- The Bush White House has denied any connection to the
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth [1] - the group that has been airing
factually
unsupportable smear ads against Sen. John Kerry's war record. But a new
report today shows that one of the key accusers in the smear ads was a
lobbyist for a company that recently received a massive federal contract
from the Bush administration.
-
- As the Washington Post reports, Rear Admiral William
L. Schachte Jr., the man who claims Kerry was not under fire when he
received
his first Purple Heart, is a top lobbyist for a defense contractor that
recently won a $40 million grant from the Bush administration. According
to a March 18 legal filing by Schachte's firm, Blank Rome, Schachte was
one of the lobbyists working for FastShip's effort to secure federal
contracts
[2]
-
- On Feb. 2, FastShip announced the Bush administration
had awarded it $40 million [3]Schachte has other connections to the Bush
administration. The Washington Post notes David Norcross, Schachte's
colleague
in the Washington office of Blank Rome, is chairman of this week's
Republican
convention in New York. [4] Records show that Schachte gave $1,000 to
Bush's
2000 and 2004 campaigns. [5]
-
- Additionally, Schachte helped organize veterans' efforts
against Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and for Bush in the 2000 South Carolina
primary.[6]
-
- This is not the first member of the Swift Boat Veterans
for Truth who has been revealed to be connected to the President. The
Bush-Cheney
campaign's top outside lawyer was forced to resign after he admitted
providing
legal services to the veterans group.[7] The Bush-Cheney campaign's
veterans
adviser was also featured in one of the smear ads.[8]
-
-
- Sources:
-
- 1. "Press Gaggle by Scott McClellan,"
WhiteHouse.gov,
8/20/04
- http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3369959&l=52649
-
- 2. "A Swift Shift in Stories," Washington Post,
8/31/04
- http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3369959&l=52650
-
- 3. "FastShip, Inc. to Receive $40 million in Federal
Support for Marine Cargo Terminal in Philadelphia,"
FastShipAtlantic.com,
2/02/04
- http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3369959&l=52651
-
- 4. "A Swift Shift in Stories," Washington Post,
8/31/04
- http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3369959&l=52650
-
- 5. OpenSecrets.org, 8/04
- http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3369959&l=52652
-
- 6. Charleston Post & Courier, 2/17/2000
-
- 7. "Bush-Cheney Lawyer Advised Anti-Kerry
Vets,"
Washington Post, 8/25/04
- http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3369959&l=52653
-
- 8. "Bush Campaign Drops Swift Boat Ad Figure,"
Washington Post, 8/22/04
- http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=3369959&l=52654.
-
- Visit www.Misleader.org for more about Bush
Administration
distortion. »
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