SBL gets fired!

[Clinton Crusader]

http://www.wweek.com/story.php?story=5471

When it first hit the airwaves in battleground states, the now-notorious ad campaign by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth seemed a devastating indictment. One by one, veterans who served with
Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry claimed he was a faker, a flake and a fraud.

On closer inspection, however, the ads fell apart. None of the accusers served on Kerry's boat. Virtually all of their charges are contradicted by Navy documents. Major Republican donors bankrolled the attack.

The spotlight then shifted to the accusers--specifically, to a Clackamas County prosecutor named Al French, whose venture into the national spotlight was torpedoed when an old grudge trumped party loyalty.

French, 58, appeared in the first Swift boat ad, declaring that Kerry "lied about his war record." French also signed an affidavit saying that two of Kerry's Purple Hearts were obtained "under false pretenses." Later, French admitted those allegations were not based on personal knowledge but came secondhand from friends or acquaintances.

The spectacle of a local prosecutor pooh-poohing Kerry's medals on hearsay evidence sent shudders of outrage through local veterans. Protesters descended on Clackamas County Courthouse, demanding French's resignation. The Oregon State Bar received dozens of complaints. Democrats fomented much of this outrage. But French's undoing came courtesy of a fellow Republican nursing an old resentment.
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:kick:

[napi21]

1. Good. Now he'll have a lot of time to sit home and brood.

[MADem]

2. This is old news

Good news, but old news. It was, as noted on the page, Originally published on WEDNESDAY, 9/1/2004.

[Clinton Crusader]

5. Sorry, I hadnt seen it nor seen it here nt

:kick:

[MADem]

9. He wasn't fired, though--he is still suspended, see last two paras

To wit:

He was promptly suspended by current Clackamas DA John Foote pending an investigation--extramarital affairs among employees violate office policy.

It's too soon to say whether French's walk-on role will affect the presidential race. For now--with his job on the line and his personal life on the front page--he might ponder two ironclad political axioms. One: All politics is local. Two: Revenge is a dish best served cold.

[mcg]

3. French also lied about an affair

"French lied to his former boss, ex-DA Jim O'Leary, about an affair with a secretary in his office.

Confronted by O reporter Stephen Beaven, French admitted having the affair and lying to his boss about it."

Right-wing morals, eh?

[LTR]

4. Ain't karma a bitch?

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

[Lex]

6. Thanks for posting this

I hadn't seen the update on this story.

[Reciprocity]

11. Same here thanks. n/m

[MADem]

7. Here's a more recent tidbit from that same paper

* The hot Internet rumor last week was whether a mysterious bulge in Bush's back indicated that he wore an earphone to coach him in the first debate (see Salon.com for details and a startling photo). Well, the speculation was presaged in Portland. In August, when Bush spoke at Beaverton's Southridge High School, the notoriously syntax-challenged prez astonished national and local reporters on the scene with 90 minutes of eloquence--causing widespread speculation that Bush was wired. "We were going, 'Wow, he didn't even make one flaw,'" says one Portland reporter who was on the scene. Adding to the press corps' suspicion, the president seemed to know how long he needed to speak to outlast the speech Teresa Heinz Kerry was giving at Waterfront Park. Said the reporter: "He kept going as long as he needed to in order to maximize his television time."

http://www.wweek.com/story.php?story=5604

[sventvkg]

8. hahahaha...Good!!!

[Out the Parasites]

10. Swift Boat Liars Walk of Shame...starting with Al French..I live in OR

nothing does my heart better than to see this pond scum go down. I feel bad for his family. He knew better than to sign the affidavit...he said he didn't fully understand, he's a D.A. if anyone should know what is right and what is wrong he should! The juicy bit at the end about the affair is icing..talk about a big whooopsy - now who's the faker, a flake and a fraud??? If I see this guy walking down the street I will want to kick him in the shin or some place higher!

This is the exact reason there is no place for these swift boat liars. You know they are all going to crumble..one by one.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

12. Talk about your karmic payback... when you make deals with the devil,

the notes come due in brimstone.

This is some "French bashing" I am totally down with.

[Reciprocity]

13. On closer scrutiny looks like he is just suspended.

He was promptly suspended by current Clackamas DA John Foote pending an investigation--extramarital affairs among employees violate office policy.
http://www.wweek.com/story.php?story=5471

[jefferson_dem]

14. Great news. I would love to see each of these scumbags with their lives

in total tatters. If someone can offer a more hateful, spiteful, slimy, and decrepit smear in American politics, i would like to hear about it.