Hey, Kerry Campaign: Shape the Swift Liars controversy properly, dammit.

[troublemaker]

Control the language. Frame the argument.

America likes martyrs but does not elect them President.

John Kerry must not be seen as the *victim* of a smear. And Kerry must not take up John McCain's mantle of honorable loser.

This is not about John Kerry. This is about the honor of the United States Military.

Kerry has no choice but to *fight* for the honor of the enlisted men who served under him--ordinary veterans who are being called liars by the Bush campaign.

As their one-time commander, Kerry can do no less.

ON EDIT: This post is about advertising and campaign message control. It's not a question of what the SBVFT really is or is not, but how it is presented by the campaign. These smears are tests of thcandidate. Our candidate's response to these smears is a public symbol of how he would defend America under attack. It doesn't matter if that's fair; it is what it is. Kerry's first thoughts must be of others. He must project strength, not make a case that Bush is a low-life.

American's don't mind a low-life.

[Cocoa]

1. it's not even about the veterans primarily

it's about Bush changing the subject away from the issues.

[ItsMyParty]

2. I've said all along that his campaign must stress that this is an attack

against all vets who served in combat and the military now serving. It brings every act of heroism, every medal, every piece of conduct into question. Make it "us heroes" against "fronts for yellow bellied cowards who have to drag us down to hide their un-American asses".