No negotiating on ‘Swift Boat’ truth

Re “Kerry takes on $1-million ‘Swift Boat’ challenge,” Nov. 17

Apparently Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens is worth billions of dollars but his word isn’t even worth a penny. After offering $1 million to anyone who could prove the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth lied about Sen. John Kerry’s war record, his first response to Kerry’s acceptance of the challenge is to start negotiating the terms of the challenge. Kerry made a mistake when he failed to take on the Swift Boaters immediately; it would be another mistake if he agreed to negotiate what was an unsolicited offer by Pickens. Pickens will probably recoup more than $1 million this year from the Bush tax breaks for billionaires. It would be refreshing to have the truth documented, even if it is too late to change the course of history.

Charles Weisenberg

Beverly Hills

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I agree that Kerry is a hero. My problem with him is that because of his spineless responses to the accusations in 2004, we are stuck with a war we don’t want and can’t win. It seems Democrats will call each other names during an election campaign but will not respond to Republican attacks.

Tim Ashford

Lomita