Debate continues to heat up over ad attacking Kerry's vet record

By Lois Romano and Dana Milbank
The Washington Post

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President Bush yesterday repeated his condemnation of unregulated money that he said was "pouring" into the political process and said broadcast attacks by outside groups have no place in the race for the White House. "I think they're bad for the system," he said.

But Bush stopped short of denouncing the ad by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which was aired in three closely contested states and was funded largely by Republican backers.

In a conference call with reporters arranged by the Kerry campaign, three Navy Swift boat officers who served with Kerry 35 years ago but who said they have not been in touch with him for years defended his service and his bravery. Rich McCann, Jim Russell and Rich Baker said Kerry served honorably and took issue with questions raised by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth about his commendations.

"He was the most aggressive officer in charge of Swift boats," Baker said. "With no disrespect to anyone out there, the whole Swift boat operation took courage and guts every time you stepped on those boats. But John Kerry was one step above the rest of us."

The conference call was part of an offensive aimed at regaining control of an issue that has been the centerpiece of his presidential bid: his Vietnam service. The campaign has been roiled by an ad that questions Kerry's valor and accuses him of misrepresenting the facts that led to some of his commendations.

Bush praised Kerry's military service in Vietnam. "I think Senator Kerry served admirably, and he ought to be proud of his record," he said.

But pressed several times by reporters at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, about whether he would specifically condemn the ad, Bush would only say, "That means that ad and every other ad. I'm denouncing all the stuff."

In Oshkosh, Wis., Kerry's running mate, Sen. John Edwards, blasted Bush for not taking a clear stand against the anti-Kerry ads. "The moment of truth came and went, and the president still couldn't bring himself to do the right thing," the North Carolina senator said. "Instead of hiding behind a front group, George Bush needs to take responsibility and demand that the ad come off the air."

Adm. Roy Hoffmann, a founder of the anti-Kerry group of Vietnam veterans, issued a statement in response to Bush's comment: "It would make no difference if John Kerry were a Republican, Democrat or an independent, Swift Boat Veterans would still be speaking the truth concerning John Kerry's military service record in Vietnam, his actions after returning home and his lack of qualifications to be the next commander in chief."

While getting off to a slow start in responding to the ad, Kerry's campaign is frantically trying to mobilize veterans to speak out. Former Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., who lost three limbs in Vietnam, spent the weekend in Wisconsin denouncing the ads and attacks, and Kerry's crewmates have been fanning out across the country to defend him.
 
In Pennsylvania, crewmate Del Sandusky said at a news conference that he witnessed the combat missions for which Kerry received Silver and Bronze stars and two of his three Purple Hearts. "He deserved every one of his medals," he said.

William Sweidel, a decorated Korean War veteran who appeared with Sandusky, said later that he voted for both Bushes for president, but will support Kerry because of these attacks.

"I called the campaign to express outrage. I was disappointed. I was diminished," he said. "Nobody was talking about how it was hurting all veterans to have them criticize Kerry's medals. The whole system is now suspect based on what these people are saying. It's pernicious."

Phil Butler, a POW for eight years in Vietnam, took issue with the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth allegation that Kerry's anti-war protests caused POWs to be treated badly. "I lived with two of the POWs who are now in that group ... and I am telling you, they are full of it. We never heard a blooming thing about John Kerry while we were there."

During the conference call, former Swift boat officer Baker said he thought that former Sen. Bob Dole's comment Sunday on CNN that Kerry had won three Purple Hearts "and never bled that I know of" was inappropriate and that he had no "business" judging Kerry's injuries.

Dole's comment drew a morning-after phone call from Kerry, his colleague in the Senate for more than a decade. "He said he was disappointed. And I said, 'John, I didn't mean to offend you,' " Dole told CNN.

McCann said he tried to stay out of politics, but that when he saw that the Swift boat group had identified him on its Web site as being "neutral" on Kerry without asking him, he was furious. Kerry's commendation record "has stood for 35 years, and suddenly you've got people coming forward saying, 'Well, I've had second thoughts about this,' " McCann said. "That is dishonoring not only (Kerry), it is dishonoring all veterans."

In anticipation of the airing of a second ad by the group, this one attacking Kerry for his anti-war efforts, the Kerry campaign has launched a new ad, calling the Swift Boat commercials "smears and lies" — and accusing the Bush operation of using the same tactic it used against Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the 2000 GOP primaries. McCain, who was a POW in Vietnam for nearly six years, has urged Bush to denounce the ad.

Material from The Associated Press and Knight Ridder Newspapers is included in this report.