"Conservatives" attack Obama on patriotism
What no one seems to remember about 2004 is that the Swiftboaters themselves weren't all that much. It was the media who gave them months of free airtime and treated them credibly that did the damage.
Will they do that again? Maybe.
The press is very aware of what went on and what their role was. I have no doubt we'll see the ads, but will Chris Matthews, Wolf Blitzer, etc give it the same "controversy" coverage?
They might be overtaken by a frenzy, but my feeling is that the environment is different.
Later: Obama is asked about all this at a press conference.
Later Still: CNN carries a website poll: Does Barack Obama show the proper patriotism for someone who wants to be president? I'm not kidding.