Swift Boat Campaign Revisitted

SBVT asserted that Kerry was "unfit to serve" as President based upon his alleged "willful distortion of the conduct" of American servicemen during that war, and his alleged "withholding and/or distortion of material facts" as to his own conduct during that war.^[1] This claim caused tremendous controversy during the election, particularly because some perceived the veterans as partisans who had not been in a place to assess Kerry,^[2] while several other Vietnam veterans who served alongside Kerry or under his command disputed the criticisms and supported Kerry in his presidential aspirations.^[3][4]

SBVT stated that "Kerry's phony war crimes charges, his exaggerated claims about his own service in Vietnam, and his deliberate misrepresentation of the nature and effectiveness of Swift boat operations compel us to step forward."^[5] The group challenged the legitimacy of each of the combat medals awarded to Kerry by the U.S. Navy and the disposition of his discharge. (See John Kerry military service controversy.) Further, SBVT said that Kerry's later criticism of the war was a "betrayal of trust" with other soldiers, and that by his activism he had caused direct "harm" to soldiers still at war. (See John Kerry VVAW controversy.)

Registered under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, SBVT publicized its criticisms of Kerry during the election campaign in a book, in television advertisements that the group ran in swing states and in the media coverage some members received. The group was the subject of several complaints to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

After the election, the group was credited by some media and praised by conservatives as contributing to Kerry's defeat^[6] while critics consider the group an example of a successful political smear campaign.^[7]

From Wikipedia

Following that defintion and according to the same article the group had disbanded for this election year. Why then would it still be an attempt to coup Senator Obama's run. It was interesting to read about this today and to think that was over four years ago but apparently quite effective when Kerry ran for President. So then in that same article there was mention of The Obama Camp Establishing a Multi Pronged attack to cover their bases. So really the question is will it make any difference in this election? And will Senator Obama's Counter be Effective?

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