Facts apparently don’t matter when they get in the way of ideology on "The View." The same show that never corrected the record when they falsely claimed Vice President Cheney opposes gay marriage, made another false claim about the "Swift Boat" ads in the 2004 election.
Discussing former President Clinton’s charge that Democratic opponents were "swift boating" Senator Hillary Clinton, co-host Joy Behar made this false statement about the "Swift Boat" ads.
"But with John Kerry, and when they swift boated, here’s a man who was a hero in the Vietnam War. And they turned it around to make it that he was a coward and that he wasn’t- and the people who swift boated him, namely the Bush administration, and their cronies, are never even went into the war. They all got out of the war."
Not only did the Bush administration not put out those ads, the Bush campaign never did. In fact President Bush condemned those ads on the record and honored Senator Kerry’s service. The creators of those advertisements were an independent group, Swift Vets and POWs for Truth, composed of actual Vietnam veterans.
This political action committee is composed of such distinguished veterans as William Franke, a Vietnam Purple Heart recipient, and swift boat veteran John O’Neill, who debated John Kerry in 1971 about Kerry’s accusations of atrocities.
Veteran journalist Barbara Walters was present and did not correct Behar’s factually incorrect accusations.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
facts are not important
November 7, 2007 - 13:20 ET by SouthJersey1953Facts have never been an important part of the View. I actually think they may even be discouraged!!
No RINOs in '08 - Mike Huckabee is the best choice
Definitions
November 7, 2007 - 13:20 ET by mattmSwift' - boat v.t. to tell the truth about a politician who is falsely claiming military hero status, thereby exposing the politician as a phony.
The View n. a television talk show which is known for its utter lack of substance and its propensity for misinformation.
John Kerry a "Hero" in
November 7, 2007 - 13:21 ET by oldArmyJohn Kerry a "Hero" in Vietnam?......maybe to the NVA and Jane Fonda.
Kerry anounced he is
November 7, 2007 - 14:13 ET by kgKerry anounced he is finally ready to take on the Swift Boat Vetrans for Truth. Took him awhile too. However he didn't mention that he will FINALLY release his records as promised.
He is a dandy.
Yeah, I read that too. I
November 7, 2007 - 14:38 ET by HypocriteHaterYeah, I read that too. I think Drudge had a link to the article yesterday. I love how Kerry says he's gathered a bunch of evidence discrediting the swiftboaters for truth that he'll only release if he runs for president again AND if they try to "swiftboat" him again during this presidential run.
My first reaction to that was, if he has this alleged evidence that discredits the people who "smeared" him, why doesn't he produce this evidence now? If I were him, I'd want to clear my name ASAP. He could even write a book about it. There's not a book publisher in the country that wouldn't give him millions in advance fees for him to write that book. So clearly he's full of crap.
and their cronies, are never
November 7, 2007 - 13:36 ET by sunandsteelDid she actually say that? I mean, either way she is a moron.
Texas has a population of nearly 21 million people, all of whom are ashamed to be from the same state as the Dixie Chicks. (IMAO.us)
My understanding is that
November 7, 2007 - 13:40 ET by ForeverOnTheRightMy understanding is that Kerry joined the Navy to avoid being sent to VN, but it backfired when he was assigned to a swift boat and sent to VN. So Kerry was trying to avoid Viet Nam by being in the Navy. That doesn't sound like a "hero" to me. (It's another story if you want to serve your country and serve it in the Navy. That's respectable.)
perspective
November 7, 2007 - 15:17 ET by johnGand bush WAS trying to go to vietnam by joining the air nation guard?
but you're right, kerry was the wimp.
Flying planes
November 7, 2007 - 17:25 ET by cassratHe probably WASN'T trying to go th 'nam when he joined.In my opinion, he was trying to fly jets.
I was definitely trying to avoid when I tried to join the Naval Air Reserve. Didn't work, I failed the physical. Didn't fail the Army physical when I got drafted two months later.
Flying Jets
November 7, 2007 - 17:54 ET by HawgdrvrAs someone who has flown military jets, I've never understood how veterans can argue over whose service was the most honorable. If you were a veteran, your service was honorable. I don't have any problem with Kerry's Vietnam record. My problem is with how he came home, and then betrayed all other veterans who were serving in Vietnam by thowing away his medals and protesting the war; in effect he aided and abetted the enemies of our nation and way of life.
I also don't understand why President Bush doesn't stand up for himself by pointing out that the Texas Air Guard during the Vietnam period was continuously pulling alert duty against Soviet bombers. He was performing duty as an Air Interceptor pilot that had to be done by someone, why not him?
Bush Is Obviously Above Such Petty Tactics
November 7, 2007 - 23:44 ET by Del DolemonteBush trained and mastered a plane that had a higher than average accident rate-in other words, it was dangerous to fly. And in fact, several of his Texas ANG colleagues did get sent to Vietnam.
Meanwhile his 2000 opponent, while he did actually go to Vietnam, spent his time in an office in Saigon.
And Bush's 2004 opponent? The absolute majority of the military people who served with him in Vietnam formed a group called "Swift Boat Veterans For Truth". Out of over a hundred or so people in the group he served in, less than 20 of them could be paid off.
I'd love for one of our Kerry supporters here to steer us to a credible, multi-sourced refutation of what the Swifties accused Kerry of in 2004.
Seems to me that if Kerry was telling the truth to begin with about his service in the Navy, he could disprove their allegations in a heartbeat.
But he's still afraid to release all of his military records. Next?
Let's not even discuss the
November 8, 2007 - 17:20 ET by BeowulfLet's not even discuss the fact that the tour length in Vietnam was 1 year, but Kerry only served 4 months. Let's also not look into any detail about his Purple Hearts (all for minor injuries, one was treated with a band-aid and at least one of which was self-inflicted whether by accident or choice), and of which three was the magic number to get him out of 'Nam. And finally, let's not look at his ongoing diatribes about our service members as war criminals. He started that tripe during 'Nam and is continuing it to this day.
Yeah, he's a real hero Joy...
The Closed Mind Erects Strong Barriers
This empty-headed woman is
November 7, 2007 - 14:04 ET by Senior ChiefThis empty-headed woman is next to let go...Why are we still talking The View here folks? They are irrelevant!
If Joy Behar left "The View"
November 7, 2007 - 14:21 ET by motherbeltIf Joy Behar left "The View" the average IQ of the rest of the panel would rise by 30 points.
View IQ
November 7, 2007 - 14:41 ET by HypocriteHaterAnd that rise in IQ would occur even with the woman who didn't know whether or not the earth was round or flat. That's how dumb Joy is.
Behar's identity
November 7, 2007 - 14:59 ET by SeptemberVeteran journalist Barbara Walters was present and did not correct Behar’s factually incorrect accusations.
As with slow students, Walters probably gets tired of correcting her. Why waste energy when some are never going to have the desire or drive or ability to improve? It's a fact of life that people like Behar will always be pathetically dim. I think they like it that way. It's easier to have a dusty attic full of junk and mouse droppings than to clean it out and make something useful of it.
VRWC
November 7, 2007 - 15:23 ET by nkviking75It's the old VRWC meme. Kerry got attacked, therefore it's attributable to Bush... or maybe Cheney. I bet if you got all the Swift Boat organization to talk to Behar to set her straight, she'd refuse to accept it.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
Supposedly, according to the idiotbox today...
November 7, 2007 - 15:26 ET by sarcasmoBoone Pickens has put up a million bucks to anyone who can disprove the ads. If people want to fight it out, they know where to go. But Bush -- perhaps like today's Presidential candidates with controversial & diverse supporters...Ahem... -- had nothing to do with this. Behar should invite Boone on the View and they can have a 4 on 1 catfight.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.
If Behar and the rest of
November 7, 2007 - 16:12 ET by bigtimerIf Behar and the rest of the crew had a brain they might be dangerous....and I use the word 'might' lightly.
view
November 7, 2007 - 17:58 ET by jimblanI hate how the Dems and the willing media have turned "Swift-boating" into a negative verb. The Swift Boat book and TV ads made legit points about Kerry, and how much he's disliked by vets. (Real soldiers, as opposed to "phony soldiers."
C'mon
November 7, 2007 - 18:19 ET by KevroyBehar reminds me of the trailer-park high-school dropout who tries to engage in political discussions. I was talking to one the other day and he remarked, "You know Bush will run again at the last minute and steal another election." When I pointed out to the moron that Bush can't run for a third term, he said, "You watch, he will change that too".
And that's what Behar is like every single day. Just recently she wanted to know why Clarence Thomas "needs to write a book when he's already won everything."
C'mon, View, if you insist on having complete idiots on the panel, then the least you can do is get attractive idiots that are easy on the eyes.
Ignorant AND unattractive just ain't cuttin' it....
What gets completely lost
November 7, 2007 - 18:38 ET by drillanwrWhat gets completely lost (or perhaps intentionally totally ignored) in the tossing about the term "Swiftboated" is the fact that the collection of men responsible for that campaign against poor little rich boy Kerry were/are Vietnam vets themselves, not cogs in some political machine. So, what makes John Kerry more honorable than them? What puts him in the position of not being questioned or doubted? Kerry is the one who came home from the war, after a real short tour, and declared war on the military (and then dared used his Vietnam vet status as political fodder in the campaign). But the"Swiftboaters" are the villians?
She's kinda doing her own swiftboat campaign...
January 9, 2008 - 02:10 ET by Army BratThe difference being she's fulla crap.
Happy Trails...