Kerry Rips McCain For Relying On Swift Boat Vets

Sen. John Kerry harshly criticized John McCain on Monday for using a member of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in his efforts to counteract criticism from an Obama campaign surrogate.

The 2004 Democratic nominee, whose candidacy was undercut by the Swift Boat veterans, lambasted McCain for turning to SBVT veteran Bud Day as a campaign representative, suggesting that the Arizona Republican had abandoned "a new kind of politics."

"Colonel Day's comments today only further highlight the McCain campaign's disregard for a new kind of politics," Kerry said in a statement. "John McCain condemned these kinds of attacks in 2004 when he called the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth 'dishonest and dishonorable.' Senator McCain should condemn these remarks and cut ties with the Colonel and anyone else connected to SBVT. Day's comments only serve to disparage all those who served on swift boats in Vietnam."

Earlier on Monday, McCain's campaign hosted a conference call in which Day, a contemporary from Vietnam, lambasted remarks made by Gen. Wesley Clark suggesting that McCain's military experience was not, in and of itself, a qualification for the White House.

During the call, Day was asked to reconcile how he could work to smear John Kerry's war record in 2004, yet claim war records were out-of-bounds for McCain in 2008

"The Swift Boat attacks were simply a revelation of the truth, the similarity does not exist here," he explained. "What the Swift Boat campaign was about was to lay out John Kerry's record. John Kerry has never produced any evidence to deny that. We are producing the evidence of these attacks right now to show that those remarks were completely inaccurate."

As Kerry pointed out in his statement, McCain publicly criticized the Swift Boat ads back in 2004, saying they were reminiscent of the smear campaigns launched against him during his initial White House run in 2000.

"It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me," said the Senator.

Indeed, during the last campaign, Day called Kerry "the Benedict Arnold of 1971," appeared in advertisements questioning Kerry's war record, and, latter, formed the Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundation, an extension of the Swift Boat effort.

Comments

[not one of the sheep]

Johnny boy, they sell kleenex at your local Wal-Mart to catch your tears of self pity. Please feel free to sit down and shut up so the big people can do their jobs. Your banter and spew is old and worn out.

[booksnmore4you]

"The Swift Boat attacks were simply a revelation of the truth, the similarity does not exist here"

That's why were working so hard to stonewall on releasing Maccy's full military records, eh?

[MadJeffersonian]

His records are in the same file box as Bushie's.

[Kurt]

I saw the Clark comment on CBS yesterday morning and sort of gasped when i heard it, but after thinking for a tab bit, Clark is correct, military experience in and of itself does not make one qualified to be President. Even distinctive military experience, for example Grant won the Civil War, and made a terrible president -- his administration was one of the most corrupt in American history.

As for McCain and Colonel Day -- if a neo-con offered me a drink of water, I'd call a chemical engineer.

[MadJeffersonian]

Grant's administration would seem clean by comparison to the current one.

[GoodScout]

How ironic that McCain this morning tried to portray Obama as someone who would say or do anything to get elected. McSame needs to look in the mirror.

[GLaB]

How is John Kerry interjecting himself into this in any way helpful? The less heard from him the better for Obama. He's just reminding undecided voters that Obama is "just another Harvard liberal."

[bigdaddyvike]

Col. Bud Day is not just a Swiftboater- he is one of the architects and top chickenhawks behind the PNAC/neocon boys. Apparently the neocons have now embraced McCain. Maverick that he is.

[mkrempasky]

Chickenhawk, you say? I say you should put down the crack pipe before you burn yourself. You don't have to agree/disa­gree/like/­hate the guy - but he does happen to be anything but a chickenhawk. I'd suggest you get yourself a Google.

[elgato40]

Before resorting to childish ad hominem attacks, you should do your research. Bud Day is a Medal of Honor recipient and one of the most decorated airmen in the US Air Force

[Bertha40869]

This should probably get more media coverage than what Clark said. This is the ultimate in flip flopping, and proves that McCain will shake hands with Satan to get elected. You would think after the way those same people who are his "friends" crucified him in 2000, he'd have learned a lesson. Clark is right-McCain is unfit to be President.

[not one of the sheep]

Any Obamas qualifications are (deafening silence)? Do a little research on who is the king of flipflop. Mr. Obama is the messiah of flipflop as of late.

[mswsocialwork]

will McCain sign standard form 180???

[booksnmore4you]

Hear hear!!!