Dem., Kerry lawyers try to squelch anti-Kerry ad

[Donna Halper]

At 10:12 AM 8/6/2004 -0400, you wrote:
>The Kerry campaign has already been recruiting lawyers to stand at the
>polling places to monitor (intimidate) the vote and challenge any
>questionable practices (Questionable practices is places where the tally
>doesn't go their way).  I guess that the theory is that if you can't win at
>the ballot box, take it to the courts.

Umm, at the risk of turning this into another of those endless political 
discussions, there were so many voting irregularities in Florida in the 
last election that every major newspaper (both right-wing and left-wing) 
now acknowlesges they should have paid closer attention.  Some voting 
machines still don't function properly, and more than 50,000 voters were 
arbitrarily (and erroneously) tossed off the Florida voting list in 2000, 
as has been thoroughly documented.  I don't blame Kerry, or anybody else, 
from wanting to monitor this election's proceedings.  It's not about trying 
to get the election to 'go their way'-- it's about making sure the votes 
are all counted.  As for the other legal matter, the outrageous negative ad 
being run about Kerry's war record, even John McCain and one of the 
veterans originally quoted in the political ad agree the ad is deceptive 
and based on smear tactics rather than truth.  Today's Globe front-page 
states that one of the alleged "veterans who served with Kerry" admits he 
had NO first-hand knowledge of Kerry's service and only signed on because 
he hated Kerry's anti-war actions later on.  McCain is right-- like him or 
not, Kerry was a war hero and to smear him for political purposes is 
despicable.  The lawyers are doing what I would expect-- fighting against 
slander.  We don't need the sort of campaign tactic that spreads lies about 
the other side, no matter whether it's Republicans or Democrats doing it.