Kerry on Iraq Documentary
First edition released at a news conference in Boston on July 28, 2004
Republican National Committee
Kerry on Iraq Web Site Screen Grab
The RNC promoted this video, which consists largely of TV clips of Kerry, on a special website, http://www.kerryoniraq.com/.  By Aug. 9 it claimed over 3 million people had viewed the video.  In an Aug. 9, 2004 press release Ed Gillespie termed it "the documentary Democrats hope the American people will never see."   The box containing a DVD edition of "Kerry on Iraq Documentary" from mid-August urged "Let's make THIS the most watched documentary of 2004!"

SEN. JOHN KERRY: "I will be a commander in chief who will never mislead us into war." (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At Democrat National Convention, Boston, MA, 7/29/04)

CHYRON: Sen. John Kerry

CHYRON: Democratic National Convention

CHYRON: July 29, 2004

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CHYRON: In the year leading up to the Iraq war, Senator Kerry consistently viewed Saddam Hussein as a threat to the United States and "one who is and has acted like a terrorist." (Fox News’ "The O’Reilly Factor," 12/11/01)

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SEN. JOHN KERRY: "[I]t is something that we know-for instance, Saddam Hussein has used weapons of mass destruction against his own people, and there is some evidence of their efforts to try to secure these kinds of weapons and even test them." (CBS’ "Face The Nation," 9/23/01)

CHYRON: "Face The Nation" 9/23/01

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KERRY: "He is and has acted like a terrorist, and he has engaged in activities that are unacceptable." (Fox News’ "The O’Reilly Factor," 12/11/01)

CHYRON: "The O’Reilly Factor" 12/11/01

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KERRY: "[I] think we ought to put the heat on Saddam Hussein. I’ve said that for a number of years, Bill. I criticized the Clinton administration for backing off of the inspections, when Ambassador Butler was giving us strong evidence that we needed to continue. I think we need to put the pressure on, no matter what the evidence is about September 11 ..." (Fox News’ "The O’Reilly Factor," 12/11/01)

CHYRON: "The O’Reilly Factor" 12/11/01

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KERRY: "I think we clearly have to keep the pressure on terrorism globally. This doesn’t end with Afghanistan by any imagination. And I think the president has made that clear. I think we have made that clear. Terrorism is a global menace. It’s a scourge. And it is absolutely vital that we continue, for instance, Saddam Hussein." (CNN’s "Larry King Live," 12/14/01)

CHYRON: "Larry King Live" 12/14/01

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MSNBC’S CHRIS MATTHEWS: "Do you think that the problem we have with Iraq is real and it can be reduced to a diplomatic problem? Can-can we get this guy to accept inspections of those weapons of mass destruction potentially and get past a possible war with him?" (MSNBC’s "Hardball," 2/5/02)

KERRY: "Outside chance, Chris. Could it be done? The answer is yes. But he would view himself only as buying time and playing a game, in my judgment. Do we have to go through that process? The answer is yes. We’re precisely doing that. And I think that’s what Colin Powell did today." (MSNBC’s "Hardball," 2/5/02)

CHYRON: "Hardball" 2/5/02

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KERRY: "September 11th. I mean, that’s changed the dynamic of this country and - and, I think, people’s perceptions of what people are willing to do." (MSNBC’s "Hardball," 2/5/02)

CHYRON: "Hardball" 2/5/02

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KERRY: "And I think we’ve all reached a judgment that obviously the United States has to protect our national security interests. And we have to do what we think is right." (Fox News’ "The O’Reilly Factor," 5/22/02)

CHYRON: "The O’Reilly Factor" 5/22/02

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CHYRON: "I agree completely with this Administration’s goal of a regime change in Iraq ..." - John Kerry, 7/29/02 Remarks at the 2002 DLC National Conversation, NY (Senator John Kerry, Speech To The 2002 DLC National Conversation, New York, NY, 7/29/02)

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CHYRON: "... Saddam Hussein is a renegade and outlaw who turned his back on the tough conditions of his surrender put in place by the United Nations in 1991." - John Kerry, 7/29/02 Remarks at the 2002 DLC National Conversation, NY (Senator John Kerry, Speech To The 2002 DLC National Conversation, New York, NY, 7/29/02)

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CHYRON: "If Saddam Hussein is unwilling to bend to the international community's already existing order, then he will have invited enforcement ..." - Sen. John Kerry, Op-Ed The New York Times 9/6/02 (Sen. John Kerry, Op-Ed, "We Still Have A Choice On Iraq," The New York Times, 9/6/02)

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CHYRON: "...even if that enforcement is mostly at the hands of the United States, a right we retain even if the Security Council fails to act." - Sen. John Kerry, Op-Ed The New York Times 9/6/02 (Sen. John Kerry, Op-Ed, "We Still Have A Choice On Iraq," The New York Times, 9/6/02)

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KERRY: "I would disagree with John McCain that it’s the actual weapons of mass destruction he may use against us, it’s what he may do in another invasion of Kuwait or in a miscalculation about the Kurds or a miscalculation about Iran or particularly Israel. Those are the things that - that I think present the greatest danger. He may even miscalculate and slide these weapons off to terrorist groups to invite them to be a surrogate to use them against the United States. It’s the miscalculation that poses the greatest threat." (CBS’ "Face The Nation," 9/15/02)

CHYRON: "Face the Nation" 9/15/02

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KERRY: "But the president, as I also wrote in that article, always reserves the right to act unilaterally protect [sic] the interests of our country." (MSNBC’s "Hardball," 9/17/02)

CHYRON: "Hardball" 9/17/02

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CHYRON: John Kerry Voted

CHYRON: YEA

CHYRON: Iraq War Resolution 10/11/02 (H.J. Res. 114, CQ Vote #237: Passed 77-23: R 48-1; D 29-21; I 0-1, 10/11/02, Kerry Voted Yea)

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CHYRON: Democrats Look for a Candidate

CHYRON: May 2003 - March 2004

CHYRON: Democratic Presidential Nominating Contest

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CHYRON: Senator Kerry sees energy among anti-Iraq war democrats,

CHYRON: Meets Howard Dean

CHYRON: and begins to flip and flop.

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KERRY: "George, I said at the time I would have preferred if we had given diplomacy a greater opportunity, but I think it was the right decision to disarm Saddam Hussein, and when the President made the decision, I supported him, and I support the fact that we did disarm him." (ABC News Democrat Presidential Candidates Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/3/03)

CHYRON: Democratic Debate 5/3/03

ABC NEWS’ GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: "Now, Governor Dean, you’ve criticized Senator Kerry on the campaign trail saying he’s tried to have it both ways on the issue of Iraq. Was that answer clear enough for you?" (ABC News Democrat Presidential Candidates Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/3/03)

CHYRON: Democratic Debate 5/3/03

FORMER GOV. HOWARD DEAN (D-VT): "[I] think this was the wrong war at the wrong time ..." (ABC News Democrat Presidential Candidates Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/3/03)

CHYRON: Democratic Debate 5/3/03

STEPHANOPOULOS: "But do you believe Senator Kerry is still trying to have it both ways?" (ABC News Democrat Presidential Candidates Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/3/03)

CHYRON: Democratic Debate 5/3/03

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D-CT): "[B]oth have sent an uncertain message, one in principled opposition to the war, Governor Dean. The other an ambivalence about the war, which does not - will not give the people confidence about our party’s willingness to make the tough decisions to protect their security in a world after September 11." (ABC News Democrat Presidential Candidates Debate, Columbia, SC, 5/3/03)

CHYRON: Democratic Debate 5/3/03

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CHYRON: Dean says, "I am now convinced more than ever that it was a mistake to have given this administration a blank check to engage in this war ..." - Howard Dean, Cox News Service, 7/10/03 (Scott Shepard, "Democrat Kerry Demands Bush ‘Tell The Truth’ About Iraq War," Cox News Service, 7/10/03)

CHYRON: "... as too many in Congress did when they supported the Iraqi war resolution." - Howard Dean, Cox News Service, 7/10/03 (Scott Shepard, "Democrat Kerry Demands Bush ‘Tell The Truth’ About Iraq War," Cox News Service, 7/10/03)

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CHYRON: "The Dean Dilemma" (Howard Fineman, "The Dean Dilemma," Newsweek, 1/12/04)

CHYRON: "The Dean Factor" (Time, 8/11/03)

CHYRON: "Howard Dean: Destiny or Disaster" (Newsweek, 8/11/03)

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KERRY: "And the fact is, in the resolution that we passed, we did not empower the President to do regime change." (NBC’s "Meet The Press," 8/31/03)

CHYRON: "Meet The Press" 8/31/03

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CNN’S CANDY CROWLEY: "Dean’s asterisk has turned into a star. He leads in Iowa polls, where next-door neighbor Richard Gephardt must win. And he leads in New Hampshire, where John Kerry must stake claim. ... Asked about the kind of candidate they’re looking for, a majority of Democrats said they want someone who opposed the war. Strike Lieberman, Gephardt, Edwards and Kerry, all of whom voted for the war, most of whom have been, if not exactly backtracking, certainly revamping." (CNN’s "Crossfire Goes Inside Politics," 9/1/03)

CHYRON: Candy Crowley - CNN

CHYRON: "Crossfire Goes Inside Politics," 9/1/03

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KERRY: "I voted to threaten the use of force to make Saddam Hussein comply with the resolutions of the United Nations." (Sen. John Kerry, Remarks At Announcement Of Candidacy, Patriot’s Point, SC, 9/2/03)

CHYRON: Presidential Announcement

CHYRON: 9/2/03

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KERRY: "But the president and his advisors did not do almost anything correctly in the walk-up to the war. They rushed to war. They were intent on going to war. They did not give legitimacy to the inspections. We could have still been doing inspections even today, George." (ABC’s "This Week," 10/12/03)

CHYRON: "This Week" 10/12/03

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CHYRON: John Kerry on S. 1689

CHYRON: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations

CHYRON: For Iraq and Afghanistan

CHYRON: Security & Reconstruction

CHYRON: Vote date: 10/17/2003. 4:49pm

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LOS ANGELES TIMES’ DOYLE McMANUS: "If that amendment does not pass, will you then vote against the $87 billion?" (CBS’ "Face The Nation," 9/14/03)

KERRY: "I don’t think any United States senator is going to abandon our troops and recklessly leave Iraq to whatever follows as a result of simply cutting and running. That’s irresponsible. What is responsible is for the administration to do this properly now. And I am laying out the way in which the administration could unite the American people, could bring other countries to the table, and I think could give the American people a sense that they’re on the right track. There’s a way to do this properly. But I don’t think anyone in the Congress is going to not give our troops ammunition, not give our troops the ability to be able to defend themselves. We’re not going to cut and run and not do the job." (CBS’ "Face The Nation," 9/14/03)

CHYRON: "Face The Nation" 9/14/03

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CHYRON: John Kerry Voted
CHYRON: NAY
CHYRON: S. 1689 10/17/03
CHYRON: Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan Security & Reconstruction (S. 1689, CQ Vote #400: Passed 87-12: R 50-0; D 37-11; I 0-1, 10/17/03, Kerry Voted Nay)

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CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: "He also made what turned out to be a fatal political mistake, I think, which is he voted in favor of the war. Fatal if you’re a Democrat and a candidate, and the war is now looking a little less glorious than it did in April. And Dean has a consistent opposition, he has the energy and the fire, and he’s been rabid on this for over a year." (WUSA’s "Inside Washington," 11/15/03)

CHYRON: WUSA-TV

CHYRON: "Inside Washington" 11/15/03

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MSNBC’S CHRIS MATTHEWS: "Are you one of the anti-war candidates?" (MSNBC’s "Hardball," 1/6/04)

KERRY: "I am - Yeah." (MSNBC’s "Hardball," 1/6/04)

CHYRON: "Hardball" 1/6/04

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CHYRON: And so he was.

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CHYRON: Iowa Caucuses

CHYRON: John Kerry Wins

CHYRON: January 19, 2004 (Ken Guggenheim, "Dems Say Bush Speech Belies Dark Reality, The Associated Press, 1/20/04)

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CHYRON: New Hampshire Primary

CHYRON: John Kerry Wins

CHYRON: January 27, 2004 (David E. Sanger, "The Struggle For Iraq: The White House," The New York Times, 1/28/04)

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CHYRON: Arizona, Delaware, Missouri

CHYRON: Primaries & New Mexico and

CHYRON: North Dakota Caucuses

CHYRON: John Kerry Wins

CHYRON: February 3, 2004 (Adam Nagourney, "Kerry Rolling On," The New York Times, 2/4/04)

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CHYRON: Michigan And

CHYRON: Washington Primaries

CHYRON: John Kerry Wins

CHYRON: February 7, 2004 (Adam Nagourney and Katharine Q. Seelye, "Kerry Victorious By Wide Margins In 2 More States," The New York Times, 2/8/04)

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CHYRON: Maine Caucuses

CHYRON: John Kerry Wins

CHYRON: February 8, 2004 (David E. Rosenbaum, "Kerry Is Victorious In The Maine Caucuses," The New York Times, 2/9/04)

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CHYRON: Virginia And Tennessee

CHYRON: Primaries

CHYRON: John Kerry Wins

CHYRON: February 10, 2004 ("The Veepstakes Obssession," Washingtonpost.Com, 2/11/04)

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CHYRON: Nevada Caucus

CHYRON: and Washington, DC

CHYRON: Ward Caucuses

CHYRON: John Kerry Wins

CHYRON: February 14, 2004 (James Dao and Sheryl Gay Stolberg, "Kerry Triumphs In Nevada And District Of Columbia," The New York Times, 2/15/04)

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CHYRON: Wisconsin Primary

CHYRON: John Kerry Wins

CHYRON: February 17, 2004 (Adam Nagourney, "Kerry Holds Off Push By Edwards In Wisconsin Vote," The New York Times, 2/18/04)

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CHYRON: Hawaii And Idaho

CHYRON: Caucuses

CHYRON: & Utah Primary

CHYRON: John Kerry Wins

CHYRON: February 24, 2004 (Sharon Schmickle, "Kerry Talks Jobs In St. Paul," Star Tribune, 2/26/04)

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CHYRON: California, Connecticut, Georgia

CHYRON: Maryland, Massachusetts

CHYRON: New York, Ohio and Rhode Island

CHYRON: Primaries & Minnesota Caucus

CHYRON: John Kerry Wins

CHYRON: March 2, 2004 (Adam Nagourney, "Kerry In Big Victories Across Nation," The New York Times, 3/3/04)

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CHYRON: Florida, Louisiana

CHYRON: Mississippi

CHYRON: And Texas Primaries

CHYRON: John Kerry Wins

CHYRON: March 9, 2004 ("Kerry Hits Chicago," Chicago Tribune, 3/10/04)

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CHYRON: How will he explain it?

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CHYRON: Let the word games begin!

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KERRY: "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it ..." (Glen Johnson, "Kerry Blasts Bush On Protecting Troops," The Boston Globe, 3/17/04)

CHYRON: March 16, 2004

KERRY: "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it ..." (Glen Johnson, "Kerry Blasts Bush On Protecting Troops," The Boston Globe, 3/17/04)

CHYRON: March 16, 2004

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KERRY: "I’m proud to say that John joined me in voting against that $87 billion ..." (John Kerry, Remarks At "Women’s Voices: A Luncheon with John Kerry," Boston, MA, 7/12/04)

CHYRON: July 12, 2004

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 CHYRON: John Kerry has been anti-Iraq war before.

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CHYRON: John Kerry Voted

CHYRON: NAY

CHYRON: S. J. Res. 2 January 12, 1991

CHYRON: Kerry voted Against the use of force in Iraq (S. J. Res. 2, CQ Vote #2: Passed 52-47: R 42-2; D 10-45, 1/12/91, Kerry Voted Nay)

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CHYRON: And John Kerry has explained his position before.

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ABC’S COKIE ROBERTS: "Senator Kerry, that was something you voted against ... was that Persian Gulf war." (ABC’s "Nightline," 11/27/95)

SEN. JOHN KERRY: "I voted against the timing of it, Cokie. I said very clearly in my statement on the Senate floor that I was committed to getting Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait ... and that I was prepared to go to war if it took that ..." (ABC’s "Nightline," 11/27/95)

CHYRON: "ABC’s Nightline" 11/27/95

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KERRY: "So clearly the allies may not like it, and I think that’s our great concern - where’s the backbone of Russia, where’s the backbone of France, where are they in expressing their condemnation of such clearly illegal activity, but in a sense, they’re now climbing into a box and they will have enormous difficulty not following up on this if there is not compliance by Iraq." (CNN’s "Crossfire," 11/12/97)

CHYRON: "CNN’s Crossfire" 11/12/97

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CHYRON: And John Kerry has flip flopped before.

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KERRY: "I think there is a disconnect between the depth of the threat that Saddam Hussein presents to the world and what we are at the moment talking about doing. ... [T]hen we have to be prepared to go the full distance, which is to do everything possible to disrupt his regime and to encourage the forces of democracy." (ABC’s "This Week," 2/22/98)

ABC’S COKIE ROBERTS: "And does that mean ground troops in Iraq?" (ABC’s "This Week," 2/22/98)

KERRY: "I am personally prepared, if that’s what it meant." (ABC’s "This Week," 2/22/98)

CHYRON: "This Week" 2/22/98

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KERRY: "[H]e can rebuild both chemical and biological. And every indication is, because of his deception and duplicity in the past, he will seek to do that. So we will not eliminate the problem for ourselves or for the rest of the world with a bombing attack." (ABC’s "This Week," 2/22/98)

CHYRON: "This Week" 2/22/98

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KERRY: "[I] believe he is the kind of threat that has been described. I believe that in the post-Cold War period this issue of proliferation, particularly in the hands of Saddam Hussein, is critical. It has implications for a Qaddafi, for a Sudan, for other countries in the world in the future." (ABC’s "This Week," 2/22/98)

GEORGE WILL: "Senator Kerry, you’re way ahead of the commander in chief in this regard." (ABC’s "This Week," 2/22/98)

KERRY: "I am way ahead of the commander in chief, and I’m probably way ahead of my colleagues and certainly of much of the country. But I believe this. I believe that he has used these weapons before. He has invaded another country. He views himself as a modern-day Nebuchadnezzar. He wants to continue to play the uniting critical role in that part of the world. And I think we have to stand up to that." (ABC’s "This Week," 2/22/98)

CHYRON: "This Week" 2/22/98

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CHYRON: JOHN KERRY

CHYRON: Voted against the Iraq war ...

CHYRON: Before he was for the Iraq war ...

CHYRON: Before he voted for the Iraq war ...

CHYRON: Before he was against the Iraq war ...

CHYRON: Before he voted for funding the Iraq war ...

CHYRON: before he voted against funding.

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CHYRON: And today, if you ask him if he supports the war?

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CBS’ LESLIE STAHL: "You voted for this war. Was that vote, given what you know now, a mistake?" (CBS’ "60 Minutes," 7/11/04)

KERRY: "What - what - what I voted for - Lesley, you - you - you see, you’re playing here. What - what I voted for was a - an authority for the president to go to war as a last resort if Saddam Hussein did not disarm and we needed to go to war." (CBS’ "60 Minutes," 7/11/04)

STAHL: "But I’m trying to find out if you today, now that you know about that report, think the war was a mistake? And I ..." (CBS’ "60 Minutes," 7/11/04)

KERRY: "I think I answered your question. I think the way he went to war was a mistake." (CBS’ "60 Minutes," 7/11/04)

CHYRON: "60 Minutes" 7/11/2004

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CBS’ DAN RATHER: "Voted for the war, but now didn’t vote for the money to finance the war." (CBS’ "Evening News," 7/21/04)

KERRY: "That’s not a flip-flop. That’s not a flip-flop." (CBS’ "Evening News," 7/21/04)

CHYRON: Dan Rather: "Voted for the war, but now didn’t vote for the money to finance the war ..."

CHYRON: "CBS Evening News" 7/21/2004

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CHYRON: Oh really?

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RNC CHAIRMAN ED GILLESPIE: "The Republican National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertisement."

CHYRON: Paid for by the Republican National Committee

CHYRON: Not authorized by any Candidate or Candidate Committee

CHYRON: www.gop.com