Defending Swiftboats

Posted: Monday, June 30, 2008 2:01 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro, Caroline Gransee and Alex Wall
Following up on the McCain campaign's earlier call, here's something that's been picked up on -- one of the "Truth Squad" Members apparently was part of "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" which attacked John Kerry for his service in 2004.

"In hopes of nipping any criticism in the bud," Huffington Post writes, "the campaign brought on board a man quite familiar with how these types of attacks gain legs: Bud Day, a fellow POW who was part of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth squad that had worked so hard to defame Sen. John Kerry's own Vietnam record."

Day defended Swift Boats, Ben Smith and others note. "What the Swift Boat campaign was about was to lay out John Kerry's record. John Kerry has never produced any evidence to deny that," he said. "In contrast, he said, he and others on the call had produced 'evidence pointing out that [Clark's] remarks were completely inaccurate.'"

ThinkProgress was among those who pointed out Day's involvement in February.

McCain came out against Swift Boats efforts.

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Comments

Swift boaters for McCain.

These are the surrogates McCain as chosen to defend his qualifications.

Brings it all into perspective.

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:14 PM)

Bwhahahahahahahahahah!!!!

Guess the "Straight Talker" aint talking so straight is he.

Like anyone believes anything out of the GOPs mouths anymore anyway.

BWhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhah!!!

LOSERS

obama 08 (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:15 PM)

More double talk from McSybil?

He denounced the swiftboaters, but now brings one of them on to his "truth squad?" Hmmmm.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:16 PM)

Hmm...let's see the evidence then, or shut up, Day. Otherwise we will just go by what is a matter of public record.

DV, CA (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:16 PM)

How are Clarks remarks "inaccurate"?

He stated that flying an airplane doesn't qualify you to be President.

How is that inaccurate?

So does that mean that anyone that flies a plan IS qualified to be President?

The GOP are a bunch o freaking IDIOTS lead by the biggest IDIOT of all GWB. And McBush is a freaking carbon copy of GWB.

What a bunch of IDIOTS

Bush is an IDIOT (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:18 PM)

Senator McCain just made a major blunder.

Everyone who is sick and tired of the path America has been on the last four years blames the Swift Boat group.

Senator McCain's decision to hire Day will cost him the Independent voters.

Dan, McFarland, WI (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:18 PM)

"McCain came out against Swift Boats efforts."
..............................................
I don't remember him defending fellow Viet Nam vet Kerry in 2004. Now Bud Day, one of the architects of the swift boat campain is a McCain surrogate.

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:18 PM)

So, McCain first claims to denounce the Swift Boat crew when they attacked Kerry by lying about his actual war record, then McCain uses the same people to take a side swipe at Clark when Clark did not misrepresent or lie about McCain's war record! Talk about confused missteps! McCain needs to get his story right if he has any hope of getting elected.

Bob in Tallahassee (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:19 PM)

The McCains refused to pay their taxes in cAlifornia for four years on one of their 7 houses.

Chuck Todd, First Read: please present this news:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/143775

J. Richter (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:19 PM)

Instead of McCain's "Straight Talk" bus, it's McCain's "Swift Boat".

Dan, McFarland, WI (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:19 PM)

Wouldnt the world be fair if the same successful SwiftBoaters became the same unsuccessful group to defend McCain from simialr attacks.

M. Paulson (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:21 PM)

no suprise here... Manchu McCain will do aanything to win

Nero (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:21 PM)

After stirring the hornet's nest, the Obama team now need to duck and get the best flak jacket around to cover their fat @rse for the upcoming counterattack from team McCain...LOL!

"You will get what you deserve"

Just Me (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:22 PM)

Release your records, McCain. What are you afraid of?

TLA (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:22 PM)

Pot meet kettle. How dare Bud Day smear John Kerry and laud John McCain! The hypocrisy of it all disgusts me.

This time do something smart and vote for your wallet, vote for the economy, vote for the environment, vote for jobs, vote for America!

Vote for the smartest candidate in the race, a real leader (and no that's not McCain, who graduated at the very bottom of his class -- not by a long shot)

Vote Democratic 2008 -- don't let the corporations and their Republican stooges win again.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:23 PM)

Dear First Read:

During the week after Tim Russert's death, their was much talk of his wish to have this campaign be about the issues for a change. What are you doing to make that happen? I see nothing but innuendo, one side coverage, and opinion pieces. Some days, I get more truthful information from the comment section than the actual posts.

There is a CLEAR double standard when it comes to John McCain's life choices, his associates, and his record. And it is all justified with platitudes like "we know him" and "he's a POW". That is not journalism, that the buddy system. And it stinks.

Is this really your best effort?

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:23 PM)

McSame,

Please pay your taxes, like all of us have to do. Ed Schultz is reporting that you and Barbie are ignoring requests for you to do so. Not only are you a war monger, but we can now add "tax evader" to the list.

OBAMA/BIDEN, 2008!

KJ, Dallas, TX (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:24 PM)

Is anybody on from MSNBC or the media going to apolgize to Obama for their comments. Judgemental at best. Couldn't wait for ALL the facts to come out before commenting.

The folks at Morning Joe and their guests should be ashamed.

Ira, Freehold, NJ (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:24 PM)

For the record, Clark's point of view is an attempt to water down McCain experience to a degree that it becomes negligible when compared to Obama's fat zero experience and questionable patriotism... and it back-fired!

Miserly Stark (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:25 PM)

THE NEVER ENDING PARADE OF STUPID MARCHES ON.

LENI CAVALETTO,MICHIGAN (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:25 PM)

Democrats learn slowly, but they learn. You ain't seen nothin' yet.

Cindy and John-boy are going for a ride in the media that will make the Hanoi Hilton look like a vacation destination.

Mark Thieme (Sent Monday, June 30, 2008 2:25 PM)

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