No more free ride for smear merchants

In the devastating aftermath of the disastrous 2004 national election, as part of my emotional recovery, I vowed to never again underestimate the stupidity of the American people. After all, if there were millions of people all across this nation that could not see what, to me, was blatantly obvious about an inferior human being like Junior Bush...well, Einstein had a good summary quote:

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. -Albert Einstein

As that horrendous day faded, however, I was able to gain a little more perspective, and to perceive how, in many ways, the Kerry campaign had failed as much as Junior's filthy campaign had succeeded.

Hearken back to that hot July of 2004, as John Kerry became the nominee for the Democratic party, touting his record as a combat veteran. His comrades-in-arms from the days of patrolling the Bo De River came onto the stage with him to show their support. One veteran from Oregon, Jim Rassman, a Republican, came forward to announce his support for Kerry, recounting how Kerry had saved his life during a combat operation. Things were looking good for Kerry: the gamble of the rank-and-file Democrats, who chose Kerry largely because of his veteran status, looked like it would pay off.

Sleaze merchant John O'Neil, founder of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth

Well, that's when the Karl Rove smear machine went to work. Without rehashing the ugliness, a shadowy group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth started calling into question the valor of John Kerry who was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts, while Junior was getting drunk and not showing up for duty in the Air National Guard.

When these dubious ads started appearing on television, the Kerry campaign was caught flat-footed. Apparently, a debate raged within the campaign about how to respond to them. In the end, the campaign chose to ignore them rather than be drawn into an ugly and specious argument that would only serve the interests of Junior Bush.

It was the wrong decision, as Kerry would later admit. His lack of response allowed the scurrilous attacks to lower his image in the eyes of enough voters that Junior could sway them. The success of the smear tactics proved the truth of my friend Carl Page's assertion that the Republican party is a coalition of the rich and the stupid.

Well, these same people that came up with the sleazy smear campaign they waged so successfully back then, have returned. Now, of course, their target is Barack Obama and, predictably his wife, Michelle. But the Obama campaign is responding. They've created a web site, called Fight the Smears that addresses each of the filthy lies put forth by the sleaze merchants.

That is how you deal with cowards and filth-peddlers: call them out on it. Confront them. Tell the truth. Do not ignore them.

I encourage anyone who has heard rumors, perhaps through email or dubious websites, to go here and learn the truth.

• Michelle Obama does not rant about "whitey" on a video tape.
• Barack Obama is not hiding his birth certificate; he is an American citizen.
• Barack Obama is not a Muslim (even though, if he were, I fail to see what would be wrong with it).
• Barack Obama's book does not contain racist remarks.
• Barack Obama will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Be assured that the sleaze merchants are just getting started. Who knows what they'll come up with next? But this time there will be no free pass. In the end, filthy liars like Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, and the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth always get what's coming to them.