a dish served cold: kerry gets revenge on the swift boat smear set

[Van Cruncheon]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-geiger/major-swift-boat-donor-to_b_42279.html

Here's the exchange that followed:


Kerry: I certainly appreciate the comments you just made, Mr. Fox, and I'm not looking for anyone to call me a hero. I think that most heroes died, and do die, and those of us who are lucky enough to get out of there are lucky.

But notwithstanding the comments you made, you did see fit to contribute a very significant amount of money in October to a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, correct?

Fox: Correct.

Kerry: Why would you do that given what you just said about how bad they are?

Fox: Well, Senator, I have to put it in the proper context and bear with me. Marilyn and I have lived the American dream -- there's no question about it. My father came here with the clothes on his back and the Fox family and the Woodman family have truly lived the American dream that's been very, very good to us.

I heard someone mention here that we gave to 250 charities. I also went back and had my staff count in '05 and '06, we've made more than 1,000 contributions. More than 100 of those were political, 900 and some odd were charitable and to institutions of learning and so forth. A great deal of those had to do with basic human needs. I think it was Senator Danforth who mentioned every time he got a letter that had Harbour Group on it, he shuddered because it was going to cost him money. Marilyn and I both raise a lot of money from a lot of people.

The point I'm making is this: We ask a lot of people for money and people ask us for money. And very fortunately, we've been blessed with being successful financially and when we're asked, we generally give -- particularly if we know who gave it.

Kerry: So, well, who asked you to give to the SBVT?

Fox: I can't tell you specifically who did because, you know, I don't remember. As a matter of fact, if I...

Kerry: You have no recollection of why you gave away $50,000?

Fox: I gave away $50,000 because I was asked to.

Kerry: But you have no recollection of who asked you to give away $50,000?

Fox: No, sir. I've given away sums much larger than that to a lot of other places and I can't tell you specifically who asked me, no.

Kerry: Well, you don't think that's it's important as a citizen, who doesn't like 527s to know where your money is going and how it's going to be spent?

Fox: Well, I think with most contributors and if you go to the other side of the political campaigns and we give to individual candidates, we don't know how they're going to use that money and what...

Kerry: Well at least it's accountable to an individual candidate for whom people have to vote or not vote. 527s as you said are mean, ugly and not accountable.

Fox: I agree with that. I absolutely agree with that.


As Kerry pressed Fox to explain why he would give $50,000 to a 527 group when he claims to despise them so much -- and that he now knows spewed lies at Kerry that were quickly discredited -- the Swift Boat Sugar Daddy repeated a theme he used several times in his testimony, which is essentially that he did it to level the playing field with the attacks coming from liberal 527 groups.

In other words, he all but said Kerry was simply collateral damage in a political fight.


Kerry: Why would you give $50,000 to a group you have no sense of accountability for?

Fox: Well, because if 527s were banned, then it's banned for both parties. And so long as they're not banned...

Kerry: So two wrongs make a right?

Fox: Well, I don't know, but if one side is contributing then the other side...

Kerry: But is that your judgment? Is that your judgment that you would bring to the ambassadorship? That two wrongs make a right?

Fox: No, I didn't say that two wrongs make a right, sir.

Kerry: Why would you do it then?

Fox: Well, I did it because politically, it's necessary if the other side is doing it.

And no matter what Kerry asked, Fox played dumb, saying he forgot who asked him for the $50,000 and that he had no clue that the Swift Boat Liars were doing such dirty deeds with his money.

Kerry: My question to you is why? When you say you couldn't have known -- these were people very publicly condemning it. How could you not have known?

Fox: I guess, Mr. Senator, when I'm asked I just generally give.

Kerry: So, again, I ask you the question, do you think now that you and others bear responsibility for thinking about where we put money in American politics? What we're saying, what we present to the American people -- is truth important or isn't it?

Fox: Senator, if I had reason to believe and if I were convinced that the money was going to be used to, in any untruthful or false way, knowingly, I would not give.

Kerry: Well, sir, let me ask you this question: Did you or did you not in any of the public comments being made at the time, which I assume you were following, hear or read of any of the public statements at that point in time, with respect to the legitimacy of these charges and these smears?

Fox: Mr. Senator, I can say this...

Kerry: Did you miss this: In September of 2004, Vice Admiral Ruth, with the Navy Inspector General, wrote a letter to the Secretary of the Navy that was made public -- the New York Times, the Washington Post, every major newspaper in the country carried, saying their examination found that the existing documentation regarding my medals was legitimate.

Did you miss that too?

Fox: I don't remember those, but I'm certain at the time I must have read them.

Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), who was chairing the meeting, told Fox that he found his answers to Kerry "somewhat unsatisfying" and said that "The swift boat ads were of a different degree, even in the ugly arena of politics. They were extraordinarily well publicized, that there was essentially a fraud being perpetrated on the American people. It had a profound impact on the election."

kerry

where was this kerry when we were supposed to, y'know, vote for him

[MrAngryFace]

OWNED

[Ichirou]

Except not actually owned because Bush ended up naming Sam Fox ambassador to Belgium despite the protests of the Democrats.  Bush wins again.

[MrAngryFace]

OWNED!

[Van Cruncheon]

We all knew he'd get the nomination, dur -- the ownage was the public excoriation for a really detestable attack on a war hero.

[Cheebs]

Kerry is a very good senator and is one hell of a smart man who deserved to be president more than a lot of people who attempt to get that job.

However, he was incompetent as a campaigner and that led to his downfall. He couldn't get people to like him and get excited about him, he never was that type of bill clinton-esque politician and people want to vote for someone they like over someone they find to be qualified.

[Van Cruncheon]

his only significant flip-flop was the shift from the aggressive, sharp kerry the senator to the placating, forced-friendly dweeb we endured in the primaries and the presidential campaign. i really wanted to like him, but i kept pining that it wasn't edwards in the spotlight.

[Cheebs]

I want to know when politicians will learn that trying to be wishy-washy moderates doesn't help you "appeal" to the other side ever.

If Gore didn't hide his passionate personality that has came out in the last few years he would have likely won. A great recent example is McCain. McCain back-peddled on his firey maverick image to appear more wishy-washy and it led to his fall.


Dukakis and that fucking tank should have KILLED this weird idea but it didn't.

[Van Cruncheon]

i'll take the bits i don't like about a candidate if they act like a fuckin' LEADER. what i do NOT want is a) an opportunist (hilary); b) a chronic compromiser (kerry); or c) a total fuckin' shitheel idiot (bush, romney)

[Cheebs]

what would drinky describe rudy  as?

[Lonestar]

Except not actually owned because Bush ended up naming Sam Fox ambassador to Belgium despite the protests of the Democrats.  Bush wins again.

actually, the bush administration removed the sam fox nomination the day before the vote knowing full well he wouldn't have the votes to make it out of the committee and in a really disgusting and quite possibly illegal move, bush named fox as the belgium ambassador by virtue of a recess appointment.  even though the recess is less than 10 days and the administration had already removed him from senate consideration!

[Mupepe]

as a conservative, I voted for Kerry.  He has all the right stuff to be President except a public personality.