John McCain Condemns Anti-Kerry Ad

A group calling itself the "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" -- none of whom, incidentally, served on John Kerry's swift boat in 'Nam -- have produced a TV ad that is set to run in Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin that accuses Kerry of lying about his decorated Vietnam War record and betraying his fellow veterans by later opposing the conflict.

This tactic has brought Sen. John McCain roaring out of his seat, denouncing the ad as scurrilous and calling on El Presidente to denounce it too. This kind of campaigning, you see, is something John McCain knows about, since it's very similar to the lies the Bush campaign told about McCain during the South Carolina primary four years ago.

"It was the same kind of deal that was pulled on me," McCain said in an interview with The Associated Press, referring to his bitter Republican primary fight with President Bush. "Dishonest and deplorable," McCain added.

Asked if the White House knew about the ad or helped find financing for it, McCain said, "I hope not, but I don't know. But I think the Bush campaign should specifically condemn the ad."

For the record, all the veterans who actually served with Kerry on that swift boat have endorsed his election, with the one exception of the crewman who is now deceased.