Kerry responded to the first Swift Boat attack by giving the media time to research the story, and the Swifties and Bush enough rope to hang themselves.
So now the Swifties are trying a different tack, with their ad talking about what they're really mad about: Kerry's post-war activities and testimony.
So how should Kerry respond?
Well, I have one suggestion...and it fits Kerry's style to a T. Let the Swifties get it out there, that Kerry came back from Vietnam and talked about free-fire zones, about atrocities, about all the ugly bits of Vietnam history...things that, with the exception of a hard core of the right wing, are understood to be
the truth. These things happened in Vietnam.
So once the charge percolates, once Bush gets on record a few times with his mealy-mouthed response, then Kerry responds. Simply. Like this:
"When I came back from Vietnam, I chose to tell the truth about what happened. It would have been easy to lie about it. It would have been easy to not talk about it. But I felt then -- as I do now -- that the American public deserves the truth, no matter how hard or ugly that truth is.
And as President, I would tell you the truth, as I did in 1971. Even if the truth is ugly. Even if the truth is something you don't want to hear. Because -- if nothing else -- Americans deserve honesty from their President."
Can you imagine that add? Not a word about Bush, but it would hit Bush like a hammer. And it's all the more effective for being true....and being what the American public is desperately craving.