Bush Visits Major Donor to Swift Boat Liars

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And now Campaign Extra! has learned that when President Bush flew to the Philadelphia suburbs to campaign last Thursday, he held his rally at the business of a major donor to the Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth. The Bush campaign said it selected Byers Choice Ltd., a maker of Christmas figurines in Colmar, Pa., as a way of showing its support for small business.

"They decided to take risk," Bush said around the same time that several hecklers were removed from the event, one pulled by her hair. "They hired people wisely, they invested wisely, and their company is growing. And I appreciate the contribution they made."

So did the Bush campaign appreciate -- or know of -- the $2,500 contribution that Byers made to Swift Boat Veterans for the Truth on Aug. 20, about two weeks before the rally was scheduled? Byers' contribution came after the first round of commericials. They questioned whether Kerry earned the combat medals he won serving as a Swift Boat commander during the Vietnam War -- a claim contradicted by official U.S. Navy records.

Byers -- who won an award from the Bush-led U.S. Small Business Administration, has reportedly given at least $30,000 to GOP causes, including -- in the last year -- the Republican National Committee and Sens. Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum.

Efforts to reach Byers over the weekend through business associates and family members were not successful.