The SFVT come up every now and then on a military forum I frequent. A current member of that group was trying to paint them as apolitical, composed equally of all political parties, guys who just wanted the truth out. I decided to do some research and take him to pieces.
Everything below is taken from my post in that thread, left untouched. Except for having to reformat everything, the other board uses HTML.
Perhaps unknown to you, the Swift Boat Vets are set up as apolitical with a collective agends to set the record straight on a certain former presidential candidate who was defeated in '04.
Accomplished liars with personal problems would not be that well organized or funded to be able to convince the American public that John Kerry was but a shadow of the image of a war hero that he had projected and groomed for many years.
What the public believed was that John Kerry did serve his country in time of war, but was basically exposed as a military ticket puncher with a longer term political agenda that was at the expense of those that served and those tha died in that war.
Figured I'd give it it's own thread.
From the Center For Public Integrity
Donors:
Donors for Swift Boat Vets and POWs for Truth
Donor Amount Contributed
1. Perry Homes $4,450,000
2. Contran Corp. $3,000,000
3. Pickens, T. Boone (Dallas) $2,000,000
4. American Financial Group Inc./Lindner family businesses $611,500
5. George Matthews, Jr $250,000
6. Chesapeake Energy Corporation $250,000
7. Crow Holdings $125,250
8. Jack E. Caveney $125,000
9. Courson Oil & Gas $100,000
10. John Mumford $97,500
11. Albert D. Huddleston $50,000
12. Albert Huddletston $50,000
13. C. Phillip Tholen $50,000
14. Frank W. Cawood $50,000
15. Gretchen Brooks $50,000
16. Howard L. Terry $50,000
17. Swidler & Berlin $50,000
18. Yancey Brothers Co. $50,000
19. Brian R. Follett $40,000
20. Michael Valentine $27,000
21. E. Duke Vincent $25,000
22. Gulf Coast Asphalt Co. $25,000
23. James E. Sowell $25,000
24. Romano Enterprises $25,000
25. Clements, O'Neill, Pierce, Wilson & Fulkerson, LLP $25,000
26. Mike Gerawan $21,000
27. Joseph Teresi $20,000
28. Sam and Charles Wyly and associated businesses $20,000
29. John Martin $17,600
30. norman krischer $17,500
31. U.S. Air Force $17,150
32. Hilberg $15,000
33. John Nelson $13,500
34. John ONeill $11,360
35. Hunter Engineering Co. $11,000
36. John Mueller $10,500
37. U.S. Department of Transportation $10,400
38. Thomas Holmes $10,200
39. George G. Daniels $10,002
40. Daniels Manufacturing Corp. $10,001
41. Daniel E. Meehan $10,000
42. E. Grant Fitts $10,000
43. Harry Langer $10,000
44. James A. Patterson $10,000
45. JAMES G. FLOYD $10,000
46. James W. Eggers $10,000
47. Michael Gardner $10,000
48. Nathan Dulaney Bachman $10,000
49. Phillips International Inc $10,000
50. Robert J. Eichenberg $10,000
Top three donors, Perry Homes, Contran Corp, and T.Boone Pickens. Perry Homes isn't apolitical, they contributed to the Republican Governor's Association in 2003. They're a huge Texan real estate company. Contran Corporation? Check them out.
Contran Corporation
Dallas, TX Contran Corp. $10,000 2000 POST Republican Leadership Council (RLC) - State
Contran Corporation
Dallas, TX Contran Corp. $25,000 2003 YE Republican State Leadership Committee - RSLC
Contran Corporation
Dallas, TX Contran Corp. $5,000 2002 M10 Republican Governors Association
Contran Corporation
Dallas, TX Contran Corp. $10,000 2003 M05 Republican Governors Association
Contran Corporation
Dallas, TX Contran Corp. $10,000 2003 M10 Republican Governors Association
Contran Corporation
Dallas, TX Contran Corp. $25,000 2004 Q3 Republican State Leadership Committee - RSLC
Contran Corporation
Dallas, TX Contran Corp. $5,000 2004 POST Republican Governors Association
And T. Boone Pickens? Who is he? Just a famous Texas oilman, and a longtime contributor to Bush. Not only that, but fully half of his political contributions that he's made since 1980 went to the Swiftvets in 2004.
Pickens and friend and fellow financier Harold Clark Simmons are financial supporters of President George W. Bush, having contributed heavily to both his Texas and national political campaigns, including a $3 million contribution for the controversial Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attacking Bush's rival, John Kerry. Pickens made a $250,000 contribution for Bush's second inaugural celebration. Another $2.5 million went to the Progress for America advocacy group in the 2004 election cycle alone. Since 1980, Pickens has contributed over $6 million in political donations.
And the Recipients of all that money?
Recipients of Swift Boat Vets and POWs for Truth
Recipient Amount Received
1. Mentzer Media Services, Inc. $18,617,321
2. Creative Direct LLC $1,142,202
3. The Richard Norman Co. $528,603
4. Stevens Reed Curcio & Company $276,657
5. The Mcintosh Company $178,446
6. Crc $165,529
7. Spaeth Communications, Inc. $162,150
8. Scott Swett $149,742
9. Nova Credit Card Processing $109,982
10. Political Compliance Servic $109,266
11. Wachovia Na $91,193
12. Akamai Technologies Inc. $85,100
13. Jupiter 9 Productions Inc. $83,430
14. Robert A. Hahn $76,347
15. William E. Franke $67,354
16. Patton Boggs $66,438
17. Key Bridge Marriott $56,019
18. John Oneill $50,000
19. The Webster Group $44,190
20. Political Compliance Services $43,038
21. Howard W. Phillips Co. $40,849
22. Chris Lacivita Consulting $36,302
23. Ld Enterprise Partners LLC $35,000
24. Rupprath and Associates $32,945
25. Jennifer Wammack $28,597
26. The Pinkston Group $25,000
27. Tom Wyld $23,972
28. Spaeth Communications Inc $16,274
29. Odyssey Cruises $15,309
30. Spooner Much Ammann P.c. $14,333
31. Hurricane Electric Internet $13,350
32. L D Enterprises Partners $13,202
33. Van H. Odell $13,005
34. Steve Gardner $12,733
35. Progress for America Voter Fund $11,870
36. Wachovia Bank $11,687
37. Spaeth Communications Inc. $11,581
38. Greg Lusby - Attorney At Law $9,422
39. Troy Jenkins $7,672
40. Poltical Compliance Services, Inc. $7,500
41. Andy Horne $6,721
42. Blue Ridge Transport $5,964
43. The Ulum Group $3,608
44. Montana News $3,500
45. Tom Wright $2,519
46. Terrance Barnick $2,500
47. L.r. Thurlow $2,470
48. Bob Scott $2,312
49. Mike Solhaug $2,251
50. Autocall LLC $2,222
18 million dollars to Mentzer Media. Who are they?
Mentzer Media Services, Inc. is one of the nation's most experienced firms in the field of strategic placement of broadcast advertising on behalf of consumer product, issue/advocacy, and political campaigns.
Since 1985, its President, Bruce Mentzer has placed over $150 million in television, cable and radio time for over 350 individual campaigns including twelve for U.S. Senate, thirteen for Governor, and eighty-five for the U.S. House of Representatives. In addition, his firm has handled many non-federal campaigns and ballot initiatives. They have performed media buying tasks in most markets in all 48 of the contiguous United States.
18 million dollars buys a whole lot of convincing. Apparently it bought at least 3% worth, and that happened to be enough. Apolitical? HARDLY.
MENTZER MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
Bruce Mentzer
Baltimore, MD
Years in Business: 17
Party Affiliation: Republican
Services Offered: National TV Placement, National Radio Placement, National Cable TV Placement, National Newspaper/Print Placement, State/Regional/Local TV Placement, State/Regional/Local Radio Placement, State/Regional/Local Cable TV Placement, Outdoor/Billboard Placement
Firm Profile: We are a political and issue campaign media buyer. Our staff has bought 400+ campaigns, and has 60 combined years of experience. We can put our knowledge to work for you
And in the #2 expenses spot, we have Creative Direct. Click the link. Says it all. From their front page,
Creative Direct helped every Republican Freshman U.S. Senator win election this past November.
* U.S. Senator John Thune
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
* U.S. Senator Mel Martinez
National Republican Senatorial Committee
* U.S. Senator David Vitter
National Republican Senatorial Committee
* U.S. Senator Tom Coburn
National Republican Senatorial Committee
* U.S. Senator Richard Burr
National Republican Senatorial Committee
* U.S. Senator Jim DeMint
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
* U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson
Georgia Republican Party
* Creative Direct worked with the Swift Boat Veterans and POWs for Truth to set the record straight about John Kerry and propelled President Bush to re-election.
* Creative Direct was retained by the Missouri Republican Party to help Secretary of State Matt Blunt capture a Democrat-held Governorship.
Now, we would like to put our experience to work for you!
Because winning is our business.
Winning is their business. Hmm.
Who were the people in the Swiftvets?
The SBVT was formed in 2004. Membership was initially limited to veterans of the Vietnam War who at some point served in a Swift boat unit, as did Kerry. Of the 3,500 Swift boat sailors who served in Vietnam, the names of some 250 appeared on the group's initial statement against Kerry; most did not serve at the same time or in the same place as Kerry. Founding members of SBVT include Rear Admiral Roy Hoffmann (retired), a former commander of Swift boat forces; Houston attorney John O'Neill, an officer who became commander of Swift Boat PCF 94 several months after Kerry's departure in 1969 and who appeared opposite Kerry in a televised 1971 debate between them on The Dick Cavett Show; and 13 other named veterans. Several of those who joined SBVT during the 2004 campaign were officers who had previously praised Kerry's conduct during the Vietnam War. These included Division Commander Grant Hibbard, who wrote positive evaluations of Kerry, and Commander George Elliott, who submitted Kerry for a Silver Star. SBVT counts, in total, 16 officers who served with Kerry in Coastal Division 11 as members. Despite SBVT's claims that Kerry's "entire chain of command" belonged to the group, neither Joseph Streuli, former commander of Coastal Division 13, nor Art Price, former commander CTF 116 who is described in Unfit for Command as part of Kerry's chain of command, are affiliated with the group.
The group's initial letter against Kerry stated "It is our collective judgment that, upon your return from Vietnam, you grossly and knowingly distorted the conduct of the American soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen of that war (including a betrayal of many of us, without regard for the danger your actions caused us). Further, we believe that you have withheld and/or distorted material facts as to your own conduct in this war." However, Kerry had posted over 100 pages of his military records at his website nearly two weeks before the issuance of the SBVT letter, and had also made his military medical records available for inspection by reporters (and provided a summary from his doctor).
Not all SBVT members claimed to be signing the letter for the same reason. For example, from an interview published the day before the letter was made public: " '[Kerry] earned his medals, he did what he was supposed to do in Vietnam,' said retired Coast Guard Captain Adrian Lonsdale, who was in the chain of command above Kerry and oversaw various operations dealing with Navy swift boats of the type Kerry commanded. 'But I was very disappointed in his statements after he got out of the Navy.' "
Of those who served in Kerry's boat crew, only Stephen Gardner joined SBVT. He was not present on any of the occasions when Kerry won his medals, including his Purple Hearts. Gardner appeared in two of the group's television advertisements.
All other living members of Kerry's crew supported his presidential bid, and some frequently campaigned with him as his self-described 'band of brothers'. Kerry crewmembers have disputed some of SBVT's various allegations: "pure fabrication" (Jim Rassmann), "totally false" (Drew Whitlow), "garbage" (Gene Thorson), and "a pack of lies" (Del Sandusky).
No members of SBVT were aboard Kerry's boat during any of the incidents for which he was decorated. The only member of SBVT who was present at the Silver Star incident, Rood's crewmember Larry Clayton Lee, praised Kerry's tactics and stated that Kerry deserved the medal; he stated that after discussions with other SBVT members, he came to question whether Kerry deserved other medals for incidents at which he was not present.
On September 29, 2004, SBVT announced that it was joining forces with a group of American prisoners of war who were held captive by the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War to form the new group, "Swift Vets and POWs For Truth".
Apolitical? Wouldn't have been able to get the funding they used? Somebody's been on the brown acid.
By the way, all that? It was the product of critical thinking.
And that's a wrap.