In response to a challenge by T. Boone Pickens for proof that the Swift Boat Liars for Bush released any inaccurate statements about Senator Kerry's military service, the Senator replied with the following letter:

Mr. Pickens,

It has come to my attention through the accounts of individuals who were in attendance at the American Spectator’s Robert L. Bartley Dinner & 40th Anniversary Gala as well as through the public accounts, that you personally “staked one million dollars” that “no one” could “prove anything the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth said in 2004 was false” (RedState.Com) and offered “a million dollars to anyone who could prove wrong anything the Swiftboat Veterans charged about Kerry.” (AmericanThinker.com)

I welcome the opportunity to prove that you are a man of your word and that the so-called “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” lied. While I am prepared to show they lied on allegation after allegation, you have generously offered to pay one million dollars for just one thing that can be proven false. I am prepared to prove the lie beyond any reasonable doubt.

I would request that your check be made payable to the Paralyzed Veterans of America which is doing incredible work every day to meet the needs of veterans returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan. My hope is that by sending this money to such a dedicated organization – founded for veterans, by veterans — some good can come out of the ugly smears and lies of the orchestrated campaign you bankrolled in 2004 in an attempt to discredit my military record and the record of the men who served alongside me on the Swift Boats of the Mekong Delta.

I would be more than happy to travel to Dallas to meet with you in a mutually agreed upon public forum, or would invite you to join me in Massachusetts for a public dialogue and then together we could visit the Paralyzed Veterans of America in Norwood and see firsthand how we can put your money to good work for our veterans.

I look forward to setting up a visit at the earliest possible, mutually convenient time. I trust that you are a man of your word, having made a very public challenge at a major Washington dinner, and look forward to taking you up on this challenge.
Sincerely,

John F. Kerry
United States Senator

In a follow up response, Mr Pickens added several conditions that were not included in the original challenge, including the Senator's journals, videos, first through 12th grade report cards, results of his last physical, dental records, shirt size, any allergies or dietary restrictions and a note from his boyhood priest detailing his service as an altar boy, citing a parishioner who disputed seeing a 6'4" youngster at any time serving mass.

"I wasn't actually alive at the time, but I'm told they were all pretty short," said the anonymous parishioner.

In a follow up to Mr. Pickens' conditions, the Senator's supporters called Mr. Pickens a weasly, lying sleezebag, who would find a way to renege on the donation regardless.

Time to review the facts:

1. John Kerry served with distinction in Vietnam, receiving a Silver Star, Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts, a fact corroborated by the men who served with him and the United States Navy.

2. Republican Senator John Warner, former Secretary of the Navy, stated on the floor of the US Senate that he has great respect for the Senator's military career.

3. Pickens is, indeed, a weasly, lying sleezebag.

In what insane, alternate universe do we question a person's military service? Senator Kerry volunteered to go to Vietnam and served two tours. He's now a United States Senator, duly elected by the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Give the man his props, for crying out loud.

And cough up the cash, Pickens, along with your service records. What's that, you say? No service? At least you have company. And while you're donating all that cash to Republicans, why don't you toss your kid a couple bucks to buy some fishing tackle?

What a pathetic loser. Honor your challenge, Mr. Pickens, or just go away.