Kerry Camp Calls for Censorship

James Joyner | Friday, August 20, 2004

Matt Drudge (no blue siren):

The Kerry campaign calls on a publisher to ‘withdraw book’ written by group of veterans, claiming veterans are lying about Kerry’s service in Vietnam and operating as a front organization for Bush. Kerry campaign has told Salon.com that the publisher of UNFIT FOR COMMAND is ‘retailing a hoax’… ‘No publisher should want to be selling books with proven falsehoods in them,’ Kerry campaign spokesman Chad Clanton tells the online mag… Developing…

Presuming this is true, does the Kerry camp really think this is a smart approach?

And will they be issuing a call for a recall of Tour of Duty?

UPDATE: Yes, I know this isn’t technically “censorship,” since the government isn’t doing it. But “book banning” didn’t fit the virtual alliteration I was going for.

UPDATE (1716): Drudge has a new variant–with a blue siren!–saying KERRY FILES FEC COMPLAINT OVER SWIFT BOAT ADS. No link as yet, althought a presumably related blurb says, “Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry’s campaign formally alleged Friday that a group attacking his Vietnam war record had illegal ties to US President George W. Bush’s reelection bid…”

To coin a phrase: Bring it on.

About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.

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Tags | Campaign 2004

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• Ipse Dixit linked with I Sense A Pattern Here
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Why don't they work on proving the "proven falsehoods" to be such?

These guys are such babies--does anyone remember all the books that came out about Clinton when he was campaigning? Slick Willie, for starters . . .

This kind of maneuver makes me fear for the first amendment, should Kerry win.

Posted by Attila Girl | August 20, 2004 | 02:02 pm | Permalink

 

I'm almost tempted to think the entire Kerry for President campaign is really just a Machiavellian marketing ploy by the SwiftVets to sell their book. I hadn't made up my mind to buy it myself until this development.

Posted by McGehee | August 20, 2004 | 02:09 pm | Permalink

 

That'd actually be cool if he did get the presses stopped. I could sell my copy on eBay for $500; just like "The New Soldier."

Posted by Pete | August 20, 2004 | 02:18 pm | Permalink

 

Normally, I don't read Talking Points Memo, since I consider it too partisan. But when I want to know what "The Other" is thinking, I check it out. I am always disappointed. As to the "Swifties" claim, this is what the leading light of the left has to say: "Amazing. President Bush isn't even man enough to answer a straight question about these Swift Boat ads." Is this what it has come to on the left? My guy has more cojones than your guy. http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_08_15.php Check it out, if you don't believe me.

Posted by paladin | August 20, 2004 | 02:26 pm | Permalink

 

That isn't actually censorship. I also think Drudge maybe exaggerated a little since he took the claim down altogether.

Posted by Eric H | August 20, 2004 | 04:43 pm | Permalink

 

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