That the fight over Sen. John Kerry’s controversial claims of combat heroics has turned into a genuine political phenomenon has caused some of my media colleagues to be surprised, mystified and fed up.
Yet millions of American voters have dared–without the media’s blessing–to take up Kerry on his challenge to make his Vietnam War feats the centerpiece of his presidential campaign. Despite arrogant calls for the electorate to return to “legitimate issues,” Kerry’s honesty about his tour as officer-in-charge of two swift boats has arguably become the most passionate issue of this campaign. This fight won’t go away so easily. Nor should it.
Why?
First, for some unfathomable reason, Kerry himself made four months out of his life 35 years ago a bigger issue than his record as a four-term senator. So, challenging that military record is not just permissible. In a democracy, those who believe or know those claims to be exaggerated or false are obliged to dispute them.
Second, millions of voters, without media authorization, have decided for themselves that challenges to Kerry’s claims are substantial enough to be taken seriously. Those challenges, raised by many fellow officers who served with him, are believable enough to doubt Kerry’s honesty, judgment and leadership. For example, when another swift boat skipper, Thomas W. White, says Kerry was so insubordinate and careless that White and a couple other officers-in-charge asked Kerry to take his three Purple Hearts and get out, that deserves the same consideration as others who praise Kerry’s valor. Third, the fight does involve a “real” political issue–the abject failure of campaign-finance “reform.” As critics warned long ago, choking off direct contributions to candidates will drive money into uncontrolled 527 groups–such as Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, sponsor of the anti-Kerry ads. Reformers seem unaware of the irony that they made possible the very anti-Kerry ads that they now find so loathsome.
So, lift restrictions on direct contributions, and the need for 527s will abate. Putting the candidates back in control of more of their ads will again make them more accountable for their veracity. But frontal attacks on 527s, such as Bush’s ill-advised lawsuit to “regulate” (read: silence) them, just drives money into even murkier groups. And raises serious constitutional questions.
Fourth, too many Americans are too angered by the unfair way the swift boat veterans, President Bush and others are being treated to let go of the issue. Kerry demands that Bush must condemn the swift boat ads, but Kerry hasn’t condemned the many foul ads run by his supporters lurking in 527 groups. The swift boat veterans group is roundly damned for being financed by partisan Republicans. But the funding of anti-Bush 527s by wealthy Democratic partisans such as George Soros, the billionaire investor whose hatred of Bush gnaws on his insides, is barely noted.
Reporters busily construct complex charts detailing Republican connections to the swift boat group, but pay little attention to Democratic connections to 527s. Harold M. Ickes, a member of the executive committee of the Democratic National Committee, helped raise money for and organized America Coming Together and the Media Fund, both anti-Bush 527 groups. Jim Jordan, a Media Fund official, was a Kerry campaign official. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, chairman of the Democratic National Convention, has been an adviser to the New Democrat Network. Zack Exley, an official of MoveOn.org, another virulent anti-Bush 527, moved over to the Kerry campaign. So, where’s the outrage?
Will Kerry denounce actress Whoopi Goldberg’s unseemly personal attack on Bush, made in Kerry’s presence, or filmmaker Michael Moore’s cacophony of lies and slander masquerading as a documentary? Did Kerry denounce MoveOn.org for running an ad comparing Bush to Hitler? Will Kerry demand the return of the $63 million that has been gathered in his name by 527s to conduct the hateful campaigns against Bush?
Too many Americans know the answers to these questions, which is why the rumble over Lt. Kerry and his excellent swift boat adventure is far from over.
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Dennis Byrne is a Chicago-area writer and public affairs consultant. E-mail: dbyrne1942@earthlink.net
