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Rassman (2004)

The Kerry-Edwards campaign released this television ad to set the record straight. It features former Green Beret Lt. Jim Rassmann testifying to John Kerry's heroic and honorable service in Vietnam.


This movie is part of the collection: P2P Politics

Sponsor: Kerry-Edwards 2004
Audio/Visual: sound, color
Keywords: Kerry; Rassman; Vietnam
Contact Information: Kerry-Edwards 2004, http://www.johnkerry.com

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Reviewer: BondoFox - - July 15, 2009
Subject: What a Load of Shit
The "attacks" were neither false nor dishonest. They were accusations made by Swift Boat veterans who served with Senator Kerry (who serviced in Viet Nam). Basically what this is is a constructed propaganda piece made by the Socialist members of the Democratic party and George Sorros to attempt to derail a successful campaign that got the truth out. It's also obvious by simply reading the copy accompanying this video where the opinions -- and they *are* strictly his personal opinions -- lie.

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In response to the false and dishonest attack ad from Republican supporters of President Bush, the Kerry-Edwards campaign released a new television ad to set the record straight, featuring former Green Beret Lt. Jim Rassmann testifying to John Kerry's heroic and honorable service in Vietnam. In the ad, long-time registered Republican, former Lt. Jim Rassmann relives his experience on the Mekong Delta in Vietnam the day that Lt. John Kerry saved his life. The 30-second spot, “Rassmann,” is airing in the states where the false claims were first aired, including Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

John Kerry served two tours of duty during Vietnam, during which he was awarded three Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star with Combat V and a Silver Star. The Republican attack group that has produced the false negative assault on John Kerry’s service isn’t interested in the truth. The truth is that official United States Navy reports document John Kerry’s service in Vietnam, and these Republicans, with help from the Bush attack machine’s biggest patrons, have attacked the integrity of the United States Navy itself and all who served on the Swift Boats.

Kerry’s crewmates have responded to these attacks with the truth – they were on the Swift Boat with Kerry and they know what happened. “These assertions are garbage, these people weren’t there with John Kerry,” said PCF 94 crewmate Gene Thorson. “We were. If John Kerry hadn’t made the right command decisions, in my opinion, we would be some of the names on that wall.” Del Sandusky, senior enlisted man on the PCF 94 added, “It was an horrific firefight, I don’t know how these guys could stretch the truth like this.”

“The fire was strong enough to knock out Tommy Belodeau’s machine gun…I was in the middle of the firefight,” Rassmann has said of the false claims that there was no fire that day and that other boats rescued people from the water. “There was one person in the water that day and that was me, anyone who is telling you otherwise is giving you a lie.”

Republican lies about John Kerry’s record will not stop him from fighting for issues that matter to the lives of everyday Americans: the skyrocketing costs of health care, the need to create good paying jobs, and the real fight to make America secure in a dangerous world – the very issues the Bush Administration is afraid to put at the center of this election.

A group falsely labeled “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” is trying to smear John Kerry’s military service and the service of those who served in great danger with him on the Navy’s Swift Boats. This group of “Swift Veterans for Bush,” isn’t interested in the truth – and they’re not telling the truth. Thirty years ago, official Navy reports documented John Kerry’s service in Vietnam and Navy commanders decorated him for his service. Thirty five years ago, this was the truth, and it’s still the truth today.

This truth knows no party labels. In fact, Republican Senator John McCain called the television ad run by these Bush supporters ‘dishonest and dishonorable,’ and called on President Bush to condemn it. Nearly two weeks later, the President still refuses to join Sen. McCain in setting the record straight – just as he refused to disavow or condemn hateful and vicious attacks on Sen. McCain’s military record during the Republican primary in South Carolina in 2000.

John Kerry made a commitment today to the American people. He said Republican lies about his military service record will not stop him from fighting for jobs, health care, and America’s security. These are the issues that really matter to the American people, and that’s why John Kerry’s going to keep fighting for them.