John Kerry’s Vietnam record and his anti-war statements following his tour of duty continue to haunt him as Swift Boat vets who served with the Democratic nominee release two ads attacking him.
During his Senate testimony after he left Vietnam, young Kerry alleged that American soldiers committed war crimes – testimony that, some argue, lengthened the captivity of U.S. prisoners of war.
With just over two weeks left prior to the Nov. 2 election, two new anti-Kerry ads have emerged, both generated by former soldiers who served in Vietnam.
The ads were created by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and POWs for Truth. According to USA Today, the ads will be carried in the state of Ohio as well as national cable channels.
One commercial depicts the anguished faces of American soldiers as an announcer tells the audience: "They’re the men who spent years in North Vietnamese prison camps. Tortured for refusing to confess what John Kerry accused them of – being war criminals."
USA Today also reports that the second ad queries: "Why is this relevant? Because character and honesty matter. Especially in a time of war."
No attempt has been made to bar the ads from being televised prior to Election Day. The Federal Communications Commission, chaired by Michael Powell, said there are no existing rules empowering the agency to prevent televising the ads prior to the election.
Democrats fear the ads may influence voters and would like to see the ads stopped. A spokesman for Kerry told USA Today that his campaign considers the ads false and "more trash politics from President Bush’s allies."
In addition to the ads, Sinclair Broadcast Group, the owner of 62 television stations nationally, is planning to air an anti-Kerry documentary film a few days prior to the election.
Democrats contend the airing, which centers around the film "Stolen Honor: Wounds That Never Heal," violates fairness policies.
Sinclair’s program, which is still in the development stages, focuses on the Senate testimony given by Kerry in 1971 that Vietnam veterans deem degrading to the brave soldiers who served, many of whom were POWs. |
