Changes

=New Book on the 2004 Vietnam Veterans Movement=

=New Book on the 2004 Vietnam Veterans Movement=

A book released in Jan, 2008 gives the history of this grass roots movement - SBVT and other organizations:  [http://www.tosettherecordstraight.com/ To Set The Record Straight] by Scott Swett and Tim Ziegler. It is the definitive reference on the subject, detailing the founding of the groups, their activities, and especially their battles with a hostile and deceitful media.

A book released in Jan, 2008 gives the history of this grass roots movement - SBVT and other organizations:  [http://www.tosettherecordstraight.com/ To Set The Record Straight] by Scott Swett and Tim Ziegler. It is the definitive reference on the subject, detailing the founding of the groups, their activities, and especially their battles with the media.

=Other groups=

=Other groups=

=Controversy and Media Bias=

=Controversy and Media Bias=

The SBVT initially attacked Kerry's competence to be commander-in-chief at a well attended news conference before the end of the primary season. The conference was almost ignored. Subsequent advertisements which attacked Kerry's military record and his pro-Hanoi stance, purchased with the help of contributions from hundreds of thousands of small donors, and a few large donors including T. Boone Pickens, were able to achieve national attention and became the focuse of intense controversy in the normally media-quiet month of August.  

The SBVT initially attacked Kerry's competence to be commander-in-chief at a well attended news conference before the end of the primary season. The conference was almost ignored. Subsequent advertisements which attacked Kerry's military record and his anti-war stance, purchased with the help of contributions from hundreds of thousands of small donors, and a few large donors including T. Boone Pickens, were able to achieve national attention and became the focuse of intense controversy in the normally media-quiet month of August.  

The reaction of most media and the Kerry campaign was to paint SBVT as a Republican conspiracy, especially since the few big donors were Republicans. Subsequently, after investigation the Federal Election Commission concluded that SBVT had no coordination with the Republican Party. Such coordination would have been in violation of federal election laws. However, the continuing media narrative still implies a Republican conspiracy.

The reaction of most media and the Kerry campaign was to paint SBVT as a Republican conspiracy, especially since the few big donors were Republicans. Subsequently, after investigation the Federal Election Commission concluded that SBVT had no coordination with the Republican Party. Such coordination would have been in violation of federal election laws. However, the continuing media narrative still implies a Republican conspiracy.