Kerry-Fonda Pic: McCain Fights Old Foe Who Now Fights Kerry

[Renew Deal]

By MICHAEL JANOFSKY

Published: February 14, 2004

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 — Senator John McCain came to the defense of a fellow Vietnam War veteran, Senator John Kerry, on Friday by attacking the credibility of a North Carolina veteran who has dedicated himself to defeating Mr. Kerry in his campaign for president.

Mr. McCain, an Arizona Republican, called the man, Ted Sampley, "one of the most despicable people I have ever had the misfortune to encounter."

Mr. Sampley, a businessman from Kinston, N.C., has gained some attention in recent days for operating a Web site devoted to attacking Mr. Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, for his opposition to the war in Vietnam after his military service. The Web site, www.vietnamveteransagainstjohn kerry.com, includes pictures from the 1970's showing Mr. Kerry at antiwar protests. One shows Mr. Kerry at a rally, sitting several rows behind Jane Fonda, who was so outspoken against the war that she was labeled a Communist by her political opponents.

In response to Mr. McCain's remarks about him, Mr. Sampley said in a telephone interview: "It's not the first time he said that. That's his opinion. It's unbecoming of a senator to say things like that, but I'm fair game just like he is."

In 1993, Mr. Sampley was convicted of misdemeanor assault and sentenced to 180 days' probation for attacking a legislative aide to Mr. McCain.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/14/politics/campaign/14VET.html

[DenverDem]

1. This can be turned around to benefit Kerry.

We need to start pushing the meme that Jane and John were correct about the Vietnam quagmire and anyone who disputes this is ignorant of history.

[LTR]

2. McCain's a likeable Repug

Class act. Realizes this kind of stuff is uncalled for.

I could have even lived with him as president. Unlike the guy who beat him in 2000.

This Sampley guy is dangerous.

[Gman]

5. Great pic there in your sig!

LOL!

[PsN2Wind]

3. Anyone know if this guy is

a VietNam veteran or a VietNam ERA veteran? There is a significant difference. Didn't have time to check the link to see if it said anything about that.

[Gman]

4. Wow!

McCain: "I consider him a fraud who preys on the hopes of family members of missing servicemen for his own profit. He is dishonorable, an enemy of the truth, and despite his claims, he does not speak for or represent the views of all but a few veterans."

McCain sure doesn't like this guy. McCain remains one of only a very small handful of Republicans I still respect.

[UTUSN]

6. Re: KERRY-FONDA: Freedom of Association

This is tangentially off-topic, but the Repuke attempt to make it a smear to picture KERRY near, around, in the proximity of FONDA at the same rallies----------is a bust, IMHO. Here is FONDA's latest appearance. Seems like she picks good causes. And we are supposedly guaranteed the right of freedom of association.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040214/photos_en_afp/04...



"I'm rich, I'm famous, I'm white, I have a daughter, I have a granddaughter, and I know that if they had been murdered or abducted the authorities would work very hard to find out who killed or kidnapped them," said Fonda, pointing to the fact that most victims here have been poor.

********UNQUOTE*******