BAD WORD CHOICE, KARL

...former Sens. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., and Max Cleland, D-Ga., ... accused Rove of coordinating with a GOP-leaning group of veterans that has been attacking Kerry's combat record and later anti-war activities.

Cleland noted that two Bush campaign aides resigned when their ties to the group were revealed. He said Rove should, too.

In the AP interview, Rove strongly denied that he is linked to the group. "Those guys ought to stop drinking from the swamp. The fevers are getting to them," he said.

--AP

Excuse me?

First of all, Karl, you might want to think twice about saying this about men who actually spent some quality time in far-off swamps a few decades ago, while you ... er, remind me again: What did you do in the war, Karly?

Rove received a student deferment when he graduated from high school in 1969.

Second of all, Karl, isn't it a bit odd that you would accuse a couple of veterans of losing their grip on reality when you insist you had absolutely nothing to do with a whispering campaign in 2000 that suggested John McCain was crazy?

The AP article notes that retired Air Force general Merrill McPeak is also calling on Rove to resign.

In an AFP story, Cleland sums up the charges against Rove rather nicely:

Cleland added that Rove was "the strategist behind George Bush going after four Vietnam veterans in the last four years."

He said the veterans who were attacked were Senator John McCain during the 2000 Republican presidential primary, Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire during his failed re-election bid in 2002, Kerry this year and himself two years ago during his failed re-election effort in Georgia.

"Karl Rove was behind it all," Cleland said. "It's part of his smear campaign ... to tarnish the records of service of Vietnam veterans, and now he's doing it again."

Amen.

(AP link via Pandagon.)