It would be so much easier...

...if BC04 could just tell the truth in the first place, but kudos to Craig Crawford of CBS' Early Show for doing a yeoman's job of analysis on the latest Bushco smear ad, noting that "The new Bush advertisement attacking Kerry's Iraq War votes distorts the truth without actually lying."

Some excerpts (ad copy in bold):

"Though John Kerry voted in October of 2002 for military action in Iraq ..."

...it is not accurate to say Kerry voted FOR MILITARY ACTION.

"... he later voted against funding our soldiers."

...The White House and Republican Congressional leaders...refused to hold separate votes on funding for soldiers and less popular funding for reconstruction costs. Those, like Kerry, who were determined to vote against the "no-bid" reconstruction contracts for Halliburton and others were then forced to also vote against funding for soldiers.

"Body armor for troops in combat."

...The irony here is that this provision was only in the bill because military officials admitted to Congress during the war that the Administration had sent 40,000 troops into battle without the best-grade body armor.

"Higher combat pay."

"And, better health care for reservists and their families..."

...Like the body-armor claims, the above excerpts make it seem that Kerry cast separate votes against the most popular portions of the bill. There were no separate votes on these items. The main debate over the bill was the inclusion of "no-bid" reconstruction contracts, which is what provoked Kerry to vote against the overall package.


I've done quite a bit of clipping here. It's worth your while to click over and read the orginal.

I do have a small quibble with Crawford, though. Actually, I think they did lie.