see it on CNN or the six o'clock news. If you're telling me we can't get it on the news, then that's another issue.

[bigtree]

8. Most folks get their info from local news. That's where the campaign

has dedicated resources, in a very effective manner, especially in the 'key' states. Also, there was a survey a few weeks back that found that voters visit Kerry's site more than Bush's by an overwhelming margin. People are getting the message. Most folks don't watch the cable garbage, at least not to the degree that we political junkies do.

[bigtree]

3. Where the heck are all of the carpers?

Later they'll complain that Kerry needs to attack. Where was the Kerry campaign? Why doesn't he respond? No one is responding to the republicans. It's hard to take these folks seriously who are so satisfied with the sound of their own discontent that they refuse to hear the concurring echo from our nominee.

[goodhue]

7. on the phone with the kerry campaign i guess

sad

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. c'mon bigtree........

you don't really expect the doom & gloomers to show up on a positive kerry thread do ya? there seem to be some good "uplifting" threads around today, it almost looks like the DU of old. i found this thread particularly encouraging:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=701129

[bigtree]

13. That's my favorite of the day

Made me lower my hackles a bit.

[rocktivity]

9. Along with putting it on the Web, do you send copies to every media outlet

big and small? Did you send one to Air America, for instance? Do you have a contact person for each outlet, complete with phone number, fax, and e-mail? Do you call and make sure they received it? Do you call back and ask why they didn't use it?

:headbang:
rocknation

[bigtree]

10. Good suggestions, employed along with the Media Blaster

I imagine we are kicking some serious ass in our advocacy efforts. The amount of responses has to be overwhelming, it has to be having a positive effect if you judge by your own efforts and mine multiplied by the number of active DUers and others.

[rocktivity]

11. Thanks--and thanks for taking the advice I gave the other day

I like the way the releases now look more conscise and inviting to read!

:headbang:
rocknation