Remember when the Bush campaign painted John McCain as a crazy man prone to outbursts of anger? Remember when the Bush campaign painted Howard Dean as a crazy man prone to outbursts of anger? Well, take a guess at the
new trial balloon they're floating.
"I do think that Senator Kerry losing his cool should not be an excuse for him to lash out at the president with false and baseless attacks," Mr. McClellan said at Mr. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Tex.
McClellan launched the crazyman meme in response to questions about what the New York Times discovered - a pretty close tie between the Swift Boat Liars and the Bush campaign (one degree of separation between their major contributor and Karl Rove, according to this
New York Times chart). The Times' findings
include:
Records show that the group received the bulk of its initial financing from two men with ties to the president and his family - one a longtime political associate of Mr. Rove's, the other a trustee of the foundation for Mr. Bush's father's presidential library. A Texas publicist who once helped prepare Mr. Bush's father for his debate when he was running for vice president provided them with strategic advice. And the group's television commercial was produced by the same team that made the devastating ad mocking Michael S. Dukakis in an oversized tank helmet when he and Mr. Bush's father faced off in the 1988 presidential election.
The strategy the veterans devised would ultimately paint John Kerry the war hero as John Kerry the "baby killer" and the fabricator of the events that resulted in his war medals. But on close examination, the accounts of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth' prove to be riddled with inconsistencies. In many cases, material offered as proof by these veterans is undercut by official Navy records and the men's own statements.
Several of those now declaring Mr. Kerry "unfit" had lavished praise on him, some as recently as last year.
The "madman" is speaking the solemn truth, America. And Bush's facade continues to get chipped away. Brick, by brick, by brick...
