Tonight, I was watching the local newcast. They covered the SwiftVets story, and I have to say, through the use of things which were all technically true, they were able to put together one of the most deceptive news reports I've had the displeasure to experience.

For one, the said Bush had asked the SwiftVets to stop running the ad. But what really happened was that Bush had asked every 527 group to stop running ads. A reporter asked if that would include SwiftVets, and Bush said something to the effect of, "Yes, that group too."

Sure, Bush asked that group to stop. But missing is the fact that he was also asked many, many left-leaning organizations, like MoveOn.org to stop as well. It wasn't a specific request he made, but it was reported as though SwiftVets had been singled out and specifically repudiated.

Next, they reported that the Swiftboat Veterans group had "financial ties" to the Bush campaign. Despite the fact that the "financial ties" consist of a few donors who gave to both groups.

If that's qualifies, then my church has "financial ties" to communist China because I gave them money and also bought some Chinese-made products!

Deceptive! Underhanded.

Next, they announced confidently, as though it had anything to do with it, that so-and-so had testified that Kerry did, in fact, pull someone from the river.

But that's not one of the charges in question! Kerry's charged fleeing when the landmine went off, running away, and lying whether there was gunfire. Kerry's charged with perjuring himself before the Senate, falsely accusing his fellow soldiers of atrocities when they did not, and actually committing atrocities himself. Kerry is charged with receiving three purple hearts despite never having spent a single day out of commission. Kerry's charged with lying about whether he was in Cambodia, performing secret missions.

Not whether he pulled a guy from the river.

That's like covering Ted Bundy's trial by confidently announcing that you've uncovered no evidence whatsoever that he was, in fact, guilty of wire fraud.

Look, I don't know whether everything the SwiftVets are saying is true. It sure looks to me like the facts are on their side, but it's not up to me to tell everyone else what to think.

But I do know this: The media is covering this with INCREDIBLE dishonesty. It's as bad as I've ever seen. I cannot believe the depths to which these people will sink.

And the poor viewer at home, who thinks perhaps someone DID accuse John Kerry of not plucking a guy out of a river, gets the idea this is a smear group, putting out baseless charges, at the behest of George Bush.

He or she will not discover the real charges. He or she will not be told there fewer connections between this group and Bush than ANY similar liberal 527 group working, illegally, to get Kerry elected. He or she will not be told that the SwiftVets are headed by a man who voted for Gore in the last election, and supported Edwards in the primaries, and are composed of people of all political stripe. They will not learn this group includes nearly all of Kerry's chain of command.

The media needs to be taught a lesson.

I think I need to become more politically active.