4th Prez guy tied to anti-Kerry ads

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/227267p-195132c.html

A fourth Bush campaign official has been linked to a veterans group hammering Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry's Vietnam War heroism.

GOP convention Chairman David Norcross practices law in the same D.C. firm, Blank Rome, as William Schachte, a retired Navy admiral who says Kerry did not deserve one of his Purple Heart medals, Time magazine reported yesterday.

Schachte is aligned with the anti-Kerry group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which has dominated the campaign in recent weeks with accusations that the former Swift boat skipper is lying about how he got his war medals.

Norcross said he did not know about Schachte's claims that Kerry got the first of three Purple Hearts in Vietnam from a self-inflicted wound; and the Bush campaign denied there is any connection.

[Frodo]

1. A bit of a stretch?

Went to boyscout camp with a guy whose father knew a lady who once went to prom with a swiftboat guy?


This level of link has been ridiculed a bit. We're going to have to dig deeper. Alternatively, we have to admit that it's perfectly possible for people who don't like Kerry to make ugly adds about him without direct instruction from the pResident.

[RamboLiberal]

3. GOP Convention Chairman works in same law office as SBVL

I think that's a pretty damn close link.

[Guaranteed]

4. I do too.

That's a definite connection.

[Frodo]

7. The standard is not "connection"

There is no rule that says you can't KNOW anybody who works for the campaign.

The rule is "coordination". Being in the same office as someone is not evidence that the person has instructed you on how/when to run adds, is it?

Surely you've seen the parallel reports of connections between the DNC and a few liberal 527s? Are THEY coordinating their activities in an illegal fashion?

[Guaranteed]

8. We're not looking for illegal activities

The FEC doesn't do shit anyway.

We're trying this is the court of public opinion, trying to show the Bush administration's involvement.

[Frodo]

12. Try a tad harder.

I know plenty of people working in both campaigns. I'm a political animal. But that doesn't mean Kerry is involved in any attack adds I might chose to run.

It's an "enemy of my enemy" kind of thing. "Worked in the same law firm (with how many others? 100?)" is not a "link".

[Mistress Quickly]

9. I agree with you, Frodo

of course these people know each other, they're Repukes folks! This is a reach, and looks silly.

[TheRovingGourmet]

10. You would not happen to know what, if any, rules change for

527s once the candidate become the official nominee, would you? I pulled the rules and requirements for 527s but did not see anything regarding this or the "sixty day" rules and was wondering if the new campaign laws apply in this area.

[Frodo]

11. As far as I know it doesn't make a difference.

527s can't coordinate with ANY candidate for federal office, not just those who get a nomination.


Of course this is all a shell game. The day after the McGain FindGold act was passed - partisans on both sides raced out to form their own little "independant" committees. OF COURSE there are "connections" between them and the parties. The only question is whether there is illegal coordination, or whether (in the case of the swifties)there was "additional help".

[TheRovingGourmet]

14. The reporting requirements for 527s are sorta amusing seeing

as how you can keep so much donor info private until your tax return is filed, in April, long after the election is over. :)

[gratuitous]

2. Yeah, nobody knows anything

Except, of course, for Mr. Schachte, who even though he wasn't there that night Kerry earned his first of three Purple Hearts, knows for a fact everything that transpired that night.

But a Republican operative, who works in the same law office as Mr. Schachte? No idea that Schachte was in the news, or hell, that he was even a veteran! The merest coincidence!

Right. How Cheneying stupid do they think we are?

[ItsMyParty]

5. Take careful note

..these things are very, very important to us to refute the swiftboat liars charges - but they are water under the "swiftboat" for the rest of the country. No one but the upset faithful are listening. The damage has been done. Deal with it and start finding ways Kerry can win this election. We lost a battle and we better start thinking of ways to win the war.

[kwolf68]

6. Everything is in place

To bring this group and the GOP down to their news. Are the Democrats willing to pull the lever on these crooks?

[skip fox]

13. Thanks. I've added to Swift Boat file:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=70318&mesg_id=70318


And yet another official in Bush's Campaign, GOP convention
Chairman David Norcross linked to SBVT:

<snip>

GOP convention Chairman David Norcross practices law in the
same D.C. firm, Blank Rome, as William Schachte, a retired Navy
admiral who says Kerry did not deserve one of his Purple Heart
medals, Time magazine reported yesterday.

Schachte is aligned with the anti-Kerry group Swift Boat Veterans
for Truth, which has dominated the campaign in recent weeks with
accusations that the former Swift boat skipper is lying about how
he got his war medals.


<snip>

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/227267p-195132c.html