MSNBC - Kerry blasts Bush over veterans ad

MSNBC - Kerry blasts Bush over veterans ad

Here is a quoted passage from the above story by The Associated Press:

Speaking of the organization airing the ads that challenge his war record, Kerry said, “Of course, this group isn’t interested in the truth and they’re not telling the truth. ...

“But here’s what you really need to know about them. They’re funded by hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Republican contributor out of Texas. They’re a front for the Bush campaign. And the fact that the President won’t denounce what they’re up to tells you everything you need to know. He wants them to do his dirty work.”

Bush spokesman Steve Schmidt said, “That charge leveled by Senator Kerry is absolutely and completely false.”

“The Bush campaign has never and will never question John Kerry’s service in Vietnam. The president has referred to John Kerry’s service as noble service,” the Bush spokesman said.

Kerry said, “Of course, the president keeps telling people he would never question my service to our country. Instead, he watches as a Republican-funded attack group does just that. Well, if he wants to have a debate about our service in Vietnam, here is my answer: ‘Bring it on.”’

Kerry’s comments drew boisterous cheers from members of the union that had endorsed him last year at a time his candidacy was struggling.

Kerry makes an obvious hasty generalization by asserting that because a Republican group endorses the idea that John Kerry is a liar that therefore all Republicans must endorse the idea that John Kerry is a liar. Bush hasn't really discussed the issue, primarily because it isn't germane to the election. Instead, Bush has focused on relevent issues, for example, Kerry's performance as a Senator--what he voted for and why (when he felt apt to being around at the time of the voting *cheap shot*), what he plans to do now and in the future, and so on.

And furthermore, the fact that John Kerry cites the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" as "a front for the Bush campaign" is even more appalling. This becomes more than simply making a generalizing mistake: it becomes libelous. The Kerry campaign ought not to blame his opponent for independent issues; instead, he might think about focusing on why the Hell he'd make a good leader.