Kerry: Ad Groups Do Bush's 'Dirty Work'

    Candidate Defends War Record Amid Criticism

By Lois Romano
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 19, 2004; 12:07 PM

BOSTON, Aug. 19 -- John F. Kerry for the first time Thursday personally
lashed out at critics who have waged unrelenting and increasingly shrill
attacks on his military record, calling them a "front for the Bush
campaign" and asserting that President Bush "wants them to do his dirty
work."

The Kerry campaign also Thursday launched a paid advertisement defending
his Vietnam War record, and his valor, which has been the cornerstone of
his political career. His actions in Vietnam have been questioned by
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a newly formed advocacy group of Vietnam
veterans who say that Kerry inflated his record. The ad will run in the
same battleground states that Kerry's detractors have run their ad --
Wisconsin, West Virginia and Ohio.

"This group isn't interested in the truth -- and they're not telling the
truth. They didn't even exist until I won the nomination for president,"
Kerry told a few thousand firefighters at the International Association
of Firefighters meeting here. "They're funded by hundreds of thousands
of dollars from a Republican contributor out of Texas. They're a front
for the Bush campaign. And the fact that the president won't denounce
what they're up to tells you everything you need to know -- he wants
them to do his dirty work."

A Bush campaign spokesman called Kerry's comments "false."

"The president has said he believes that Sen. Kerry's service was
noble," said Steve Schmidt. "He has criticized Sen. Kerry for both his
votes against funding troops in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Bush campaign officials have said they have no connection to the Swift
Boat Veterans for Truth, but the White House has refused to denounced
the ads despite a plea from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a Vietnam veteran.

Kerry served for four months in Vietnam in late 1968 and early 1969 and
was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts.
About two weeks ago the opposing swift boat group began running ads,
questioning Kerry's version of events that led to his commendations.

Kerry has been under increasing pressure by Democrats and veterans who
support him to respond to the attack. Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter
said Kerry made the decision to fight back Wednesday night at a meeting
with staff at his Boston home. Thursday, in addition to his comments and
the launching of the ad, several of Kerry's service buddies showed up to
defend him.

"Of course, the president keeps telling people he would never question
my service to our country," Kerry said to loud cheers from the audience.
"Instead, he watches as a Republican-funded attack group does just that.
Well, if he wants to have a debate about our service in Vietnam, here is
my answer: 'Bring it on.' "

President Bush served in the National Guard during Vietnam, and
Democrats have raised questions about whether he received special
consideration to get into the Houston unit and also whether he fulfilled
his National Guard obligations in 1972, when he was temporarily assigned
to a unit in Montgomery, Ala.

The new ad features a testimonial from James Rassmann, a former Green
Beret who says Kerry saved his life when he pulled Rassmann from a river
while they were under fire in Vietnam. Rassmann has been active in the
Kerry campaign since the primaries.

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