Sign in Subscribe
Kerry, John

Bush Campaign Counsel Resigns Amid Swift Boat Scandal

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Benjamin L. Ginsberg, the national counsel for President Bush's re-election campaign, resigned on Wednesday amidst allegations of ties to a veterans group that has made unsubstantiated attacks on Senator John Kerry's Vietnam War record. Ginsberg's resignation came after he acknowledged providing legal advice to the group, which has been financed by prominent Texas Republicans close to the Bush family and Karl Rove, the president's chief strategist.

As the controversy surrounding the Swift boat veterans group continues to swirl, Senator John McCain, a Republican and friend of Mr. Kerry's, has expressed his displeasure with the group's television advertisements attacking Mr. Kerry's war record. McCain said he planned to personally express his displeasure to President Bush when they campaign together next week. The Kerry campaign has continued to push forward its charges that President Bush is using the veterans as a front for negative campaigning, with Democrats calling for Attorney General John Ashcroft to open a criminal investigation into links between the Bush camp and the anti-Kerry veterans group.

Key Takeaways:

  • The national counsel for President Bush's re-election campaign, Benjamin L. Ginsberg, resigned on Wednesday due to ties with a veterans group that has made unsubstantiated attacks on Senator John Kerry's Vietnam War record.
  • The group, which has been financed by prominent Texas Republicans close to the Bush family and Karl Rove, has been accused of making false and personal attacks on Kerry's war service.
  • Senator John McCain, a Republican and friend of Mr. Kerry's, has expressed his displeasure with the group's television advertisements, stating that he plans to personally express his displeasure to President Bush.
  • The Kerry campaign has continued to push forward its charges that President Bush is using the veterans as a front for negative campaigning.
  • Democrats have called for Attorney General John Ashcroft to open a criminal investigation into links between the Bush camp and the anti-Kerry veterans group.
  • The controversy surrounding the Swift boat group has led to a series of heated exchanges between the Kerry and Bush campaigns, with both sides accusing each other of using negative campaigning tactics.

Statistics:

  • 24 hours: the amount of time it took for Benjamin L. Ginsberg to resign as national counsel for President Bush's re-election campaign after acknowledging ties to the Swift boat group.
  • 60-second ad: the length of a new ad released by the Kerry campaign attacking President Bush over his ties to the Swift boat group.
  • 1,600 acres: the size of President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, where former Senator Max Cleland attempted to deliver a protest letter.
  • $250,000: the amount of money raised by the Swift boat group from Texas Republicans in its initial financing.
  • 25 years: the amount of time Karl Rove has known Bob J. Perry, the Texas house builder who gave the Swift group most of its initial funding.

Sources:

  • The New York Times, "Bush Counsel Resigns Amid Swift Boat Scandal", August 12, 2004
  • Associated Press, "Bush Counsel Resigns Over Swift Boat Tie", August 12, 2004
  • Fox News Channel, "Rove on Swift Boat Controversy", August 11, 2004
  • The New York Times, "Campaign Advertising", August 12, 2004

Read more