Kerry's Trip to Athens
We are somewhat surprised at the scant news coverage given to John Kerry's quick trip to
Athens this past Saturday to cheer on the beleaguered US Men's Basketball team in its
bronze medal game against Lithuania. It was a noble gesture and we are sure it meant a
lot to our players, who by the way ended up winning the game 104-96.
More controversial for Kerry was the story that followed the game. Kerry had spent only
four hours on the ground in Athens, yet somehow---to the surprise of everyone---ended up
winning three Olympic medals, a silver and two bronze.
When asked about how he won them, he refused to talk about the story with the press---
though second-hand reports indicated he got the silver in Rowing, and the two bronze
medals were allegedly for the Javelin and an obscure equestrian event.
Within hours, some 260 Olympic athletes from more than 40 countries--calling themselves
Olympic Athletes for Truth (OAT)--signed their names to a document protesting Kerry's
medals. The document stated that none of the Kerry medals was legitimately earned. 85
of the athletes went further, signing affidavits indicating they had had Kerry in visual
contact during his entire four-hour tour of the Olympic site and that he had never even
participated in any of the events in which he claimed to have won medals.
However, the next day a group of seven Olympians from France and Germany emerged.
Flanked by syndicated columnist Maureen Dowd and TV Talk Show host Chris Matthews,
the "FG7" held a press conference and announced that they knew that Kerry had indeed
won three medals because they had competed alongside Kerry in each of the events in
question. Not only did he win them legitimately they said, but he had done so with
extraordinary courage. One of the French competitors told a moving story about having
been "pulled from the water" after falling from his scull just after the finish. "Kerry came
back for me," he said in broken English, "and he didn't have to, he risked his life---I can't
swim you know, even though I am in crew."
This story was disputed by a British crew member (and OAT signatory) however, "The
Frenchman had to have been disoriented, besides the Frogs finished 27th in that event
and were over five minutes behind any of the medal crews, anyone winning a silver or
bronze medal would have never even seen the Frenchman."
Ten minutes later however, Democrat National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe
blasted the 260 athletes, claiming they had "smeared" John Kerry "in a way that
shamed all Olympic athletes throughout history."
Senator John McCain weighed in less than an hour later, saying "Kerry's record in Athens
should not be questioned." ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings, NBC News presenter
Tom Brokaw and CBS's venerable Dan Rather all praised McCain for his "centrist"
comments.
Jon Stewart, interviewing Kerry on The Daily Show, told the nominee, "I understand you
were never in Athens." Kerry laughed heartily. The next day, Neal Gabler of Fox News
Watch said Jon Stewart was the only credible newsman on this story---"the only one to
show with film footage that the Olympic Athletes for Truth were lying." Jane Hall, Gabler's
colleague on FNW concurred, "He won the medals, no question about it," she said.
Hours later the New York Times published an eight-page investigative piece proving
"conclusively" that Kerry had indeed won the three medals. "We found literally scores of
contradictions among the Olympic Athletes for Truth(OAT)," said the Times, "their stories
just don't hold up when measured against the documents that Kerry's staff produced."
OAT countered that the documents purporting to support the medals--with descriptions of
each event and a narrative of Kerry's own participation in each---had been written by Kerry
himself. "Yes, all those documents are on International Olympic Committee (IOC)
letterhead," the OAT press release read, "but they were all written by Kerry. He wrote
them and submitted them to the IOC."
Appearing at different times on Cable News Shows, James Carville, Juan Williams, Dowd
and Matthews, as well as Kerry Spokesman Tad Devine, all denounced OAT, calling them
"extremely disreputable," "disgusting," and "liars." They called on President Bush to
denounce them---as well as the IOC for good measure. Two hours later the President was
asked at a campaign stop about the Kerry medals. "Look, I think he earned them, and I
think his participation in Athens was honorable, and we should all be proud of what he
accomplished in such a short time; But I think this campaign is about the future, not
about what happened in Athens."
Veteran Olympian Bruce Jenner however, expressed doubt when queried by American
reporters in his home town. "Three medals and never broke a sweat?" asked Jenner, "I
saw that and I was amazed, I mean even if he was the coxswain in the rowing crew he
would have worked hard enough to break a sweat; but I saw him as he was leaving to get
back on the plane and he was cool, very cool, no sweat at all--still in a coat and tie.
Something's wrong with that picture."
Chris Matthews expressed disgust with Jenner's comments when Jenner appeared on
Hardball later that evening.
Mathews: Were you there? I mean if you weren't there, you don't know whether he won the medals or not do you?
Jenner: Well, I...
Matthews: You weren't were you? Look the French and Germans were right there.
Jenner: I...uh...
Matthews: Just answer the question, I'm asking you a simple question.
Jenner: I...u
Matthews: It's a yes or no question, I am asking you a question, were you there?
Jenner: u...
Matthews: That's it, you're off the show, I'm done with these disgusting people who have no evidence, not a shred of evidence and who make up these foul charges based on nothing at all, when all the official documents, everything in the IOC records supports everything Kerry has said, supports his story completely. And Bush---he was nowhere near Athens---did not even qualify for a single event. I mean whose record has more credibility on this issue?
We'll be back right after this.
We are somewhat surprised at the scant news coverage given to John Kerry's quick trip to
Athens this past Saturday to cheer on the beleaguered US Men's Basketball team in its
bronze medal game against Lithuania. It was a noble gesture and we are sure it meant a
lot to our players, who by the way ended up winning the game 104-96.
More controversial for Kerry was the story that followed the game. Kerry had spent only
four hours on the ground in Athens, yet somehow---to the surprise of everyone---ended up
winning three Olympic medals, a silver and two bronze.
When asked about how he won them, he refused to talk about the story with the press---
though second-hand reports indicated he got the silver in Rowing, and the two bronze
medals were allegedly for the Javelin and an obscure equestrian event.
Within hours, some 260 Olympic athletes from more than 40 countries--calling themselves
Olympic Athletes for Truth (OAT)--signed their names to a document protesting Kerry's
medals. The document stated that none of the Kerry medals was legitimately earned. 85
of the athletes went further, signing affidavits indicating they had had Kerry in visual
contact during his entire four-hour tour of the Olympic site and that he had never even
participated in any of the events in which he claimed to have won medals.
However, the next day a group of seven Olympians from France and Germany emerged.
Flanked by syndicated columnist Maureen Dowd and TV Talk Show host Chris Matthews,
the "FG7" held a press conference and announced that they knew that Kerry had indeed
won three medals because they had competed alongside Kerry in each of the events in
question. Not only did he win them legitimately they said, but he had done so with
extraordinary courage. One of the French competitors told a moving story about having
been "pulled from the water" after falling from his scull just after the finish. "Kerry came
back for me," he said in broken English, "and he didn't have to, he risked his life---I can't
swim you know, even though I am in crew."
This story was disputed by a British crew member (and OAT signatory) however, "The
Frenchman had to have been disoriented, besides the Frogs finished 27th in that event
and were over five minutes behind any of the medal crews, anyone winning a silver or
bronze medal would have never even seen the Frenchman."
Ten minutes later however, Democrat National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe
blasted the 260 athletes, claiming they had "smeared" John Kerry "in a way that
shamed all Olympic athletes throughout history."
Senator John McCain weighed in less than an hour later, saying "Kerry's record in Athens
should not be questioned." ABC News Anchor Peter Jennings, NBC News presenter
Tom Brokaw and CBS's venerable Dan Rather all praised McCain for his "centrist"
comments.
Jon Stewart, interviewing Kerry on The Daily Show, told the nominee, "I understand you
were never in Athens." Kerry laughed heartily. The next day, Neal Gabler of Fox News
Watch said Jon Stewart was the only credible newsman on this story---"the only one to
show with film footage that the Olympic Athletes for Truth were lying." Jane Hall, Gabler's
colleague on FNW concurred, "He won the medals, no question about it," she said.
Hours later the New York Times published an eight-page investigative piece proving
"conclusively" that Kerry had indeed won the three medals. "We found literally scores of
contradictions among the Olympic Athletes for Truth(OAT)," said the Times, "their stories
just don't hold up when measured against the documents that Kerry's staff produced."
OAT countered that the documents purporting to support the medals--with descriptions of
each event and a narrative of Kerry's own participation in each---had been written by Kerry
himself. "Yes, all those documents are on International Olympic Committee (IOC)
letterhead," the OAT press release read, "but they were all written by Kerry. He wrote
them and submitted them to the IOC."
Appearing at different times on Cable News Shows, James Carville, Juan Williams, Dowd
and Matthews, as well as Kerry Spokesman Tad Devine, all denounced OAT, calling them
"extremely disreputable," "disgusting," and "liars." They called on President Bush to
denounce them---as well as the IOC for good measure. Two hours later the President was
asked at a campaign stop about the Kerry medals. "Look, I think he earned them, and I
think his participation in Athens was honorable, and we should all be proud of what he
accomplished in such a short time; But I think this campaign is about the future, not
about what happened in Athens."
Veteran Olympian Bruce Jenner however, expressed doubt when queried by American
reporters in his home town. "Three medals and never broke a sweat?" asked Jenner, "I
saw that and I was amazed, I mean even if he was the coxswain in the rowing crew he
would have worked hard enough to break a sweat; but I saw him as he was leaving to get
back on the plane and he was cool, very cool, no sweat at all--still in a coat and tie.
Something's wrong with that picture."
Chris Matthews expressed disgust with Jenner's comments when Jenner appeared on
Hardball later that evening.
Mathews: Were you there? I mean if you weren't there, you don't know whether he won the medals or not do you?
Jenner: Well, I...
Matthews: You weren't were you? Look the French and Germans were right there.
Jenner: I...uh...
Matthews: Just answer the question, I'm asking you a simple question.
Jenner: I...u
Matthews: It's a yes or no question, I am asking you a question, were you there?
Jenner: u...
Matthews: That's it, you're off the show, I'm done with these disgusting people who have no evidence, not a shred of evidence and who make up these foul charges based on nothing at all, when all the official documents, everything in the IOC records supports everything Kerry has said, supports his story completely. And Bush---he was nowhere near Athens---did not even qualify for a single event. I mean whose record has more credibility on this issue?
We'll be back right after this.
