Bush Withdraws "Swift Boat" Nominee

Ambassadorial Candidate Sam Fox Withdrawn After Democrats Criticize Controversial Donation

(AP)  More than two years after losing his bid for the White House, Democratic Sen. John Kerry exacted a measure of revenge against his political foes Wednesday by helping derail the diplomatic nomination of a Republican fundraiser.

President Bush withdrew the nomination of St. Louis businessman Sam Fox to be ambassador to Belgium after Democrats denounced Fox for his 2004 donation to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

The group's TV ads, which claimed that Kerry, D-Mass., exaggerated his military record in Vietnam, were viewed as a major factor in Kerry losing the election.

Mr. Bush's action was announced quietly minutes before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was to have voted on the nomination.

"His nomination would not have passed today if the vote had been called up," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

During a confirmation hearing last month, Kerry grilled Fox about why he had given $50,000 to a group that was "smearing and spreading lies" about him. Kerry seemed to be seeking an apology but Fox didn't budge, saying he simply gave when asked.

"Sam Fox had every opportunity to disavow the politics of personal destruction and to embrace the truth," Kerry said Wednesday. "He chose not to. The White House made the right decision to withdraw the nomination. I hope this signals a new day in political discourse."

Fox, 77, is national chairman of the Jewish Republican Coalition and was deemed a "ranger" by Mr. Bush's 2004 campaign for raising at least $200,000. He is founder and chairman of the Clayton, Mo.-based Harbour Group, which specializes in the takeover of manufacturing companies.

Fox has donated millions of dollars to Republican candidates and causes since the 1990s.

Big-money contributors are often rewarded with ambassador posts. Contributions to political groups are rarely considered grounds for protest for fear there would be a tit-for-tat when the White House changes parties.

But the chorus of opposition to Fox grew louder a day before the vote was set, when Kerry's Vietnam crew mates sent a letter Tuesday urging committee members to oppose Fox's nomination.

"In our judgment, those who finance smears and lies of combat veterans don't deserve to represent America on the world stage," said the letter signed by 11 Vietnam Swift Boat veterans who served with Kerry.

Fueling the political undertones was the presence of three Democratic presidential hopefuls on the committee — the chairman, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del.; and Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Chris Dodd, D-Conn.

"I had serious concerns about Mr. Fox's candor, judgment and qualifications for this important post, and I am pleased that the Bush administration acknowledged that it would not be able to muster the votes to confirm his nomination," Obama said.

Even after the Feb. 27 confirmation hearing, Kerry gave Fox an opportunity to show contrition in responses to several written follow-up questions. Fox insisted he did not know how his money would be spent or exactly what message the Swift Boats were pushing.

"I did it because politically it's necessary if the other side's doing it," Fox told Kerry.

[tooskeptical]

The swift boat slanderers are not the only guilty ones. Every republican (and that includes many of our congress people) that wore a purple bandaid to mock the sacrifice of our troops during the republican convention. And they make a big deal of the 2 documenterd cases of "hippies" spitting on vets, while they have a massive campaign to insult every injured vet that ever received a purple heart.

This is why good people are abandoning the cons - they have nothing in common.

[iceman_1960]

"None of those in the attack ad by the Swift Boat group actually served on Kerry's boat. And their statements are contrary to the accounts of Kerry and those who served under him."

From the factcheck.org report.

But they would have us believe that during intense combat in Vietnam, hundreds of men were staring intently from a distance to closely observe the conduct of a then obscure, little known Naval officer in one of the boats.

The truth is, they mounted this phony attack many years later, in revenge for Kerry's leadership in the antiwar movement.

The Swifties are a ship of fools and liars.

[iceman_1960]

Factcheck.org on the Swift Boat Veterans' attack on Kerry (they don't stand up to a close examination at all:

http://factcheck.org/article231.html

[realpatriot1]

gunnerv,

Funny how the Mafia was brought down during the Clinton Administration. Funny how Nixon's best friend was Bebe Reboso. Funny how John & Bobby Kennedy were assassinated after going after the Mob
(even if they did have their own ties).

What has any Republican ever done about the Mafia other than invite them to dinner?

[motherjones-2009]

gunnerv1

What does being an idiot feel like? Is it like being high all the time?

[ov442]

Its pretty bad that the vast majority of GOP based 'insults' toward democrats are personal attacks of a childish nature. The reason is, because they havent got many legitimate beefs to even bring up.
Im not saying the Dem party hasnt had its share of past criminal activity, or that there are none in congress right now, however, the facts are that the current GOP and its policies are a vast network of crime, based solely on the motivation of wealth and power.
Look at all the advertisements and jokes.. the Liberals can make 10 jokes a day about all the terrible things this white house and previous period of control by the GOP congress, yet all the GOP attacks are personal, and mostly lies or exaggerations.
sad.

[r9119111]

Mr. Fox and the other Swift Boat Veterans did this country a grave dis-service and should never be allowed to hold a public office of any kind.

GLAC

[gunnerv1]

What's the difference between the Democratic party and the Mafia?

Not much.

Part 2
What's the differance between the Democratic party and the Mafia?

One of them is organized.

What's the differance between the Democratic party and the Boy Scouts?

The Boy Scouts have Adult Leadership.

I expect some (a lot) of heat on this because some people in the Liberal party have no sense of humor, so with that said, I expect you to keep it in line or you will have to take a time out! I didn't call you anynames.



Lets see, FDR did in fact ask the Mafia and Organized Labor Unions (Crime Leaders) to keep the dock workers from striking during WWII

Why are thugs allowed to run labor unions, most of whom have been (in upper Management) connected to Organized Crime in some way or arrested? Oh, please don't get your shorts in a wad, just "Google" it.


Why is the Democratic Party having a meltdown when they control so much now? Think of the good they might accomplish, but no, they're just going to pi*s it away like they usually do. To wit: what have tey done so far? Nada, zip, zero

[closethippy]

I've never been too crazy about Kerry but the way this Vietnam veteran was put down is absolutely shameful. Not only did he VOLUNTEERED to go to Vietnam while everyone else had to be recruited to do so, but it wasn't until there were over 44,000 dead American soldiers in that useless war before Kerry had enough sense to go to Congress to testify against it. All he wanted to do was to stop that madness. It was NOT an act of "treason" as he was accused of doing in 2004.
I just hope to God all the morons who still support the Iraq war are not going to wait until we have 44,000 dead American soldiers over there before they change their minds about it.

[karlimhof]

Fox, 77, is national chairman of the Jewish Republican Coalition and was deemed a "ranger" by Mr. Bush's 2004 campaign for raising at least $200,000. He is founder and chairman of the Clayton, Mo.-based Harbour Group, which specializes in the takeover of manufacturing companies.



Hey Fox - while you're doin' shabat - remember we're laughing our azzes off - how many millions have you ripped off "in takeovers of manufacturing companies" - you wanted to be our ambassador? Go to israel and ask them for an ambassadorship - to Uganda!

[randalds]

Politicians work for us - not the other way round.

Keep them honest.

Posted by mcdazz at 02:16 AM : Mar 29, 2007

I sure wish we could get the neocons, esp Cheney and Bush, to realize the truth of that. They think they were elected Kings or dictators. As if they were something other then what they really are, our employees! And temp ones at that!

fredgrad2000 wrote:

"If donations to Swift Boat Veterans disqualifies someone then so sould contributions to or from MoveOn.org and the other ultra-left 527s that bash and lie about every person who is a Republican or moderate Democrat (see Joe Lieberman, Jane Harmon)...they have far more money than the Swifties (from America haters like foreigner George Soros) and their hitmen are far less reputable than Kerry's fellow Vietnam veterans who have a right to their views on John Kerry. Get rid of all 527s; then you won't have anymore Swift Boat ads - but no one on the far left would do that since they make FAR more use of them..."

Or you could just hold politicians accountable for their actions - Republican or Democrat.

It's time people denounce the mud slinging that has found it's way into political campaigning (granted, it isn't a new thing).

Politicians work for us - not the other way round.

Keep them honest.

[toldyouso21]

Senator Kerry, this "poor" guy just wanted a paid-by-us sweet retirement in the land of good chocolate and pastries, Belgium. Come on, why keeping him here? Who knows how much money he will now give to your foes for more ads of the same kind, this time against other Dems. I would have voted for him to go, even though paid for with our taxes.
Posted by adian1 at 06:54 PM : Mar 28, 2007


Why?!!!! do you imagine he can't give money if he is in Belgium....? What kind of logic do you have? The man would have gave big bucks for smears just the same--the fact is, after one has soooo much money, many people want to do something they consider, 'classy' , prestigious, etc--an ambassadorship is considered all of that--this was the right thing to do. Fox can buy many things and many people, but unfortunately for him--he could not buy a classy and prestigious position as an emissary of this country. In fact, to have combat veterans state a person sis too horrible to represent us on the world stage is a humiliating blow that will be whispered at dinner parties and snickered over cocktails for years to come. Mr Fox--you just got SERVED. enjoy.

roach9703 wrote:

"Kerry lost the 2004 election because he lacked conviction and was unwilling to at least listen to the pro-life people. He allowed Bush to intimidate him. It is always bad when courageous action is misrepresented. But, this is the price the Democrats paid for not holding Bill Clinton responsible for his many misdeeds. What comes around, goes around."

It's been over six years since that idiot Clinton left office.

Isn't it time you got over it?

[antoniof123]

Oh how sad he had to have his name pulled GOOD. I hope that this clown can not get anyone appointed to anything from now on.

[elz523]

What does Bill Clinton have to do with this other than the obvious fact that he too was smeared? Man can't you con's get over the fact that Clinton has not been in office for 6 years?

The facts here show that an honorable veteran was smeared and a frat boy, who managed to use his fathers influence to get in the national guard during the Vietnam war, took advantage of that. To our eternal shame.

This is how we repay veterans in this country. It is a disgrace. Fox deserves much more than he got.

[roach9703]

Kerry lost the 2004 election because he lacked conviction and was unwilling to at least listen to the pro-life people. He allowed Bush to intimidate him. It is always bad when courageous action is misrepresented. But, this is the price the Democrats paid for not holding Bill Clinton responsible for his many misdeeds. What comes around, goes around.

[rharrin1]

All bush has to do is sign the bill.

If he doesn't sign, it shows clearly that he does NOT support our troops

[cjbrix]

There is absolutely no comparison between MoveOn and the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

The SBV for truth engaged in the deliberate and completely dishonest smear of a decorated veteran's war record. That's one of the most dispicable acts imaginable in my book, and in no way does it compare with the actions of any other 527 out there.

Why do Republicans hate the troops so much?

[fredgrad2000]

If donations to Swift Boat Veterans disqualifies someone then so sould contributions to or from MoveOn.org and the other ultra-left 527s that bash and lie about every person who is a Republican or moderate Democrat (see Joe Lieberman, Jane Harmon)...they have far more money than the Swifties (from America haters like foreigner George Soros) and their hitmen are far less reputable than Kerry's fellow Vietnam veterans who have a right to their views on John Kerry. Get rid of all 527s; then you won't have anymore Swift Boat ads - but no one on the far left would do that since they make FAR more use of them...