Kerry On Obama: Don't Swiftboat Him
Subject line: Swiftboating
In a new fundraising letter from John Kerry to Barack Obama's supporters, the 2004 Democratic nominee implores voters to help Obama "defeat the hateful tactics that have been used to tear us apart for too long." In a line clearly directed at Bill and Hillary Clinton, Kerry rails against the use of negative campaigning perfected by Karl Rove and the Republicans, saying that Obama's opponents are attempting to 'Swiftboat' him.
"As a veteran, it disgusts me that the Swift Boats we loved while we were in uniform on the Mekong Delta have been rendered, in Karl Rove's twisted politics, an ugly verb meaning to lie about someone's character just to win an election," Kerry writes. "But as someone who cares about winning this election and changing the country I love, I know it's not enough to complain about a past we can't change when our challenge is to win the future -- which is why we must stop the Swiftboating, stop the push-polling, stop the front groups, and stop the email chain smears."
He adds: "This year, the attacks are already starting. Some of you may have heard about the disgusting lies about Barack Obama that are being circulated by email. These attacks smear Barack's Christian faith and deep patriotism, and they distort his record of more than two decades of public service. They are nothing short of "Swiftboat" style anonymous attacks."
Kerry does not name the Clintons, but he writes that it's time to "turn the page on an era of small, divisive politics" and that Obama is dedicated to fighting "every smear, every time."
"Barack Obama is committed to bringing our country together to meet the challenges we face, but he knows that power gives up nothing without a struggle -- and to win the chance to change America, we must first defeat the hateful tactics that have been used to tear us apart for too long," he adds.
This letter deserves a big, 'Wow.'
Wow, because this is the first time, by our estimation, Kerry has accused a fellow Democrat of "Swiftboating." Wow, because, seriously? Kerry didn't effectively push back efforts to 'Swiftboat' his own campaign. And a final, wow, to the Obama folks for allowing Kerry, still regarded by many Democrats as a disappointment, to take such a public role in the contest since endorsing Obama last week.
Full letter after the jump.
UPDATE: Kerry spokesman David Wade wrote to say that On Call has this all wrong. That Kerry's letter clearly aims to combat those Internet rumors circulating about Obama's faith. Here's Wade's comment: "The right wing has been hard at work to unleash the politics of fear and smear before we Democrats have even chosen a nominee, and that's why they've been slandering Barack Obama with email chains maligning his patriotism and questioning his Christian faith. John Kerry won't allow those despicable tactics to go unanswered. Karl Rove and his friends aren't going to steal another election with the politics of character assasination."
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Dear XYZ,
Stand Up and Take Action
This is personal for me, and for a whole lot of Americans who lived through the 2004 election.
As a veteran, it disgusts me that the Swift Boats we loved while we were in uniform on the Mekong Delta have been rendered, in Karl Rove's twisted politics, an ugly verb meaning to lie about someone's character just to win an election. But as someone who cares about winning this election and changing the country I love, I know it's not enough to complain about a past we can't change when our challenge is to win the future -- which is why we must stop the Swiftboating, stop the push-polling, stop the front groups, and stop the email chain smears.
The truth matters, but how you fight the lies matters even more. We must be determined never again to lose any election to a lie.
This year, the attacks are already starting. Some of you may have heard about the disgusting lies about Barack Obama that are being circulated by email. These attacks smear Barack's Christian faith and deep patriotism, and they distort his record of more than two decades of public service. They are nothing short of "Swiftboat" style anonymous attacks.
These are the same tactics the right has used again and again, and as we've learned, these attacks, no matter how bogus, can spread and take root if they go unchecked.
But not this time -- we're fighting back.
And when I say "we," I mean that literally. I know Barack is committed to fighting every smear every time. He'll fight hard and stand up for the truth. But he can't do it alone.
We need you to email the truth to your address books. Print it out and post it at work. Talk to your neighbors. Call your local radio station. Write a letter to the editor. If lies can be spread virally, let's prove to the cynics that the truth can be every bit as persuasive as it is powerful.
The Obama campaign has created a place where you can find the truth you'll need to push back on these smears and a way to spread the truth to all of your address book.
Take action here:
http://my.barackobama.com/factcheckaction
So when your inbox fills up with trash and the emails of smear and fear, find the facts, and help defeat the lies.
Barack Obama is committed to bringing our country together to meet the challenges we face, but he knows that power gives up nothing without a struggle -- and to win the chance to change America, we must first defeat the hateful tactics that have been used to tear us apart for too long.
With your help, we can turn the page on an era of small, divisive politics -- but only if next time you hear these attacks on Barack, you take action immediately:
http://my.barackobama.com/factcheckaction
The fight is just heating up -- we won't let them steal this election with lies and distortions.
Thank you,
John Kerry
Donate
And WOW for the fifth time in a week you pass a very personal judgement on actions by the Obama campaign.
Personally, I would like to see John Kerry become Obama's surrogate and start leveling the attacks back at those liars and distortionists who are pounding Obama. He shouldn't have to lower himself and answer Bill Clinton's attacks.
WOW is right. A lot of people regretted voting for Kerry and this only solidifies their feelings even more. If Obama loses, expect Kerry's involvement to be spouted as the reason why. Look at how helpful he was in Nevada for BO.
Kerry was talking about the Clintons?!? Puh-leez!
It's Fox News that's spreading the Muslim lie. Personally, I consider this kind of "journalism" most of the problem with politics, not Obama's pretend "attacks" from his fellow Democratic candidates.
If this is too beanbag for Obama, he has NO IDEA what "swiftboating" is. And... seriously, neither do you. This has been kindegarten compared to what the politics are going to be like when the Rightwing Slime Machine starts in on Obama.
If this was seriously leveled at the Clintons, not the GOP, I'm here to call John Kerry the wimp that I didn't think he was when I worked my butt off for him in 2004.
Excuse me, I read that letter twice to see where he was talking about the Clintons. I read it a third time to see where it was a "fundraising" letter.
You are about as wrong as a person can be about an email. You obviously read that with a pre-set agenda and tortured the facts to fit your narrative.
This email was about the vile chain emails that have been circulating about Obama and directed people to a place where they could take action against them. These smears have been bubbling up from the right-wing for months.
But you wanted to make it about an intra-party feud. And you tortured logic and the truth to do it.
Sad.
Finally, some context and analysis given your previous experience covering Kerry's 2004 campaign. Nice job.
It's a good example of Obama's tin ear since by featuring Kerry as a prominent defender, he clearly doesn't understand the great disappointment Kerry the presidential candidate was.
CLEARLY, and I mean CLEARLY referring to the "Hussein"/madrasa misinformation campaign of the Right Wing and Fox News. I hate to pile on, but jeezum, Jen, I find your analysis to be borderline disastrous. Wow is right.
Of course, to some people's points, *only* pure unadulterated idiocy of John Kerry can yield a letter condemning Swiftboat-style attacks WITHOUT MENTIONING THE ATTACKS nor the attackers! I mean Good Gracious Gravy. This pathetic Kerryism gives false pundits free reign to screw with our brains, like Ms. Skalka has done here. Ouch, it hurts every fiber of my being like George Bush's 'nukyular'.
Jennifer, you have this exactly right. For corraboration, look for the transcript of the robo calls to women voters that Wendy Frosh, Planned Parenthood Northern New England board chair, recorded for the Obama campaign, or the email sent under her name to women's rights advocates in New Hampshire. Both use similar language, talking about a smear campaign based on lies, but they explicitly say the smear campaign/lies are orchestrated by Hillary Clinton. I would bet there are similar examples of below the radar communications to niche constituencies elsewhere.
Good job.
Political candidates should be fined each and every time they intentionally distort an opponent's records and held accountable for this kind of unethical behavior and slander. Example, Hillary's recent statement she made on Meet the Press in which she said: "Sen. Obama's chief strategist accuses me of playing a role in Benazir Bhutto's assassination.'' When in actuality David Axelrod never made such an accusation. He said former Prime Minister Bhutto's death will ''call into issue the judgment'' of ''taking the eye off the ball and making the wrong judgment in going into Iraq.'' That statement of her's is Outrageous and potentially Slanderous! After all, most of us teach our children to play fair -- not to lie, cheat and steal! The leaders we elect to office should be held to a higher standard and should be people of principal, high moral character, honest and forthright.
Second: There is a time to be silent and a time to speak. Unfortunately, Senator Obama had no choice other than to diplomatically confront the Clintons on their lies and misstatements. He cannot and could not allow them to paint a picture of him that is NOT TRUE. The Clintons' tactics are old time party politics and should be a thing of the past as we move towards the 21st Century, towards cleaner air, cleaner water, cleaner politics, towards a more holistic way of living. It is a greater duty and in the best interest of the country for Barack Obama to continue to stay positive and hopeful while attempting to clear his record from these misstatements -- as he continues to try to bring this country together and lift it up from fear and a distrust of one another -- and to continue to show the American people and the world there is another way to run for office other than smear and fear and tearing your opponent down with lies and slander -- Swiftboating! That is why Obama and Huckabee are so appealing. They are authentic and each in their own way are trying to lead the Americans away from dirty campaigning, lies and tricks. How can we as a country be blessed and be a beacon of light to others after all that ugly and dirty fighting (lies, distortions and slander) we can't be. There is a positive way -- honorable way to fight with dignity, honesty and truth and a dirty way to fight that is unethical and slanderous and without dignity.
And too, we have to ask ourselves as a people, why do we allow this unethical and negative way of campaigning to be acceptable and then reward this kind of behavior, with one of the highest offices in the land?
Some commentators here are so blinded by their anti-Republican hatred they fail to see who has the most to gain from such attacks on Obama. It is Hillary Clinton and her campaign. She used that old "right-wing conspiracy" defense during the Lewinsky scandal only to be show that what was being claimed was, in fact, true about her husband. She now is using the same playbook. Right-wingers and Fox News. How incredibly silly you are. Do you even watch Fox News? It is very different from the caricature that you believe.
Ok Right Wingers. First of all, I don't harbor ANY Anti-Republican hatred. I harbor REPUBLICAN hatred. And deservedly so for what the GOP has done to OUR country.
But anyway, to your point, BioMom. I guess THESE things never happened:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk7AfHTtj-c
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouKJixL--ms
www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6314.html
It goes on and on and on from the Right and yes, it is scurrilous and despicable, petty and obscene.
Plain truth is that nice "regular folks" like you, BioMom, are being sold a pack of JUNK from a FAKE news network led by a FAKE political party (the GOP) that is entirely based on lies, distortions, and manipulating the good conscience of honest Christians. It is shameful.
Please get over your GOP brainwashing and join the reality-based community (the center to left of the political spectrum).
It seems to me that when you try to buck the system in any kind of way you are emasculated in Washington DC. People talk about change, but when real change is coming over the horizion people in Washington begin to panic. Politicians, Lobbiest and other intrest groups. Let me say when Sen. Obama first announced he was running for President I did not think he had a chance, so I went along with the sure thing in my party which was Hillary Clinton, and I am a young black man. As time progressed I realized what this guy stood for, and what he represented with his authenic character. What sealed it for me was when he won Iowa. I say that because you had a mostly white state going for a black man. We can try and act like the elephant is not in the room but it is. Race plays a part here, but after Iowa I thought we were turning the corner in America. Now fast forward a few weeks later, and the Clinton machine have made several comments about Sen. Obamas drug past, his family members Muslim faith, his supposed love for Republicans, his candicay and stance on Iraqi war being a fairy tale and other things. When Sen. Obama finally responds hes now deemed as angry and fustrated by the Clinton machine. What happen to the issuses in politics. We know that when Mr. Obama wins South Carolina that the Clinton Machine is going to spin it and say he only won because SC is 50% white, and of course he was expected to win there. By doing that you are interjecting race and making it black vs. white, I hope my fellow Americans are smarter than that. Why is slash and burn politics allowed to happen in the 21t centrury? Why does it seem like we are just passing the Presidency baton back and forth for the last two decades to the same two family Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton. Change is only going to happen if we have new blood and ideas, and Sen. Obama represents that. I was a faithfull Clinton supporter, but not anymore I realy feel like Bill Clinton is looking for a third and fourth term through Hillary Clinton. This makes her look weak in my eyes, and thats a very big issue to me.
I personally feel that Bill Clinton is going for a 3rd and 4th term, however I strongly feel that we need to have the Clinton's back in office. For the 8th years Clinton was in office our economy was banging. I feel that Hilary is ready to come in and start making changes. As much as I would like to vote for Barack as a young black plan that I am, I strongly feel that he is not going to be able to come in and start making changes that we need. Our economy is terrible and it is going to take a strong force with experience to get our country back in order. VOTE HILLARY 2009
I personally feel that Bill Clinton is going for a 3rd and 4th term, however I strongly feel that we need to have the Clinton's back in office. For the 8th years Clinton was in office our economy was banging. I feel that Hilary is ready to come in and start making changes. As much as I would like to vote for Barack as a young black plan that I am, I strongly feel that he is not going to be able to come in and start making changes that we need. Our economy is terrible and it is going to take a strong force with experience to get our country back in order. VOTE HILLARY 2009
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