The Myth That Will Not DieIs that the Swift Boat Vets
didn't have Kerry nailed.
In 2004, the Swift Boat group, backed by Texas businessman Bob Perry, made unsubstantiated allegations about Kerry's Vietnam War heroism. The presidential nominee's slow and uncertain response is blamed for helping doom his White House bid.I repeat. Nobody spent more time researching the Swiftees' claims against Kerry than I did, with the possible exception of two of the Swiftees' researchers themselves. I was unable to find anything that they got wrong; at worst the historical record was inconclusive. When there was a conflict between Kerry and the Swiftees, it was Kerry who was found to be lying.