The Los Angeles Times reports this morning a front organization made up of former Navy Seals and CIA employees that has launched a “Swift Boat” style attack on President Obama. From the story Group attacking Obama for security leaks includes past talkers:
In politics, the story line rarely changes: Do as I say, not as I do. Thus several former U.S. intelligence and special operations personnel who have accused President Obama of leaking and “politicizing” national security information have themselves talked publicly about sensitive security matters.
They are members of a new nonprofit group called Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund. Known as OPSEC, military shorthand for operational security, the group says it has raised about $1 million for TV ads and a short film called “Dishonorable Disclosures,” which criticizes the Obama administration for alleged national security leaks.
Obama for America press secretary Ben Labolt said of the group and its ad; “The Republicans are resorting to Swift Boat tactics because when it comes to foreign policy and national security, Mitt Romney has offered nothing but reckless rhetoric. His two major foreign policy speeches never even mentioned Al Qaeda once, and he hasn’t outlined a plan for America’s relations with a single region of the world. In 2008, the President said he’d end the war in Iraq in a responsible way and refocus on taking out Al Qaeda’s leaders, and few would question that he’s kept his word.”
An Obama campaign official has pointed out that; “No one in this group is in a position to speak with any authority on these issues and on what impact these leaks might have, and it’s clear they’ve resorted to making things up for purely political reasons.”
The video features an edited version of the President’s address on the death of bin Laden. Unsurprisingly, the three lines below, that were mysteriously edited out, were times the President praised the military special operators and intelligence professionals.
“Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice. We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.”
Leaders Of OPSEC Claim The Group Is Nonpartisan. “Leaders of the group, the Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund Inc, say it is nonpartisan and unconnected to any political party or presidential campaign. It is registered as a so-called social welfare group, which means its primary purpose is to further the common good and its political activities should be secondary. […] The OPSEC group says it is not political and aims to save American lives.” [Reuters, 8/14/12]
OPSEC President Scott Taylor Denied That The Organization Had A Political Agenda. “In an interview, Taylor denied OPSEC had any political slant. He described the group as a ‘watchdog organization’ but added that the current administration ‘has certainly leaked more than others.’” [Reuters, 8/14/12]
But Scott Taylor is a failed partisan Republican candidate. “The president of Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund Inc, Scott Taylor, is a former Navy SEAL who in 2010 ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for a congressional seat in Virginia.” [Reuters, 8/14/12]
OPSEC Spokesperson Chad Kolton Was A Spokesperson For The Bush Administration, the RNC and House Speaker John Boehner. Chad Kolton, is a former press secretary at the White House Office of Management and Budget and former director of public affairs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency. During President Bush’s first election, he served as deputy communications director for the RNC’s Victory 2000. Kolton began his career on Capitol Hill as deputy press secretary for the House Republican Conference under its then-Chair, U.S. Representative John Boehner (R-OH), the current speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Think Progress reported today: “This is a question worth asking Fred Rustmann, a former CIA undercover case officer and OPSEC spokesman who appears in the video. Rustmann, who was once a supervisor for covert operative Valerie Plame, was dispatched by the Bush administration to defend the leak that jeopardized her undercover identity.”
There should be no doubt that the objective of this deceptive group and its deceptive ad campaign is to diminish the legitimate accomplishments of the Obama administration in the area of national security. Their hope is to deflect criticism of Mitt Romney’s lack of foreign policy and national security experience through a campaign of lies. Their tactics won’t work, because this time their false and misleading ads will be countered aggressively.
Simply put; This Boat Won’t Float.
One man’s interpretation of data as a lie, is also another man’s interpretation of that data as the truth. Call it “Swift Boat” or whatever you choose, but John Kerry was a flake and a fraud. I wasn’t in the White House situation room and did not observe what went on among the participants. Considering the track record of lies by the Obama Administration, an objective person might be a bit suspicious of any information they put out. At the same time, I want to hear the other version of what supposedly happened, evaluate the two and decide who is truthful and who is not. These days, I do not accept anyone’s information as fact without checking it out first.
Patrick – John Kerry has three Purple Hearts. A flake? He wasn’t flying obsoleete planes in Texas or taking 5 deferments. And what lies from the Obama Administration? Are they whoppers like Iraq has WMDs? Saddam is in cohoots with Al Qaeda? Or tax cuts will increase revenue? Spare me Patrick.
Dan, you can continue to put lipstick on John Kerry, but in the end he is still just a pig with lipstick. Apply that same rational to Barack Obama and your buddy Larry Agran and nothing changes. Was GWB an ideal President, not on yor life? Did he screw the pooch on a number of issues which helped drive America into the black hole we are today, absolutely he did.
Bad government and corrupt elected officials disgust me at all levels. These are the same individuals who have sold out our country to special interests and there is plenty of blame to go around on the part of both parties. Wish the election in November would clean up the mess, but we know it won’t. Depending on who gets control at the Federal and Local levels, it will either accelerate our downfall as a country, or at best put a band aid on an arterial bleeding wound.
Keep spinning those facts for your candidates, especiall King Larry, cause I suspect he will need it this time around. As always, “Happy Trails.”
Patrick: John Kerry was more of a man on his worst day than you on your best. Ditto for you, LTPar. You sit behind a computer and wax partisan bulls*** and brainless tripe and think you have the basis on anything you did on your life to stand in judgment of John Kerry? You are nothing but a shallow, pathetic excuse for a man (sic).
Dan C: Please note the correct use of “sic”.
You have to admit that Kerry exemplifies the term “douchebag.”
it isn’t needed in this sentence; it is grammaticly correct
The Los Angeles Times reports….
This is the first sign you don’t need to read the story because it will discuss how Obama is the second coming. You don’t see them writing about the garbage coming from Obama and his supporters.
This type of campaign strategy will continue on both sides because people love to hate. It’s not about issues or what someone has as a plan to fix something. It’s about my opponent and he is a pedophile who kills baby seals as a hobby.
I think it would be a hoot if they applied truth in advertising laws on all Ads
This works well because we have a country of uneducated people.
Mike —
I’m sorry, but the claims of liberal media bias are completely overblown.
Patrick — I’m still waiting to find those WMDs we went to Iraq for; have you seen them anywhere?
Dan, I heard a rumor that several ended up in Irvine in case Larry needs a emergency to keep the Political Machine in power. Long live the “Machine”
You are nothing more than a stupid tool Patrick. Stop trying to act like you are making objective and informed opinions. You believe anything any Republican tells you because you are a brainless idiot.
Well, fellow pendajo, as they say, “It takes one to know one?” While I have never denied being an ass hole, at least I am not like you and doing the “deep throat” number to Barry Soetoro and the gang. Now you too can be like Bill Clinton and deny your actions. Makes one wonder, just who is the tool here?
Rep. Rogers Says White House Security Leaks Continue
August 1, 2012 • 9:34AM
http://larouchepac.com/node/23528
More at http://www.larouchepac.com >> Search >> “security leaks”
Dinesh D’Sousa’s movie “2016 Obama’s America.” The roots of BHO and how a 2 year US Senator with no record became POTUS.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hfLsSg9wZlE
Speaking of swift boating, are you guys going to keep letting Pedroza’s anonymous commenters continue to talk smack about you on NSA?
Since he craves attention – he is best ignored.
agreed.
You guys are great!! After a long day it is nice to see some lively rhetoric.GOD BLESS AMERICA and hope for change in NOV.