Swift boat writer lied on Cambodia claim

By Elizabeth Wolfe, Associated Press Writer | August 25, 2004

WASHINGTON -- The chief critic of John Kerry's military record told President Nixon in 1971 that he had been in Cambodia in a swift boat during the Vietnam War -- a claim at odds with his recent statements that he was not.

"I was in Cambodia, sir. I worked along the border," said John E. O'Neill in a conversation that was taped by the former president's secret recording system. The tape is stored at the National Archives in College Park, Md.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, O'Neill did not dispute what he said to Nixon, but insisted he was never actually in Cambodia.

"I think I made it very clear that I was on the border, which is exactly where I was for three months. I was about 100 yards from Cambodia," O'Neill said in clarifying the June 16, 1971, conversation with Nixon.

Chad Clanton, a spokesman for the Democratic presidential candidate, said the tape "is just the latest in a long line of lies and false statements from a group trying to smear John Kerry's military service. Again, they're being proven liars with their own words. It's time for President Bush to stand up and specifically condemn this smear."

http://mediamatters.org/items/200408250004

They LIED.



Local veterans call for attorney's resignation

OREGON CITY, Ore. - Clackamas County veterans are calling for the resignation of an assistant district attorney who appeared in television ads attacking Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's military record.

In the ad, and a sworn affidavit, Al French says he served with Kerry and that the Purple Heart medals Kerry received were obtained under false pretenses.

However, French admitted later that he did not witness the events mentioned in the affidavit and was relying on what his friends told him.

Veteran Don Stewart says he believes it was outrageous that French would try to smear Kerry's military record.

"Mr. French signed an affidavit defaming John Kerry's military service and then he admitted that he had no first-hand knowledge of what he swore to," Stewart said on Monday. "Someone who the community trusts to carry out the law cannot be lying in sworn, legal affidavits."

On Monday, French would neither confirm nor deny the reports that he did not witness the events mentioned in the affidavit.

The Oregon State Bar says they have received enough complaints to look into the matter, with the main question being whether French violated ethics.

http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=70418

It sounds like a great thing. But of course it means if your opponent lies about something (IF - haha - I'm a funny guy) then you can't call him on it.

The problem with facts is that they can be spun. So even the "just the facts" method wouldn't be honest.
13,000% percent of all politicians lie and make things up...

Matt,

Haven't there been numerous links to incontrovertable proof that the Swift Boat veterans lied?
There are a couple more right here in this thread. Can we get past this "maybe you don't like their message" thing, and all agree that the Swift Boat Veterans lied for the purpose of getting people to vote for Bush?

You can still hold your opinion that it's OK to lie if it's to fool people into thinking what you want them to think. You can still hold your opinion that it's noble to lie in order to preserve tax cuts for your financial backers.
But please don't pretend that the Swift Boat Veterans may have told the truth, because that just makes you look ignorant.

__________________
"I think -- tide turning -- see, as I remember --I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of -- it's easy to see a tide turn -- did I say those words?"
-- George W. Bush, asked if the tide is turning in Iraq

They have a website dedicated to their swift boating of Murtha. These are the same liars that lied about Kerry.

Murtha needs no Swiftboating. His role in ABSCAM is all you need to know his character.

Well, that's like my business. I can talk crud on my competition all day long. But then all I'm doing is advertising for them. People will find out the truth. That's what the 527's are for. (or what ever the term for those groups are)

__________________
Who is more irrational? A man who believes in a God he can't see, or a man who is offended by a God he doesn't believe in?

Strip mining and foresting prevents forest fires.

For every animal you don't eat, I'm going to eat three.

He ran a gas station down in St. Louis... No, Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader of the 20th century. Hillary Clinton

Most vets from the Vienam era, especially those who oppose Bush, are scum.

Kerry the liar. He self inflicted wounds to earn a purple heart, and direct support of the North Vietmanese.

Max Cleland, who purposely blew off his leg to garner sympathy from the left.

John McCain, who had illegitamate black children with a hooker, and went insane under the very light pressure of Vietmanese interregation.

And now Murtha. What a bunch of losers. I spit in thier cowardly faces. This is why I will continue to support true war heros like Cheney and Bush.

If that is the "lie" that y'all claim to support your "swift boaters lied" theory, then your argument is very weak. This is ony a portion of a sentence, from a conversation. People often say things that need minor clarification later and this appears to be a perfect example. It is prefectly reasonable to assume taht when he said he was "in" Cambodia, by folowing up with "along the border", he meant to say "in the Cambodian theater of operations". This statement was taken out of context.

__________________
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"... In Order to... secure [B]the Blessings [/B]of Liberty... do [B]ordain[/B] and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."