The Swift Boat Ad Sequel

CNN reports that Swift Boat Veterans for Truth have released a new TV ad:

If you liked the original, you'll love "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth 2," the new TV ad released this morning that responds to enemy fire the anti-Kerry group has drawn this week.

The ad will go up in "selected states" next week, presumably in the same three battleground states where they launched their first 30-second spot August 5 -- Wisconsin, Ohio and West Virginia.

The new ad focuses on the allegations Kerry made about alleged atrocities committed by U.S. forces in Vietnam. Hugh Hewitt calls the ad devastating:

The day after John Kerry complains about having his war service questioned, the new ad underscores how Kerry did far worse to thousands of vets.

The ad can be viewed here courtesy of Human Events Online. At Betsy's Page, Betsy Newmark has posted a script for the ad provided by a reader.

UPDATE:

At Power Line, Hindrocket agrees that the sequel is devastating:

It intersperses shots of Kerry testifying before a Senate committee on alleged atrocities in Vietnam with live appearances by veterans who describe the devastating effects of Kerry's sellout of his fellow servicemen. One of the vets says that Kerry gave the North Vietnamese for free what he and other POWs endured torture rather than fabricate--confessions of atrocities. Absolutely devastating.

Roger Simon posts that even though he is conflicted about the war, he doesn't blame the veterans for being furious with Kerry for implying they are all war criminals:

Some of them evidently had declined to say the very things Kerry did, although they were tortured by the North Vietnamese to do so.

Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette has posted some background information about former P.O.W.s who appear in the ad.

Blogs of War posts that to really understand what motivates the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth read should Kerry’s 1971 congressional testimony.

Beldar doesn't find this ad less powerful than the first one. Calling someone a liar, as the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth previous ad did, is simply a more powerful approach. In the end the sequel will do more damage to Kerry. I don't begrudge Kerry his medals, and I think most voters don't either, but most voters will not approve of Kerry's slandering of U.S. forces. What Kerry said in 1971 shouldn't have mattered much and it wouldn't have except that he has made the Vietnam experience the centerpiece of his campaign.

James Joyner at Outdide The Beltway agrees that this ad is more effective than disputing Kerry's entitlement to medals.

UPDATE II: Blackfive sums up the kerfuffle the Swifties and POWs are having with Kerry:

1. He left his fellow sailors early - in a combat zone. That's not something a leader does.
2. He accused Viet Nam veterans of being war criminals. That's not something a "brother" does.

Comments

[Doug Whitney]

I spent one yr.on swift boats 67-68 cat-lo div.13 boat 68. Kerry is like alot of office who went to vietnam.They all wanted medals. Kerry should never said what he did you know he is a lier.Hope he gets what is comeing to him.

[doug divine]

Being a former Marine that spent a very short time in Country I have serious doubts on the truthfulness of John Kerry's account on how he received more medals for heroism than any other vet I know in the time frame he describes and the circumstances in which he wrote them up for himself. He makes a joke of all the truly deserving Vets that earned far less for doing far more. God. can you imagine how many medals he would have had he not decided to abandon his Band of Brothers and stayed the full tour. Would have made Audy Murphy look like a deserter.
The thing that eats at me is his testimony against other Vets still fighting and dying while he builds his resume for further political gains. He's a discrace to all that served. (IMO)

[elmerfudd]

let these swift boat vets know what you think:

Joe Ponder, (352) 473-2451, 6986, Deer Springs Rd, Keystone Heights, FL 32656

George M Elliott, (302) 645-5071, 124 Gills Neck Rd, Lewes, DE 19958

Adrian Lonsdale, (508) 758-4046, , Mattapoisett, MA 02739

Van Odell, (281) 395-1703, 1622, Crescent Point Dr, Katy, TX 77494

Grant W Hibbard, (850) 932-7001, 3830 Bangkok Cv, Gulf Breeze, FL 32563

Letson Louis E Dr Jr, (256) 259-1555, 323 Parks Ave Scottsboro, AL 35768
(256) 259-5580

Roy A Hoffman, (804) 935-0943, 3221 Coppermill Trce, Richmond, VA 23294

John O'Neil (713) 654-7600, 1000 Louisiana St, Houston, TX 77002

John Bare, 422 Mill Creek Road, Bird in Hand, PA 17505

Kenneth Buchholz, (972) 355-7623, 1516 Wildflower Lane, Flower Mound, TX 75028

Jack Chenoweth, (573) 964-6872, 108 Hidden Acres, Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Tom Costarino, (703) 748-1602, 2039 Lord Fairfax Rd, Vienna, VA 22182

Morton Golde, (904) 221-7093, 689 Sandringham Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32225

Charles R. Grutzius, (703) 620-0929, 3221 Wildmere Pl, Herndon, VA 20171

Mike Kovanen, (509) 628-9560, 279 Gage Blvd, Richland, WA 99352

Dennis Spranger, (262) 637-6736, 3000 Olive St, Racine, WI 53405