House Democrats denounce Swifities

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Nineteen House Democrats wrote to President Bush Wednesday and urged him to denounce ads run by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

The 19 House members, all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, asked Bush "to specifically condemn the recent attack ads and accompanying campaign, which dishonor Sen. John Kerry's combat record in the Vietnam War."

"These false charges," the Democrats said, "represent the worst kind of politics."

The House members' letter was released in conjunction with a similar letter sent to the president by nine Senate Democrats that former Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., tried unsuccessfully to deliver to Bush Wednesday at the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

The House members who signed the letter include prominent Bush critics Reps. John Conyers of Michigan, Pete Stark of California, and Jim McDermott of Washington.

Also signing the letter were Reps. Joe Baca and Mike Thompson of California, William Delahunt of Massachusetts., John Dingell of Michigan, Lane Evans of Illinois, Maurice Hinchey and Jose Serrano of New York, Gerald Kleczka of Wisconsin, Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, Collin Peterson of Minnesota., Bobby Scott of Virginia, John Spratt of South Carolina, Vic Synder of Arkansas, and Texans Silvestre Reyes, Solomon Ortiz and Jim Turner.