Speaking of…

…that Kerry fella and the Swift Boat Liars For Bush, one of the most persistent myths about the 2004 campaign is that John Kerry failed to respond to the attacks on his military service.

In fact, Kerry saw it coming all along (O'Neill's attacks had been a consistent part of Kerry's political life for over thirty years) and much of the campaign - bringing Kerry's old crew and others like Jim Rassman, whose rescue from the Mekong brought Kerry his Silver Star, on the campaign trail, for instance - was designed to pre-empt those attacks. When they came, the response was strong and consistent. If it was ineffective, blame a compliant press who was willing to give uncritical coverage to the outlandish fables of the Swift Boat Liars.

Don't believe it? Well, Sandy at Light Up The Darkness did the homework, putting the response to the Liars August 4th ad under the microscope. Here's a summary of her findings...

August 4 - the Swift Boat Liars released a new ad.

August 5 - Senator John McCain (R-AZ), "a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, called the ad criticizing John Kerry's military service 'dishonest and dishonorable' and urged the White House on Thursday to condemn it as well."

August 4 through August 19 - the campaign relied on the news media, surrogates and 700 letters to the editor to discredit the charges, including Carville taking on O’Neill on Crossfire on August 12.

August 19 - Kerry told the IAFF convention "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.”

The campaign releases Rassmann ad, "All these Viet Cong were shooting at me. I expected I'd be shot. When he pulled me out of the river, he risked his life to save mine."

August 21 - The campaign released the internet ad “Old Tricks” and a statement asserting, in part, that "A front group for the Bush campaign called "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" is continuing to spread their lies about John Kerry's military record. Their statements have been contradicted by official Navy records, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune and every man who served under John Kerry -- yet George Bush refuses to condemn their tactics. Through his silence, George Bush is approving their action. And Bush campaign officials in Florida are even promoting events for this front group."

August 25 - Max Cleland attempted to deliver a letter to George Bush asking “where is his shame to attack a fellow veteran who has distinguished himself in combat?"

Gee, sounds like a pretty rapid, forceful response to me...and George Bush still hasn't condemned that viscious attack on an American hero...