Scene: Dining area in the Kerry/Edwards tour bus. Big John is behind the table wearing a short sleeve dress shirt (pinstripe, power tie pulled a bit loose, top button undone). He is drinking from his coffee mug (Kerry/Edwards logo on white mug) and watching the scenery go by. He puts the mug down and begins speaking, still watching the landscape zip past.
Kerry: (sadly) Some people are saying some pretty strong things about me. Things that my opponents are starting to pick up and run with. They are questioning my ability to lead and questioning my behavior in the Vietnam theatre. Heck, they aren't questioning - they're practically yelling it at the tops of their voices.
Big John turns to face the camera. He picks up the coffee, takes a swig, puts it down. The slightly sad look on his face is replaced with a bemused grin.
Kerry: Good! Those individuals are Americans and they are entitled to their opinions. What's more, as Americans they are entitled to say them out loud, on the radio, on the television, on the Internet, wherever and however they can. That is what America is about and I applaud them for taking a stand about something they believe strongly in.
But those are opinions that they are saying. My opinions are markedly different from theirs. My friends and supporters have very different opinions. The men who served on my boats with me while I was in Vietnam sure aren't voicing opinions like theirs. The good people of Massachusets who have elected me to almost two decades of service in the United States Senate certainly have different opinions.
Now we might not state our opinions so...forcefully, but we believe in them just as strongly. I hope that their message won't make you feel pressured into making your own opinion. I hope that you'll take the time to get to know me a bit before you take anybody else's opinion as your own.
Thank you, America.
Big John picks up the mug again and takes a sip as he turns back to the window to look out at the passing amber waves of grain. Cue mellow version of campaign rock song. Voiceover with legal mumbo jumbo.
Sometimes I just like to play Devil's Advocate. Do you think the Kerry campaign is hiring?
(Link via Ace of Spades)
I don't know if they are. But they should!
Agreed. With all the recent hoopla about the new "Swiftboat Veterans Against Kerry" ad that is supposed to be so harmful to him, I have said all he should do is just make a simple peaceful comercial that states that those who never served with him have a right to their opinion and then feature the 5 out of 6 of his crew from Vietnam who are backing his run whole heartedly (the 6th one is deceased).
"the 5 out of 6 of his crew from Vietnam" ??? Some of his crew is who is quoted in the book. Not to mention his superiors who all seem to have strong negative opinions.
Your idea is good Jim, but I think he's made a major blunder to have focused on his vietnam career to start with. As jen pointed out earlier, AlGore served in Vietnam too....
I agree with that. I have no idea in the world why his people ever let Vietnam get to be such a large part of his campaign. That's just insane.
But given that it is such a large part, they've got to defuse this quickly without giving it more fire or supplying any negative talking points. I seriously doubt that they will do this - the campaign is too set for attacking. They'll try to attack and discredit these vets and then deflect with a side jab at Bush. It won't resolve anything and will let these vets continue full steam ahead.
Send it to them and see what happens...
It's too late. They went the attack route almost immediately.