Former POW resigns from Bush campaign after appearing in Swift Boat for Truth Ad

[wilheim]

08-21) 19:28 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

A former POW resigned as a volunteer to President Bush's re-election campaign Saturday after it was learned that he appeared in an anti-John Kerry ad sponsored by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

The Bush campaign has claimed no connection with the group which has led an attack on Kerry, the Democratic presidential candidate, questioning his war record in Vietnam and criticizing his testimony at a congressional hearing in 1971 in which Kerry alleged U.S. troops committed atrocities.

Retired Air Force Col. Ken Cordier, resigned as a member of the Bush campaign's veterans' steering committee after it was learned that he appeared with other former POWs in a 30-second ad, produced by the Swift Boat group, criticizing Kerry's congressional testimony.

"Col. Cordier did not inform the campaign of his involvement in the advertisement," the Bush campaign said in a statement. "Because of his involvement (with the group) Col. Cordier will no longer participate as a volunteer for Bush-Cheney '04."

Cordier spent six years in a North Vietnamese prisoner of war camp.

The White House and the Bush campaign have denied any direct connection with Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which is funded in part by a top GOP donor in Texas.

"The president has made it repeatedly clear that he wants to see an end to all" advertising from outside groups, said Brian Jones, a Bush campaign spokesman.

Kerry, at a fundraiser in East Hampton, N.Y., on Saturday called on Bush to "stand up and stop" what he called personal attacks on him over his combat record in Vietnam by the Swift Boat group.

"The president needs to stand up and stop that. The president needs to have the courage to talk about it," said Kerry.

Associated Press

 

[wilheim]

More Republican Ties Revealed Behind "Swift Boat Vets For Bush".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To: National Desk


WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Public records reveal that two of the people in the new "Swift Boat Veterans for Bush" television ad are Republican activists, as the fact sheet below shows. This is just more proof that Bush's Republican allies are the ones behind this disgraceful smear of John Kerry's military record. It's pretty clear what's going on here. It's no wonder the Bush campaign refuses to condemn this smear.

---

KENNETH CORDIER

PARTISAN: Another Texas Republican Donor

CORDIER, KENNETH (DALLAS, TX 75208) US AIR FORCE/RETIRED COLONEL 3/2/2001: $1,000 -- Republican Party of Dallas County

CORDIER, KENNETHW MR (DALLAS, TX 75225) SELF EMPLOYED 2/27/2002: $238 -- RNC/Repub National State Elections Cmte

CORDIER, KENT (DALLAS, TX 75206) RETIRED 6/30/2000: $1,000 -- Hutchison, Kay Bailey

2001-06-05 REPUBLICAN PARTY OF TEXAS CORDIER, KEN 1 -- $100

(followthemoney.org)

PARTISAN: "Despised" LBJ

"The procession ended just before the 1968 presidential election when the United States stopped its bombing campaign. 'I remember that was the worst day of my life' because the POWs' treatment worsened and they felt forgotten by their government, Col. Cordier said. He "despised" Lyndon Johnson for his war policies." (Dallas Morning News, 11/10/03)

PARTISAN: Bush Administration Ties

He is a member of a Bush administration advisory panel on veterans' issues. ("VA Announces Membership of POW Advisory Committee," PR Newswire, 4/17/02; http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/PressArtInternet.cfm?id=440 )

PARTISAN: Open About His Conservative Political Views

"Col. Cordier (pronounced core-dee-AY) still wears his conservatism on his sleeve and doesn't hold back in his appraisals of more liberal approaches "(Dallas Morning News, 11/10/03)

JUDGEMENT: Defending Abu Gharib Abuses?

"Inappropriate remarks: Last month, a lone bagpiper marched to the tune of "Amazing Grace" as silence fell over the distinguished guests, choir, color guard and the veterans and families who came to dedicate the Irving Veteran's Memorial Park honoring those who gave "the last full measure of devotion" to their nation. Unfortunately, one of the invested guests, retired Air Force Col. Ken Cordier, a decorated former Vietnam POW and experienced speaker, chose to politicize this solemn event. In an attempt at levity, he defended the pulling of ladies' panties over the faces of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. interrogators at Abu Ghraib as preferable to beheading. His inappropriate, Limbaughistic comments detracted from the reverence and purpose of this event. Richard A. Widener, Irving" (THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/13/04)

JUDGEMENT: Said Fellow POW Was "A Traitor"

Talking about POWs who were released early: "According to Cordier, Low 'is a traitor to the other prisoners of war" for accepting premature release on July 18, 1968.'" (Air Force Times, 11/3/03)

INCONSISTENCY: Doesn't Remember Kerry Being Invoked In Vietnam

"Cordier, now living in Texas, doesn't recall Kerry's name specifically being used in interrogations, propaganda broadcasts by Hanoi Hannah (Radio Vietnam) or during "attitude checks" -- political indoctrination sessions -- since Kerry was then not a household name. But he said he does remember the North Vietnamese using the so-called Winter Soldier investigations and photographs of war veterans, both real and imposters, throwing military medals over the White House fence." (UPI, 8/3/04)

PARTISAN: Questioned Normalization Under Clinton And Wished Bush Would Win

"Said he questioned the president's motives and the appropriateness of the visit at this time. He predicts that the next administration, which he presumes will be headed by Texas Gov. George W. Bush, will engage more in "carrot and stick diplomacy" with the Vietnamese government, offering "generous rewards" for concessions" (Dallas Morning News, 11/19/00)

---

PAUL GALANTI

JUDGEMENT: Wanted To Ban Draft Dodgers From Public Colleges

"A House of Delegates committee yesterday killed a bill sponsored by Del. Warren E. Barry (R-Fairfax) that would have directed Virginia's state colleges not to admit any young man who failed to register for the draft. Barry appeared before the Education Committee along with a former Navy flier, Paul Galanti of Richmond, who had spent seven years as a North Vietnamese prisoner of war, but the panel nonetheless killed his idea for the second year in a row, this time by a vote of 12 to 8." (Washington Post, 2/5/83)

JUDGEMENT: Called Conservative Christians "Sheep"

"They probably called their little followers. They vote on that one issue. They call them sheep. That's exactly what they are." -- Paul Galanti, McCain's Virginia campaign co-chairman, on the backlash by Virginia's conservative Christian voters after McCain's attacks Monday on the Rev. Jerry Falwell and Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson. AP, 2/29/00

JUDGEMENT: Insulting Disabled Vets?

"Life has a way of throwing curve balls and John (Hager) got beaned by one when he acquired polio as an adult and lost the use of his legs. He would have been forgiven for tossing in the towel, drifting over to the VA hospital and spending the rest of his life feeling sorry for himself." (Richmond Times Dispatch, 6/2/01)

JUDGEMENT: On Critics Of The Vietnam War: "Communist Sympathizers"

"It caused me to question anything I hear from Communists or their many sympathizers or copycats or dupes in America who tended then -- and still tend -- to distort the truth for their personal gain, or even (gasp) to lie if that will achieve the desired end." (Richmond Times Dispatch, 6/17/01)

PARTISAN: Carter-Basher

"I had a great final three years in the Navy despite the devastation Carter's policies had wrought on the military. My last Navy year was under one of the finest-ever Commanders-in- Chief, who led the country out of Jimmy Carter's unlamented and self-caused "malaise."" (Richmond Times Dispatch, 6/17/01)



2004 U.S. Newswire

 

[Shotgun]

Republicans don't want John Kerry elected? Republicans actually may be funding anti-Kerry commercials?

My God, what an outrage!

 

[wilheim]

NewsMax Wires
Friday, Aug. 20, 2004
The new Swift Boat Veterans for Truth advertisement accuses Kerry of betraying his fellow Vietnam veterans and the U.S.


Kerry is pictured during his testimony to the Congress after he returned from Vietnam, and quotes of what he said appear on the screen, accompanied by Kerry's voice. Various former POWs recount how they believe Kerry's conduct in criticizing the war hurt them and America:
KERRY: "They personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads ..."
JOE PONDER (wounded 1968): The accusations that John Kerry made against the veterans who served in Vietnam were just devastating ..."

KERRY: "... randomly shot at civilians ..."

PONDER: "... more than any physical wounds I had."

KERRY: "... cut off limbs, blown up bodies ..."

KEN CORDIER (former POW): "That was part of the torture, that you had to sign a statement that you committed war crimes."

KERRY: "... razed villages in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan ..."

PAUL GALANTI (former POW): John Kerry gave the enemy for free what I and my comrades in the prison camps in North Vietnam took torture to avoid saying."

KERRY: "... crimes committed on a day-to-day basis ..."

CORDIER: "He betrayed us in the past. How could we be loyal to him now?"

KERRY: "... ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam ..."

GALANTI: "He dishonored his country and, more importantly, the veterans he served with. He sold them out."


Oh Oh Karl Rove won't like this

KENNY CORDIER: works for the Bush Campaign.
PAUL GALANTI: Insulting Disabled Vets etc.

<span class="ev_code_RED">Not good for Dubby's campaign.</span>

wil.

 

[jimbutorac]

JUDGEMENT: Insulting Disabled Vets?

"Life has a way of throwing curve balls and John (Hager) got beaned by one when he acquired polio as an adult and lost the use of his legs. He would have been forgiven for tossing in the towel, drifting over to the VA hospital and spending the rest of his life feeling sorry for himself." (Richmond Times Dispatch, 6/2/01)

Wil, I have not seen, but is John Jager a veteran who happens to be a Dem and this guy, Galanti is saying his health problem is deserved? If so, totally fvckin despicable...

 

[couch_potatoes]

I am not a member of either party, Dem or Repub. This whole Swift Boat matter reminds me once again that the Repubs are notorious for shooting themselves in the foot. Or snatching defeat right from the jaws of victory. They let petty idealogs ruin things with their hypocricy.

For example, Bob Bennett, the former drug czar. A sanctimonious ass if there ever was one. Authors the Book of Virtues. Goes around speaking ill of Democrats. Turns out the guy is a degenerate gambler. Pisses away thousands and thousands of dollars on drunken binges playing slot machines!! Classic Republican. They just don't get it.

Or take Rush Limbaugh. Another sanctimonious right wing blow-hard. Also a fat ass. Turns out he's a drug addict. The only thing that guy proves is that people can, and do work quite well when they are high.

How about Donald Rumsfeld. We need only say 3 things - Weapons of Mass Destruction, Mission Accomplished, and Abu Graib.

And last but not least, Dick Cheney. One word: Halliburton. Turns out there was a big accounting scandal on his watch, long before the sweet heart contracts in Iraq.

Don't fret Kerry fans. The Repubs just don't get it. They are blinded by self interest, and desperately need to demonize their opponents. What else do they have? Certainly not their own record!

This thing is like Dan Quayle telling the 6th grader that he didn't know how to spell potato. Quayle said it was p-o-t-a-t-o-e. What a bunch of weenies.

This election is not going to be won or lost on the character issue. Something unforseen is going to emerge and tip the scales between Labor Day and Halloween. Nobody knows what that is, but it's always a strange thing that nobody saw coming. They can piss at each other all they want and in the end, it won't amount to a hill of beans. Repubs just like to be nasty because they are so miserable.

 

[wilheim]

Mudbone, as far as I know John Hager is non-political, a disabled vet who got mentioned somehow. Not sure if there is anymore to his story.


wil.

 

[jimbutorac]

Thanks Wil. I'll have to google when I get some time. Just seemed kinda vicious attack out of nowhere.

 

[ChuckSims]

Its no secret Bush's Brain aka Karl Rove is behind the Kerry smear job.

 

[wilheim]

Mudbone, my mistake, John Hurley is the main man in the organazation called "Veterans for Kerry" and obviously was singled out by Galanti because of his politics. He is a disabled Viet Nam vet.


wil.