Fred Hansen
New member
NEW YORK — Former President Bill Clinton (search) defended John Kerry on Sunday, telling FOX News that one of the independent campaign ads questioning Kerry's Vietnam service bore "false witness."
"There has been too much controversy or discussion about the politics of it and little about its merits," Clinton told FOX News' Geraldo Rivera. "The ad was paid for by a big supporter of the president and the campaign's lawyer and one of the military advisers participate accurately in it and it was wrong. It was false witness."
So far, the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (search) has released several ads critical of Kerry's actions or comments during and after the Vietnam War. Although he did not specify which ad he was talking about, Clinton likely was talking about an ad the group ran that said Kerry was lying about what happened in Vietnam.
"All the guys that were on the boat with him say he told the truth. The records say he told the truth. There have been no serious disputes about any of the incidents in which he earned his medals," Clinton said outside the Landmark Riverside Church in upper Manhattan.
Kerry commanded a swift boat during his four months in Vietnam during 1968 and 1969 and during that time, got three Purple Hearts for injuries sustained, a Bronze Star for saving the life of Special Forces Lt. Jim Rassmann (search), and a Silver Star.
"There has been too much controversy or discussion about the politics of it and little about its merits," Clinton told FOX News' Geraldo Rivera. "The ad was paid for by a big supporter of the president and the campaign's lawyer and one of the military advisers participate accurately in it and it was wrong. It was false witness."
So far, the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (search) has released several ads critical of Kerry's actions or comments during and after the Vietnam War. Although he did not specify which ad he was talking about, Clinton likely was talking about an ad the group ran that said Kerry was lying about what happened in Vietnam.
"All the guys that were on the boat with him say he told the truth. The records say he told the truth. There have been no serious disputes about any of the incidents in which he earned his medals," Clinton said outside the Landmark Riverside Church in upper Manhattan.
Kerry commanded a swift boat during his four months in Vietnam during 1968 and 1969 and during that time, got three Purple Hearts for injuries sustained, a Bronze Star for saving the life of Special Forces Lt. Jim Rassmann (search), and a Silver Star.
