Friday, August 20, 2004

Swift boat liars exposed

Shocking, I know, but the press (in the case the New York Times) actually decided to do a little independent reporting (i.e., checking to see if statements square with the facts). And -- lo and behold -- it turns out that the swift boat liars are just that: liars.

"...A series of interviews and a review of documents show a web of connections to the Bush family, high-profile Texas political figures and President Bush's chief political aide, Karl Rove.

Records show that the group received the bulk of its initial financing from two men with ties to the president and his family - one a longtime political associate of Mr. Rove's, the other a trustee of the foundation for Mr. Bush's father's presidential library. A Texas publicist who once helped prepare Mr. Bush's father for his debate when he was running for vice president provided them with strategic advice. And the group's television commercial was produced by the same team that made the devastating ad mocking Michael S. Dukakis in an oversized tank helmet when he and Mr. Bush's father faced off in the 1988 presidential election.

The strategy the veterans devised would ultimately paint John Kerry the war hero as John Kerry the 'baby killer' and the fabricator of the events that resulted in his war medals. But on close examination, the accounts of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth' prove to be riddled with inconsistencies. In many cases, material offered as proof by these veterans is undercut by official Navy records and the men's own statements.

Several of those now declaring Mr. Kerry 'unfit' had lavished praise on him, some as recently as last year...."


And just in case you don't want to wade through the prose (although you really should, the degree of specificity in exposing the lies is breathtaking) here's a handy graphic that demonstrates the relationships of the liars to Bush and the GOP. The criss-cross of "ole boy" ties -- fully discussed in the article -- makes Enron look like a charity run by nuns.