To Set the Record Straight: How Swift Boat Veterans, POWs and the New Media Defeated John Kerry

by Scott Swett and Tim Ziegler

Book Overview

To Set the Record Straight is the inside story of how an ad hoc collection of veterans and political activists overcame their opponents' efforts to silence and marginalize them, and delivered the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0979984157
• ISBN13: 9780979984150
• Release Date: January 2008
• Publisher: New American Media Publishing, LLC
• Length: 389 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

riveting account

I read Unfit For Command and followed the story in 2004. I also followed the Bush TANG story, which is discussed in this book as an example of the attempt by the MSM to defend Kerry by attacking Bush's war record. I notice a couple of the one-star reviews and comments here try the same approach. I supported McCain in 2000 and was aware that Bush was not running on his war record. I also saw a thorough examination of the Bush TANG story on a left-wing web site in the spring of 2004 that concluded there was no "there" there. If 60 Minutes has used blogger Kevin Drum as a researcher instead of ideologue Mary Mapes, they would have saved some embarrassment. That story is in this book. This book also details the slavish support of Kerry on the part of the TV networks and the major daily newspapers. That behavior, I think, contributed to the decline in ratings and subscriptions that threaten to make them relics of the past. It also includes an excellent description of the rise of the alternative media, which swamped the defenders of Kerry and even coined the term "a guy sitting in his pajamas" to describe bloggers. The history of the rise of bloggers is an integral part of the story. I highly recommend it for that and several other reasons. Other reviews have adequately covered the factual basis of the story and the credentials of the Swiftboat vets. The book is more than that. It is history and anyone interested in the role of blogging in politics should read it for that story. I bought several copies for Vietnam vet friends, including my brother-in-law who was an 18-year-old rifleman in the same part of Vietnam where Kerry "served." He will enjoy it.

The Swift Truth

Army veteran, two combat tours in VN, 20-year career, retired Lt. Col., writer of novels and writer references. I'd seen parts of this story online and kept up with the Swift Vets in the campaign against Kerry. This book dug its talons into me and wouldn't let go until I'd finished. Overnight. Astonishing that Kerry would be so blind as to expect to be either lionized or ignored by those he condemned. I was a contemporary witness to and victim of his attack on vets as war criminals. Frightening that he would be the first VN vet president. Astonishing that O'Neill and the others, including Scott Swett, were exactly the right people at the right time, so eloquent, so well-researched, so relentless against the ruthlessness of an enemy allied with and tougher than the VC and NVA. Frightening that the old media would even risk disgrace rather than keep an open mind and tell the simple truth. Astonishing. And frightening. That Carville and Davis and McDougald could be allowed to scream at O'Neill and that John was exactly the right, calm respondent to rise above them. I coulda never done it. Authors: Thanks for your book and your service in bringing down Kerry's campaign simply by letting the truth be told in one wonderfully documented book. Once I catch up on the sleep I lost while staying up to read this book and the horrific struggle all SwiftVets went through, I'm gonna be greatly satisfied that justice can be had, after all. Just not from those the institutions you'd expect to be just. I am in awe of those who took the risks to tell this truth. You have restored my belief in honor. I await the full disclosure of John Kerry's records and original discharge. Amazing how the press can uncover classified information and national secrets as well as the personnel records of Linda Tripp. But not show us the money shots on Kerry. That vacuum of "media truth" speaks volumes to me.

Even if you think you know the story, you don't without reading this book

Every time the term Swiftboating is used to describe incorrect criticism I wince. To this date, not one statement made by the Vietnam veterans who went on record with their recollections about John Kerry has been factually disputed. To those who think they already know everything about this subject, Scott Swett and Tim Ziegler have the answer. "Not so fast!" This book, To Set the Record Straight, presents not only further revelations about the Vietnam era and its repercussions, but also an examination of the media's attempts to influence the election by suppressing the original dissemination of information by these men who felt called to duty in a new way. The book is compelling reading. It is well documented. It contains chilling facts regarding collusion with the North Vietnamese. Read it for yourself and wonder why those who have served with honor have been relegated to an inferior position to John Kerry, the man who still has not released his military records.

Must Read

Outstanding work. If anyone has any doubts about "Unfit for Command", and the motives of the "Swiftboat Vets", they must read this book. Balanced, fair, and thoroughly researched, this book will put any doubts to rest. I bought two, one for my friend, who WAS a Kerry believer.

Could Not Put This Book Down

I thought that I knew everything about the Swift Boats and what they tried to accomplish when John Kerry was running for President.I ordered the book to see what the real story was and I could not put this book down. I stayed up until 2 A.M. to keep reading which I never do. This book reads like a thriller,it is so well written.I wish that every person who thinks that they know what went on would get this book and read it.