Search
About This Blog
Resources
Blog Roll
- Captain's Quarters
- Cliff Schecter
- CNN's Political Ticker
- Conservative Grapevine
- Crooks & Liars
- Daily Kos
- Drudge
- FactCheck.org
- Huffington Post
- Instapundit
- Little Green Footballs
- News Bloggers
- Political-Buzz
- Power Line
- RedState
- Slate - Trailhead
- Swampland
- Talking Points Memo
- The Daily Dish
- The Plank
- The Young Turks
- Wonkette
Before We Start Throwing 'Swiftboating' Around...
Let's remember what the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth did in 2004 against John Kerry:
Today we've had a few posts here on PM about Wesley Clark's statement about McCain, McCain's reaction and Obama's reaction to McCain and Clark. In the comments, from CNN's Rick Sanchez and various newsie readers on MSNBC I'm seeing SWIFTBOATING!!! all over the place.
Please do note that I do NOT agree with with what Wes Clark said or the John Avarosis comments on his AmericaBlog mentioned by Politico's Ben Smith today. Obama was correct in distancing himself from Clark even though the former General is being called a surrogate or campaign representative despite being a stalwart Clinton supporter just weeks ago.
I'm going to try very hard to avoid using "swiftboat" to describe any and all attacks from one campaign or the other just like I have tried very hard to avoid using Nazi and Facist. What Clark and Avarosis said are not swiftboating. They are just ill-considered remarks that don't do the candidate any favors. We tend to quickly forget the forcefulness some words had just a short time ago...
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 3)RIChris6:16PMJun 30th 2008
At the rate Obama's going with distancing himself from all the people he has been surrounding himself with, he will be all alone in the room before you know it.
jpgoodrow6:41PMJun 30th 2008
HOW TYPICAL OF OBAMA TO SEND CLARK OUT TO SWIFT BOAT Senator McCain's military service, then decry swift boating.
Obama sent his surrogates to call Clinton's racists, now he is trashing a veteran of foreign wars when Obama did not ever serve.
THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF PERSON I WANT FOR PRESIDENT!
20-MILLION DEMS -4- MCCAIN '08
Because Obama is A Swift Boater
Pete7:09PMJun 30th 2008
Personally, I think General Clark is right. In fact he didn't say enough. Hero or not, being captured by the enemy in a failed mission and then being held captive doesn't qualify anyone to run the biggest corporation in the world. As we've all seen the past 8 years, we need someone with a sharp mind and superior intelligence to keep this country running.
But I have other issues with Mr McCain. I don't believe anyone who has been held in enemy hands should be allowed to run for office. What assurance do we have that Mr McCain wasn't programmed by the enemy to run for office, do whatever it takes to get elected and then turn the country over to the enemy once he's elected? How do we know for sure that someone won't walk up to him and say fried rice and the brain washing kicks in and he becomes a puppet for our enemies?
Turning all that power over to someone who has admitted to being "broken" by the enemy would be a serious error in judgement in my opinion.
bob7:46PMJun 30th 2008
"Swiftboating" didn't defeat Kerry.
Kerry appealed to no one. That's why he lost.
D. L. GRAHAM8:29PMJun 30th 2008
POINT COUNTER-POINT WHO IS CLARK SURROGATE FOR??
CRYSTAL: I like Gen. Clark but I think he went a little overboard with his statement. Poor man! Now he's under the bus with the rest of them. BTW - does anyone know how BIG that bus is?
>>>>>>>>>REPLY>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
REPLY:
QUESTION: Where is Gen. Wesley Clark from?
ANSWER:Arkansas!
Q: Who appointed Gen. Wesley Clark as the American Supreme Allied Commander to (NATO) during the Bosnian War?
A: The Former Impeached President (D-AK) "Pump Head" Snowman Slick Willie William "Bubba" Jefferson Clinton!
Q: Who tried to have Gen. Wesley Clark promoted and place in position as the Head Of The Joint Chiefs?
A:The Former Impeached President (D-AK) "Pump Head" Snowman Slick Willie William "Bubba" Jefferson Clinton!
Q: Can you connect the dots? Just who do you think Gen. Wesley Clark was making statements in behalf of?
What did you say (PUMA)? Who's being thrown under the bus by whome?
COMMENT: The swift boating goes to the wrong port, not Bill but the (PDN) Presumptive Democratic Nominee
Nick9:23PMJun 30th 2008
Quite a difference between Swiftboat 2004 and Clark 2008.
Kerry's own boat mates and fellow soldiers who served with him denounced Kerry's lies, and denounced his traitorous antics. Clark never served with McCain, and Clark had a cushy job his entire life since going to West Point. He never served in combat, and never alongside McCain. Its like comparing apples and oranges. Clark is totally wrong here.
roger9:28PMJun 30th 2008
pete your the loser whiner ,as you said ''i think'' when we all know you are incapible of that .
Tailgunner9:36PMJun 30th 2008
Swiftboating is not a political term it is something a very few sailors did with honor. When JF Kerry came out and reported for duty we had to also, the things he said about all Vietnam Vets were not true and your Dad's or your Granddsd's will verify that! We Swiftboat sailors were and are proud of our record and no poser had the right too talk to the enemy and diss us and all VN Vets. We went for all of you just as our Fathers did and now are sons and grandsons are.
OhReally9:49PMJun 30th 2008
No Quarter
I heard the news, and was struck by the audacity of Obama moving the DNC headquarters and employees to the epicenter of machine and mob politics. Ben Smith of Politico.com wrote that the abrupt move is “a major shakeup” and, in an understated phrase, a “departure from tradition.”
I knew at once that Barack Obama was seizing the DNC by the hair, and dragging it into his lair where he can seize control of the Democratic party’s monies, its employees, and any access to its power brokers. The party is no longer, in any way, the party of the Democratic voter. It is now Barack Obama’s party, to do with as he wishes.
The Obama-controlled Chicago machine will hold sway over all Superdelegates running for reelection this year — including their access to money, support, and endorsements.
Those freshman House members will be kneeling and kissing Obama’s ring in no time and, for their sakes, they’d better not have supported Hillary.
Chicago is the home of Obama’s longtime extremist mentors, associates, advisers and benefactors — both before and immediately after his law school years — including Reverends Jeremiah Wright, Otis Moss and James Meeks; Minister Louis Farrakhan; Father Michael Pfleger; Weather Underground terrorists William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn; marketing guru David Axelrod who created the mix-and-match Obama and Deval Patrick personae; the convicted Antoin “Tony” Rezko who only two years ago enabled a “sweetheart deal” that allowed Barack and Michelle Obama to buy a historic mansion they could ill afford; the Illinois state senator power broker Emil Jones who for almost a year … used his position as leader of the state senate to block anticorruption legislation passed unanimously by the state’s lower house.”
So much material...lies and corruption...where does a Swift-boater begin...there is no end to the material they have available..up to and including Larry Sinclair..
Can hardly wait
COUNTRY-NOT-PARTY9:49PMJun 30th 2008
P arty
U nited
M y
A $$
Obama was "selected" by the DNC and biased media --- not "elected" by the people. We need to replace the dems in Congress.
If you're anti-Obama and your goal is that he isn't elected POTUS, then a McCain supporter should be someone you'd want on-board. If you want Obama defeated, it sure as hell isn't going to happen without McCain supporters.
I pledge not to vote for Barack Obama (now or ever). When it's a question of Party or Country, I choose Country.
I'm sure all Hillary Supporters will be welcomed back to the Party in good standing as soon as they support Sen. Obama for President. I realize it may irritate one or two people when I put it that way. But I'm trying to be realistic about how the Democratic "game" works.
VOTE COUNTRY --- NOT PARTY.
VOTE McCAIN IN 2008.
matt9:52PMJun 30th 2008
Wes Clark is a flip flopping self righteous guy out for his own agenda. He spoke to us when I was in college and praised Bush and his efforts for the war. He spoke of what a great job we are doing and he fully supports the war. Then when he retires and runs for president, guess what stance he takes?
For the anti McCain people here you should read a little about and books from the man himself before you pass judgment.Why should he run for president?
Sacrifice for his Men:
John McCain repeatedly refused early release as a POW as he was one of the senior men in captivity. His responsibility as an officer was to preserve the life and well being of the other soldiers interned.I doubt Obama who has never selflessly "served" this country would do so.
Leadership:
McCain spent 20 years as a Navy officer commanding hundreds of troops directly. He has proven,undoubted leadership in the face of chaos and tumoil.I doubt Obama has had to give orders to more than 20 until now. I doubt he has ever had to give orders to anyone where life and death were on the line.
Values:
McCain has always been firm on his values.He has never had a shady past with people of questionable integrity. Unlike other who spent 20 years with a pastor who exibits racial bias. Those behaviors don't just suddenly appear one day, nor do you sit there for 20 years and just ignore what you don't like and repeatedly return.
People wake up and use your head, do some research and don't just listen to what the TV says. Make a sound choice based on fact, experience and past record no matter who you like.
Good book to read "Why Courage Matters" a great description of what true heros are made of and rarely does McCain ever refer to his humble self.
ANYBODY-BUT-OBAMA10:00PMJun 30th 2008
U.S. money for Russia is linked to Iran nuclear plant.
Guess who's bill funded this program.... Little Obamas
No wonder the Russians call Obama the CLUELESS PUPPET IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/06/mideast/nuke.php
VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN IN 2008.
Shane10:31PMJun 30th 2008
NO SWIFT BOAT HERE !!! OBAMA, YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE, A RADICAL MARXIST......
WAKE UP PEOPLE !!!!!!
D. L. GRAHAM10:42PMJun 30th 2008
POINT COUNTER-POINT WHO IS CLARK SURROGATE FOR?
CRYSTAL: I like Gen. Clark but I think he went a little overboard with his statement. Poor man! Now he's under the bus with the rest of them. BTW - does anyone know how BIG that bus is?
>>>>>>>>>REPLY>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
REPLY:
QUESTION: Where is Gen. Wesley Clark from?
ANSWER:Arkansas!
Q: Who appointed Gen. Wesley Clark as the American Supreme Allied Commander to (NATO) during the Bosnian War?
A: The Former Impeached President (D-AK) "Pump Head" Snowman Slick Willie William "Bubba" Jefferson Clinton!
Q: Who tried to have Gen. Wesley Clark promoted and place in position as the Head Of The Joint Chiefs?
A:The Former Impeached President (D-AK) "Pump Head" Snowman Slick Willie William "Bubba" Jefferson Clinton!
Q: Can you connect the dots? Just who do you think Gen. Wesley Clark was making statements in behalf of?
What did you say (PUMA)? Who's being thrown under the bus by whome?
COMMENT: Bill can put on an act, but undermining the (PDN) Presumptive Democratic Nominee by the use of a surrogate Wesley Clark, that works. The blame goes to the (PDN)
The Old Ranger10:43PMJun 30th 2008
Clark's comments might not technically be "swiftboating", but it appears to be "swiftboating to alot of folks, and that is what counts. This will accomplish two things: {1} it will fire up the Republican base, many of whom have up until now been tepid or even downright skeptical of John McCain, and {2} it will appear to many Independents and Undecideds that non-veteran Barack Obama is disrespecting a patriotic war hero who suffered for his country, and that can only work to McCain's advantage. Let me emphasize that I am not saying that Obama is dispecting McCain, but that is the way it is going to look to alot of people, and in politics, as in so much else, perception is reality.
Jim11:02PMJun 30th 2008
Okay..Let's leave OBAMBAWAMBA alone and his wifey too..I mean..All we're going to find is more garbage..and that's not really fair...is it...So let's leave them alone and not ask any more question or dig into their past anymore...I mean all we're going to find are more reasons NOT TO VOTE FOR THEM...so we'd better just forget about it...they are what they are and that's want we want...I mean ...it is "change" isn't it?
Jim11:07PMJun 30th 2008
Anyone and I mean Anyone who thinks OBAMBA is not disrespectful of America period needs their respective heads examined...to be kind..
Obama is not only Anti American but he is Anti Patriotic...To him America is the ENEMY...and he is running for PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES YOU IDIOTS....A vote for OBAMA is a vote for disaster..You think you've had it rough...wow...you haven't seen nothin yet...
george11:13PMJun 30th 2008
JOHN McCAIN: HONEST HERO>>>obama's honesty: ZERO !
george11:18PMJun 30th 2008
I'm not very smart, but how about all the ones who are falling for the SNAKE OIL SALESMAN??? THE YOUNG AND NAIVE, THE BLACKS (THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE)THE WELFARE RECIPIENTS, THE MORONS AND THE WHITE TRASH.
Latest Politics Headlines
Most Commented On Posts
Most Recent Comments
Politics Video
Mo Rocca 180 - More Than Just Joe Biden!!!Mo Rocca 180 - More Than Just Joe Biden!!! | |
Mo Rocca 180 - Swinging Time at the Oxygen BarWhen you need to kick back in Denver, there's nothing like a quick shot of oxygen. | |
Mo Rocca 180: How Barack Can Thank Hillary: DNC EditionMo Rocca 180: How Barack Can Thank Hillary: DNC Edition | |
Selena Gomez for PresidentActress Selena Gomez talks Environment and Politics (Aug. 27) | |
Warner, DNC Keynote Speaker Preps for SpeechKeynote DNC speaker former Va. Gov. Mark Warner prepares for his primetime address. It is the same assignment that Obama, then an Illinois state lawmaker running for the Senate used 4 years ago to launch his astonishing ascent in politics. (Aug. 26) | |
| « See More Politics Video | |
Declare Yourself is a campaign that encourages young Americans to register and vote.
REGISTER TO VOTE NOW AT:www.declareyourself.org
tom6:07PMJun 30th 2008
A person, party, campaign that does not depend on the truth desrves what it has coming to it...