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McCain 'Truth Squad' Makes First Attack
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ShareJanuary 15, 2008 6:35 PM
ABC News' Ron Claiborne Reports: John McCain's "Truth Squad" went into action for the first time today, denouncing a mailer it says was sent to South Carolina voters by a group calling itself Vietnam Veterans Against John McCain.
"Today, a shadowy political organization calling itself 'Vietnam Veterans Against McCain' launched a vicious attack on John McCain in an attempt to impugn his character in the closing days of the South Carolina Republican Primary," said former Col. Orson Swindle, who was a fellow POW in Vietnam with McCain and is now a member of his campaign staff.
"The group claims that John McCain turned his back on his fellow POWs in order to save his own skin. Nothing could be further from the truth. I know because I was there. The truth is, the North Vietnamese offered John McCain early release, and he refused. He stuck to the time honored military code of first-in, first-out, and stood by his fellow POWs until the end -- even at the risk of his own life as he was severely injured."
McCain said yesterday he did not expect there to be a recurrence of the smear campaign that occurred in South Carolina in 2000 but the 'Truth Squad' was being formed to immediately rebut any negative attacks on him if they did occur. McCain lost that primary to George W. Bush, effectively ending his bid for the Republican nomination.
On a conference call with reporters, Swindle said the leaflet contained "half-truths and misinformation and was done to try to destroy John McCain in the upcoming election."
At the bottom of the flyer attached to a McCain campaign news release is the name Swift Boat Vets For Truth, Kinston, N.C.
January 15, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan | Permalink | User Comments (8)
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Hmmmmm....I guess, Mike, you were there to see him with his private nurse and preferential treatment, be real. At least he went and fought, not like the %&$#@! in the white house now.
Posted by: Paul | Jan 15, 2008 10:57:40 PM
WHAT WOULD LIFE BE LIKE IF John McCain defeated George Bush???????Would our country be in a second Vietnam war?????
Meet with the Vietnam Vets against McCain and ask them why they are doing what they are doing? What do they want? Is it helping the country? What would life be like if McCain defeated George Bush? Look at the big picture people.
Posted by: PR Sheerin | Jan 15, 2008 11:20:08 PM
I don't know who these ####boat veterans are supporting this campaign, but the reason I wouldn't vote John McCain is because he's a neo-con of the highest order, ready to bomb Iran at a moment's notice on behalf of a paranoid little tribe in the Middle East. That's why loser Lieberman the treasonous lobby is supporting him.
Posted by: Patriot | Jan 16, 2008 5:32:25 AM
What happened in Vietnam should not effect John McCain today. Unlike John Kerry who tried to use he war record to get elected.
Posted by: Waggdogg | Jan 16, 2008 8:01:50 AM
Anything negative about McCain that comes out of Kinston, SC, should be scoured for the secret signature. My bet is, you'll find the name Ted Sampley - in which case, you should disregard. Sampley is a longtime McCain basher who has not yet learned the 9th Commandment (8th if you're Catholic/Lutheran).
Posted by: Susan Katz Keating | Jan 16, 2008 12:10:25 PM
Correction: Kinston, NC.
Posted by: Susan Katz Keating | Jan 16, 2008 12:22:13 PM
I see my two posts were removed. Odd, since my information was based on legal and public information. I perhaps understand removing the first post however the second one merely indicated that this group was the same group of people: Jerry Kiley, Ted Sampley and Vietnam Veterans against John Kerry.
Posted by: Skyhawk | Jan 16, 2008 2:21:21 PM
...and where would McCains career be now had he come home early? Would he still be a US Senator let alone the presumptive GOP Presidential nominee?
Posted by: wninja | May 11, 2008 7:22:58 PM
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