The mainstream media (or, as it's starting to become known, the "old media") was dragged kicking and screaming into the Swift Boats controversy. Kerry's campaign made the fatal error of assuming that the media was in their back pocket, and that the whole thing would be spiked (I am hearing that Kerry himself was arguing for an immediate response). For a couple of weeks it worked, but the information coming through all the alternatives finally woke Kerry's campaign people up. It should be noted that when the Democratic counterattack came, the media was right there for it and has been on board for dumping on the veterans ever since.

Media ignores an unknown group of protestors - Liberal Media!
Unknown group becomes known after TV ads and book launch, media pays attention - Liberal Media Finally gets it!!! Now how bout Cambodia??????
Media also reports on Cambodia - <silence>
People come forward and say wait a minute, I was there too and that's not right <silence>
Media reports it - Liberal Media attack dogs!!!!!!!!
More people say SBVs full of it - <silence, occasional attacks>
After 2-3 weeks, Kerry down 2-4 points in polls - See we were right!!!!!!!!!
Issue starts to subside after 2-3 weeks of non-stop reporting - Liberal Media!!!!!!!!!


The Swift Boats statements have been out there since their first press conference in May. It was ignored. Only after they managed to scrape up enough to get an ad out did the shit finally hit the fan.

Not to mention the book launch, huh? Poor little guys, scraping around to make ends meet, nary a backer in sight....
Not to mention that this has gotten WAAAY more coverage than any MoveOn attack ad.

Guy who says he pulled the strings to get Bush in the ANG breaks silence - Liberal Media!!!!!!!!!