John Kerry and his spokesmen demand that President Bush "denounce" the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth; e.g., in this new Kerry ad:
TEXT OF AD:John Kerry: “I’m John Kerry and I approve this message.”
Narrator: “American soldiers are fighting in Iraq.”
Narrator: “Families struggle to afford health care.”
Narrator: “Jobs heading overseas.”
Narrator: “Instead of solutions, George Bush’s campaign supports a front group attacking John Kerry’s military record. Attacks called smears, lies. Sen. McCain calls them dishonest.”
Narrator: “Bush smeared John McCain four years ago. Now, he’s doing it to John Kerry.”
Narrator: “George Bush: Denounce the smear. Get back to the issues. America deserves better.”
Is Kerry thereby attempting to induce a violation of federal law? Little Green Footballs explains.
I don’t recall Kerry “standing up” and asking Michael Moore to “stop” his over-the-top scurrilous campaign of deception (indeed, he got a place of honor at the DNC next to President Carter), or asking MoveOn.org to “stop” comparing Bush to Hitler.Perhaps that’s because, according to the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law, it would be illegal for the Bush campaign to try to influence a 527 group like the Swift Boat Veterans, either to continue or to stop. Kerry knows this, of course; it’s just another dishonest ploy for sympathy.
Tip via Wizbang, which also notes the facts of "527" campaign activity so far:
Here's the breakdown in a nutshellPosted by Alan at August 22, 2004 03:12 PMPro-Democrat 527 groups: 17
Pro-Republican 527 groups: 7Pro-Democrat 527 groups, total receipts: $88,236,434
Pro- Republican 527 groups, total receipts: $5,912,638Number of the top 25 527 donors who gave to pro-Democratic groups: 24
Number of the top 25 527 donors who gave to pro-Republican groups: 1
Ranking of top pro-Republican donor: tied for 10th