McCain Calls Bush Ad Dishonest

[Steff]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- 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.

"It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me," McCain said in an interview with The Associated Press, referring to his bitter Republican primary fight with President Bush.

The 60-second ad features Vietnam veterans who accuse the Democratic presidential nominee of lying about his decorated Vietnam War record and betraying his fellow veterans by later opposing the conflict.

"When the chips were down, you could not count on John Kerry," one of the veterans, Larry Thurlow, says in the ad.

Thurlow didn't serve on Kerry's swiftboat, but says he witnessed the events that led to Kerry winning a Bronze Star and the last of his three Purple Hearts.

Kerry's crewmates support the candidate and call him a hero.

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." (Special Report: America Votes 2004)

Later, McCain said the Bush campaign has denied any involvement and added, "I can't believe the president would pull such a cheap stunt."

The White House and Bush-Cheney campaign did not address McCain's call that they repudiate the spot, though a Bush spokesman said the campaign does not question Kerry's highly decorated war service. McCain is co-chair of Bush's campaign in Arizona.

'Old wounds'

In 2000, Bush's supporters sponsored a rumor campaign against McCain in the South Carolina primary, helping Bush win the primary and the nomination. McCain's supporters have never forgiven the Bush team.

McCain said that's all in the past to him, but he's speaking out against the anti-Kerry ad because "it reopens all the old wounds of the Vietnam War, which I spent the last 35 years trying to heal."

"I deplore this kind of politics," McCain said. "I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable. As it is, none of these individuals served on the boat (Kerry) commanded. Many of his crew have testified to his courage under fire. I think John Kerry served honorably in Vietnam. I think George Bush served honorably in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War."

McCain himself spent more than five years in a Vietnam prisoner of war camp. A bona fide war hero, McCain, like Kerry, used his war record as the foundation of his presidential campaign.

The Kerry campaign has denounced the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, saying none of the men in the ad served on the boat that Kerry commanded. Three veterans on Kerry's boat that day -- Jim Rassmann, who says Kerry saved his life, Gene Thorson and Del Sandusky, the driver on Kerry's boat, said the group was lying on all fronts.

They say Kerry was injured, and Rassmann called the group's account "pure fabrication."

The leader of the group, retired Adm. Roy Hoffmann, said none of the 13 veterans in the commercial served on Kerry's boat but rather were in other swiftboats within 50 yards of Kerry's. The group claims that there was no gunfire on the day Kerry pulled Rassmann from a muddy river in the Mekong Delta and that Kerry's arm was not wounded, as he has claimed.

"What we have is a fabrication that led to Kerry getting his Bronze Star and his last Purple Heart," said Thurlow, who said he commanded a swiftboat near Kerry's.

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press.

[ted]

Who cares?

Keryy is the one that's forcing the fact that he served 4 months in Vietnam down our throats day after day after day.

No one is supposed to look into any of his stories?

Just accept every heroic tale as fact and move on? Sorry.

I have come to expect more from you on this issue, Steff. You pride yourself on digging deep, don't you?

The BS meter is pegged as far as this guy goes. And you support him? Or do you just want Bush out no matter who the challenger is?

You'd be better off writing in that Ron Paul guy instead of Kerry.

t.

[jamie]

Those vets sure dont think Kerry is being honest about vietnam

[Sojc]

I can't believe how arrogant some of you people are. Just because you don't like the guy and do not support him does not mean it's Christian for you to spew vitriol at him. By supporting a low-blow attack at someones character when it is unclear that it is true is satanic.

I personally believe that Satan is cleverly slowly corrupting many Christians by causing hate in their hearts for John Kerry. You all need to examine yourselves more clearly and think about where you hate of the left is leading you. It is a cliche but it is still totally true, judge not less ye be judged.

You could end up as those self-proclaimed "loving" christians who protested AT A MURDERED HOMOSEXUALS FUNERAL!

[ted]

There is good in all these folks. It's the GOP media machine AKA "Liberal Media" that has the whole country in such an uproar. Pray for peace thoughout the world and in the hearts of Americans.

Actually, no. It's the political machine in general that bugs me these days.

I get this way around election time, I guess.

I just get tired of each side portraying themselves as the coming Messiah and their commercials take over everything.

You want me to bash Bush too to make it even? OK.

I think his roadmap to peace is junk, I don't like the fact that he says he is a Christian yet tries to suck up to any group that claims to be a religion. I think he's wrong when he calls islam a peacful religion.

He hasn't done much to fix the mess of the public school issues, he takes too many vacations while our troops are at war, etc,etc, etc.....

There you have it.

I can't believe how arrogant some of you people are.

satanic.

I personally believe that Satan is cleverly slowly corrupting many Christians by causing hate in their hearts for John Kerry.

You were saying something about judging, Sojc??

t.

[Guest charlie]

"What we have is a fabrication that led to Kerry getting his Bronze Star and his last Purple Heart," said Thurlow, who said he commanded a swiftboat near Kerry's.

What I'd like to know is whose fabrication? Kerry couldn't have written his own recommenation to receive either the Bronze Star or the Purple Heart. I don't know how it works in the Navy but in the AF your immediate supervisor writes it then it goes up the chain of command for approval. I would think something like a Bronze Star would include statements by immediate eye-witnesses; it would require verification. If this was a fabrication then why didn't someone speak up when it happened? If it's easy to get medals based on lies then being awarded a medal in any war pretty much doesn't mean anything.

[Guest LCPGUY]

Michael Savage had a guest on the other night who served with Kerry. He claims that Kerry

[Guest charlie]

Do you remember who the guest was; what kind of "means"? How'd he do it?

I don't know if he really "trashed his medals" or not, and if he really did, what his motives were.

I do know a lot of vets came back from vietnam very bitter and angry. I think a lot of people look back to that time and remember saying and doing a lot of things they regret.

[Work in Progress]

Or do you just want Bush out no matter who the challenger is?

You hit the nail right on the head, Ted.

[Guest LCPGUY]

Or do you just want Bush out no matter who the challenger is?

You hit the nail right on the head, Ted.

My humble opinion is that Bush will win. Simply because the Clintons want him to. Hillary doesn