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Thursday, July 26, 2007

Now Reporters Can "Swiftboat," Too

Posted by: Matt Lewis at 9:10 PM

I've got to give Hugh credit for pointing out something that has escaped other political observers. He is essentially arguing that the YouTube debate allows the MSM to get the benefit of attacking candidates -- without being punished for it.

In essense, this is similar to what political candidates do when the "Swiftboat" (or IAFF) somebody. By finding surrogates who are willing to attack their opponent, these candidates get to keep their hands clean, and stay above the fray. (Of course, they've always been able to do this through quotes -- but now they can embarrass a candidate during a debate and put him on the spot).

I still think Republicans ought to participate in a YouTube debate. But if I were an advisor for one of the frontrunners (who have the most to lose), I'm not sure I'd feel the same way ...

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SGRivette writes:	Friday, July, 27, 2007 7:38 AM
SPEAKING OF
Why don't people put hit pieces out on MSM reporters/news people in the same way Larry Flynt does to Republican lawmakers?????? I mean, shouldn't we the public know if our TRUSTY REPORTERS are using cocaine, binge drinking with prostitutes or smoking dope with their buddies? Wouldn't it kill any "investigative report" if, say, using David Gregory simply as an example, that Gregory does a hit piece on George Bush. Imagine if we find out that Gregory was using drugs while doing his investigation. Why do we only care if politicians and businessmen are drug addicts and brothel users? Shouldn't we care and report on those who give us the news, yet also participate in illegal activities??????????????
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Uncle Max writes:	Friday, July, 27, 2007 7:18 AM
may I point out that
1) the Swifties were THERE and observed john kerry in combat - who better to judge a man than those who have been in battle with him? 2) jfk has three Purple Hearts. The Purple Heart is a medal for HEROES - men who have been killed or wounded in combat. It is NOT a medal for men who have little knicks on their hands and cover them with band-aids and then get three PHs (at whose recommendation?) and a few days later are gone from Vietnam after 4 months instead of the usual 12.
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one hot minute writes:	Friday, July, 27, 2007 1:18 AM
Matt,"Swiftboating" is an Orwellian term
Matt Lewis, By continuing to use "Swiftboating" in this context, you offer legitimacy to the lefties' contention that what the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth did was nothing more than a surrogate partisan attack on John F. Kerry. Indeed, the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth did exactly as their organization's name suggests---they exposed the TRUTH. I realize you often like to use terms that show you're a D.C. insider, and that's cool. But on this one, you gotta recognize that you're buying into the Orwellian language of the left. A lot of brave American troops suffered real injuries in Vietnam before you and I were even a sparkle in our fathers' eyes. Those wounded troops didn't have the opportunity to manipulate clever injury reports enabling them to go home early like John F. Kerry did.
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arb writes:	Thursday, July, 26, 2007 10:10 PM
again with the swiftboat line
The Swiftboat Veterans spoke the truth. Prior to them, for example, "Christmas in Cambodia" was seared, SEARED... Political candidates often attempt to smear an opponent with innuendo (love flies out the door when money comes innuendo) or outright lies. To Swiftboat someone is just the opposite.
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