Article published: Oct 1, 2004
Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry
'Upriver' sheds light on Kerry's true Vietnam record

by Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times



Of all the dirty tricks in this unhappy presidential campaign, the most
outrageous has been the ad campaign by the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth,"
attempting to discredit John Kerry's service in Vietnam. Supporters of the
malingering Bush have shamelessly challenged the war record of a wounded and
decorated veteran. Their campaign illustrates the tactic of the Big Lie, as
defined by Hitler and perfected by Goebbels: Although a little lie is
laughed at, a Big Lie somehow takes on a reality of its own, through its
sheer effrontery."Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry" is a
matter-of-fact documentary that describes Kerry's war service and his later
role as a leader of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. It's not an
in-your-face Michael Moore-style doc, but an attempt to rationally respond
to the damaging TV ads. The most remarkable connection it makes is that John
O'Neill, mastermind of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and co-author of
the current book Unfit for Command, was originally recruited by the dirty
tricksters in the Nixon White House to play precisely the same role!The
movie documents this with tapes of Oval Office conversations with Richard
Nixon discussing John Kerry with his aides H.R. Haldeman and Charles Colson.
Kerry had made a strong impression as a spokesman for Vietnam vets who now
felt the war was immoral and ill-advised. Sen. J. William Fulbright, head of
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, visited the veterans' bivouac on the
Mall in Washington, D.C., and asked Kerry to testify before the committee.
Kerry's testimony, sampled in the film, is forceful and yet not radical;
essentially, he was early with what has become the consensus about that war.
In the Oval Office, it is noted that Kerry made a good impression,
especially on the network news programs. "He's a Kennedy-type guy. He looks
like a Kennedy and sounds like a Kennedy," says Haldeman."We have to destroy
the young demagogue before he becomes another Nader," Colson tells the
president. Asked to get some dirt on Kerry, Colson reports "we couldn't find
anything on him." Then he comes up with the idea of recruiting Vietnam vets
who would be coached to smear Kerry. Colson enlists O'Neill, who 30 years
later has revived his old role.

The film argues that Kerry has truthfully described his role in the war.
This is testified to by those in the boat with him, those on the same river
at the time, and a man whose life he saved. What's interesting is to learn
more about the swift boats themselves. Since the Viet Cong blended with the
civilian population, anybody could be the enemy, and the swift boats were
sent upriver in the hopes they would be fired on by Cong troops who would
therefore reveal their positions.Patrols like those led by Kerry had
casualty rates above 75 percent; no wonder he was wounded. Yet some of his
opponents have questioned if Kerry actually shed blood in Vietnam. Since
Kerry carries shrapnel in his leg, it must have been a neat trick to get it
in there without puncturing the skin. A case for the Amazing Randi.

"Going Upriver" has been directed by George Butler, a longtime Kerry friend
who is a veteran documentarian (he made "Pumping Iron" about young Arnold
Schwarzenegger, and "Endurance," the documentary about Shackleton's
expedition to the Antarctic). His film is pro-Kerry, yes, but the focus is
on history, not polemics, and provides a record of the crucial role of the
Vietnam Veterans Against the War, who because of their credentials could not
be dismissed as peaceniks. Kerry comes across even then not as a hot-headed
young radical, but as a centered, thoughtful man whose appearance before the
Foreign Relations Committee draws respectful reviews even from its
Republican members.The Nixon instinct to smear him finds an echo today in
the "Veterans for Truth" ads. It is Kerry's great misfortune that Dan Rather
and CBS News have deflected attention from Bush's inexplicable (or at least
unexplained) absence from National Guard duty. If the polls can be believed,
many American voters are inattentive, credulous and unable to think
critically about political claims. The Swift Boat ads have reportedly lost
votes for Kerry, but the Rather debacle has gained votes for Bush; some
voters apparently believe that if Rather was wrong, then somehow Bush's
military irregularities have been vindicated.Will this film change any
votes? Doubtful, since most members of the audience will be Kerry
supporters. It is sad but true that a 30-second commercial, which any
literate person should instinctively question, can shift votes but the truth
cannot. Not that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth know much about truth.


http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/...409300303/1023

"yojimbo" wrote in message
...
Article published: Oct 1, 2004
Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry
'Upriver' sheds light on Kerry's true Vietnam record

by Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Actually, of all the absurd pieces you've posted here in total
violation of the copyright holders' rights (you're concerned about
"rights," right?), this is probably the most interesting of the few
I've bothered with because it highlights the de facto cultural coup in
this country. Just as the media and arts have been thoroughly
controlled to march in lockstep in totalitarian countries, we have a
situation here where 98% (I made that up) of the "voices" coming from
the arts and entertainment industries have a built-in soapbox for
left-wing views that would be an insult to most 10th graders. Ebert,
needless to say, is a movie reviewer, just like Oliver Stone is movie
director, and Sean Penn is a movie actor. Nobody ever said that they
knew anything about anything else, but it appears that the sheep still
listen as long as they keep turning left.

yojimbo wrote:
by Roger Ebert

Of all the dirty tricks in this unhappy presidential campaign, the most
outrageous has been the ad campaign by the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth,"
attempting to discredit John Kerry's service in Vietnam. Supporters of the
malingering Bush have shamelessly challenged the war record of a wounded and
decorated veteran. Their campaign illustrates the tactic of the Big Lie, as
defined by Hitler and perfected by Goebbels:

When are liberals going to learn how transparent their tricks are? It's
obvious that Ebert, like all other liberals, figured out what the
liberals themselves are doing, then quickly accused conservatives of
that very evil to mask their own actions.

Carter fscked the economy worse than any other president, then we heard
about "Reaganomics".

Clinton lied and lied and lied and lied and lied, and suddenly all we
hear is how Bush lies. (But we never hear a specific lie.)

And now Kerry writes glowing descriptions of his manly war activities,
which consisted mainly of his blowing himself up a lot, and
conservatives are preemtively accused of disinformation.

Yes, we challenge Kerry's war record. HE BLEW UP HIS OWN BUTT. Live
with it.

--
"One month from today, the American dream is on the ballot." -- John Kerry, 10/2

So is the American Nightmare, Jack-F...
Please go back to Communist Viet Nam where you're appreciated.

In article ,
"T. Early" wrote:

"yojimbo" wrote in message
...
Article published: Oct 1, 2004
Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry
'Upriver' sheds light on Kerry's true Vietnam record

by Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Actually, of all the absurd pieces you've posted here in total
violation of the copyright holders' rights (you're concerned about
"rights," right?), this is probably the most interesting of the few
I've bothered with because it highlights the de facto cultural coup in
this country. Just as the media and arts have been thoroughly
controlled to march in lockstep in totalitarian countries, we have a
situation here where 98% (I made that up) of the "voices" coming from
the arts and entertainment industries have a built-in soapbox for
left-wing views that would be an insult to most 10th graders. Ebert,
needless to say, is a movie reviewer, just like Oliver Stone is movie
director, and Sean Penn is a movie actor. Nobody ever said that they
knew anything about anything else, but it appears that the sheep still
listen as long as they keep turning left.

Look, the guy is a complete retard and I told you what do do with him,
either turn him in to the people he's copying or kill file him. He is
not worth the time or trouble.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

"Telamon" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"T. Early" wrote:

"yojimbo" wrote in message
...
Article published: Oct 1, 2004
Going Upriver: The Long War of John Kerry
'Upriver' sheds light on Kerry's true Vietnam record

by Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Actually, of all the absurd pieces you've posted here in total
violation of the copyright holders' rights (you're concerned about
"rights," right?), this is probably the most interesting of the
few
I've bothered with because it highlights the de facto cultural
coup in
this country. Just as the media and arts have been thoroughly
controlled to march in lockstep in totalitarian countries, we have
a
situation here where 98% (I made that up) of the "voices" coming
from
the arts and entertainment industries have a built-in soapbox for
left-wing views that would be an insult to most 10th graders.
Ebert,
needless to say, is a movie reviewer, just like Oliver Stone is
movie
director, and Sean Penn is a movie actor. Nobody ever said that
they
knew anything about anything else, but it appears that the sheep
still
listen as long as they keep turning left.

Look, the guy is a complete retard and I told you what do do with
him,
either turn him in to the people he's copying or kill file him. He
is
not worth the time or trouble.


You're right about that, and it's some kind of character flaw that
makes me respond to about a few of his posts.

In article ,
"T. Early" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote in
message

gy.com.. .
In article ,
"T. Early" wrote:

"yojimbo" wrote in message
...
Article published: Oct 1, 2004 Going Upriver: The Long War of
John Kerry 'Upriver' sheds light on Kerry's true Vietnam record

Snip

Look, the guy is a complete retard and I told you what do do with
him, either turn him in to the people he's copying or kill file
him. He is not worth the time or trouble.


You're right about that, and it's some kind of character flaw that
makes me respond to about a few of his posts.

He is a good little Troll so put him where he belongs. I could not even
find a SW related question to answer out of hundreds of posts today. I
open the group and half the posts go away to the spamming losers that
have shown up lately.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California