Hillary Aide: Bush Should Come Clean on AWOL Charges

Newsmax ^ | 2/5/04

[areafiftyone]

An adviser to New York Sen. Hillary Clinton is daring President Bush to prove he didn't go AWOL from the National Guard in 1972 by releasing his military records.

Asked if he thought Bush needed to produce his Guard records, Howard Wolfson told Fox News Channel's "Hannity & Colmes" Wednesday night: "Absolutely. He could solve this very easily by coming clean with the American people and letting them know what he did and didn't do."

Wolfson, who was Mrs. Clinton's Senate campaign spokesman in 2000 and currently serves as her adviser, attacked Bush's military record despite Bill Clinton's own problems during the Vietnam era with the draft.

However, Mrs. Clinton's one-time spokesman was unfazed by the incongruity of his attack.

"The truth is," he insisted, "the Republicans brought this on themselves. ... They had George Bush go out to an aircraft carrier on a stunt. He dressed up in a flight suit. He tried to tell everyone that he was a pilot."

"The fact is that he didn't serve for much of the time," Wolfson insisted.

Wolfson urged Bush to produce his military records despite the fact that his political team already did so during the 2000 campaign.

At the time the New York Times reported, "Guard records show [Bush} received credit for having performed all the required service."

Mrs. Clinton's adviser insisted, however, that "for 18 months [Bush's] commander at the base says that he didn't see him."

Wolfson was apparently unaware that earlier in the day, the commander in question, Brig. Gen. William Turnipseed, had recanted his allegation, telling NBC News: "I don't know if [Bush] showed up, I don't know if he didn't. I don't remember how often I was even at the base."

[Peach]

I think it was Russia. Lost my Clinton files in a computer crash last year.

[Johnny_Cipher]

But Bush can't recall the names of his flight school and squadron buddies, because he was never a pilot.

Another pathetic lie, easily disproven. The aircraft commander of that S-3B Viking that flew to the USS Abraham Lincoln, an active-duty naval officer, would be surprised to hear your allegation. The President flew about 1/3rd of that mission himself.

Sucks to be you.

[kcvl]

P>

[Unicorn]

WE will when hillary tells us who hired Greg Livingstone.

[Howlin]

A VIEW FROM HERE
by deb weiss


The Lady In The Pants-Suit
June 5, 2000


I'm getting to know Howard Wolfson.

I've watched him dish with Andrea on MSNBC, and Judy on CNN, and Cokie over at ABC.

I've grown accustomed to his face. With his endearing little beard, he oddly resembles those ancient stone satyrs that gaze out mischievously from crumbling walls in Rome. He has food allergies, and a degree from Duke University.

EMAIL: DEB WEISS
Despite his relative youth (the kid is only 33), this former political reporter-turned-consultant is a major player, a kind of back-room Pygmalion whose specialty is transforming dumpy, left-leaning Democratic Galateas into winning politicians.

Up until about a year ago, he planned to help New York Representative Nita Lowey make a run for the Senate seat soon to be vacated by Pat Moynihan. However, a better offer came along, and he dumped Representative Lowey most unceremoniously.

After intense negotiations with Harold Ickes, he agreed to serve as press secretary to what's-her-name.

You know who I mean. The gal with the pants-suit, and the loony glitter in her ice-blue eyes. The one who made "vast, right-wing conspiracy" the catch-phrase of the late 1990s, and who is rumored to be the guiding light behind that ongoing White House campaign of character assassination targeting dozens of conservatives.

I should be able to remember her name. After all, she only has just the one.

Last Friday, if you looked closely, you could catch a glimpse of her standing next to New York Senator Charles Schumer, during a photo-op at the Manhattan headquarters of the United Federation of Teachers. (It was Howard Wolfson, incidentally, who ran Senator Schumer's successful cut-throat campaign against Alfonse D'Amato back in 1998.)

"New Yorkers deserve a Senator in Washington who we can absolutely count on every single time there's a critical gun control vote," said Senator Schumer, as the lady in the pants-suit stood at his side, nodding emphatically.

She's a very fine nodder: one of the top one hundred nodders in the USA.

Senator Schumer, like Howard Wolfson, thinks the lady ought to be New York's next Senator. That's why he made the supreme sacrifice of sharing camera-time with her (in the past, Senator Schumer is said to have inflicted severe physical injuries on those who attempted to get between him and the nearest camera).

Mind you, Howard Wolfson and Chuck Schumer aren't the only people who speak for the lady in the pants-suit. Lots of other people do, too.

Al Sharpton used to speak for her quite a bit: but that was back when her presumptive opponent was Rudy Giuliani, the beleaguered mayor of New York City, whose unapologetic war on crime made him a lightning-rod amongst Mr Sharpton's constituency.

Now, though, her opponent is Rick Lazio, a breezy Republican Congressman from Suffolk County who isn't nearly as easy to race-bait as the mayor was: and Mr. Sharpton's usefulness has been much diminished.

Mr. Lazio appears on the chat-shows every chance he gets. He talks -- until they make him shut up and go away -- about his record and his aspirations. The script goes roughly thus:

Reporters demand that he repudiate Newt Gingrich. He refuses.

Then they ask him to defend himself against that "ultra-conservative" label being hurled about by the lady's friends. He laughs.

Then they ask him tough -- often confrontational -- policy questions. He answers.

When he's been cooked to a turn, he gets up off the grill and heads for the next barbecue.

That's when Howard Wolfson appears (the Eleventh Commandment of television news being "Thou shalt give no Republican the last word").

If not Howard, then Harlem Congressman Charlie Rangel.

Or former New York Mayor Ed Koch.

Or New Jersey Senator Robert Toricelli: although he's got problems of his own these days, and isn't quite the presence that he used to be.

Sometimes, James Carville shows up, but he hasn't worn well. The grey eminences of the left have taken to limiting his exposure, preferring to employ his undeniable political talents behind the scenes rather than before the camera.

He really is a dark alley kind of guy.

Whoever does show up starts by throwing some acid-tipped darts at Mr. Lazio's back. Then they throw some more. They mention Newt Gingrich a lot, and warn that Mr. Lazio plans to arm all the school-children in New York with automatic weapons, and shut down the hospitals so that old people will get sick and die.

They look so fierce and intense, you can tell they care passionately about these things. According to them, the lady in the pants-suit cares, too -- so much so that she deserves to be New York's next Senator.

Just ask her how much she cares, and she'll tell you herself.

The only trouble is, you'll have to catch her first.

Meanwhile, you can always ask Howard.

[Tamzee]

WOW!!!! That's a new low... so low I wouldn't have believed it without seeing it for myself.

That's the biggest whopper DemocRat talking point there is and you are spreading it around like a bratty toddler with a full smelly diaper.

[Eva]

I was going to respond to this with a link to the information, but I decided that you tell the stupid aid to look up the information for herself. It's out there.

[Peach]

You are such a liar. You have outted yourself as a troll for the second time in as many days.

The NYT of all people thoroughly investigated this matter and found that the president was honorably discharged, not that I expect the facts to get in the way of your uninformed opinion.

[kcvl]

Howard Wolfson

Executive Director, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Career Background

Started out on the Hill in 1992 as a press secretary to US. Rep. Jim Jontz. Worked for U.S. Reps. Bob Filner and Bob Matsui before joining U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey's staff in the Spring of 1993. Was promoted to be her chief of staff in 1995. Served as communications director for both Chuck Schumer's and Hillary Clinton's Senate campaigns.

Personal

Graduated Fieldston High School in New York in 1985. Graduated University of Chicago in 1989 and received an M.A. in American History from Duke University in 1991. Recently became engaged to Terri McCullough.

Claim to Fame

"Working on -- and surviving -- the Clinton for Senate campaign."

Best Day

"Getting my first job on the Hill."

Worst Day

"Watching the Yankees lose the 6th game of the 1981 World Series in Yankee Stadium."

Ten Years From Now

"Owning an independent record store."

Immediate Goals

"To help Democrats win the House back."

Political Heroes

Martin Luther King, Robert Kennedy, Winston Churchill.

Secrets of Success

"Believe in what you are doing and work harder than you think you are capable of to accomplish your goals, hire good staff, always stay focused on issues and ideas."

Biggest Gripe

"No good pizza by the slice in Washington, D.C."

Predictions

"Democrats will take back the House in 2002."

Favorite Books

A Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan; Dispatches by Michael Herr; High Fidelity by Nick Hornby.

Favorite Movies

"Godfather I," "Godfather II," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

Best Moment in a Campaign

"When Al D'Amato called Chuck Schumer a 'putzhead' and then lied about it on camera. You couldn't make that up."

If I Were President for a Day

"Provide Amtrak with enough money to build a real high-speed rail system between New York and DC. Take a helicopter tour of Washington at night. Meet Bono to discuss the Irish peace process and Third-World debt."

[ohioWfan]

"Thou shalt not bear false witness....."

Lying is a SIN, Joe. Ask forgiveness.

[mathluv]

Leahy used to have a picture of himself in a flight suit on his website.

[timydnuc]

An aide said this. This keeps the Succubus behind a wall of denial, ain't that SPECIAL!!

We are witnessing the uncovering of the socialists in this country. They have disguised themselves for so long (their name was Democrat) now they come out in the daytime. They are desperate. We must stand this fight, if we don't the radical left will win. If that happens, we will be fighting the 2nd civil war (and it will be with guns and blood). A large majority of this country wants a country that used to be, a country where we are safe and free, a country that respects everyone, equally.

The left will have nothing less than the antitheses of our dream.

[mathluv]

Sean just mentioned how the dims are trying to use this as an issue, while totally supporting clintoon's anti-war demonstrations on foreign soil.

[deport]

[prairiebreeze]

ROFLMHO!!

[SheLion]

she makes me want to throw up.

I know it! She looks like a Dictator to me. Totally into "control of the little people." I would vote for a trained monkey before I would vote for her!

Imagine waking up with THAT? LOL!

[InvisibleChurch]

maybe hillary ought to come clean on vince

[Leroy S. Mort]

[mystery-ak]

hmmmm signed up in 99, been waiting for your moment I see.

[ohioWfan]

You know, I was thinking about this.

Before Eric was activated and deployed he was doing his 'weekend' thing in the Reserves, and they were VERY flexible about it.

If he missed a weekend (for things like tennis tournaments), he just served it at another time.

This whole AWOL thing is so preposterous, it isn't even funny!

Hopefully the truth will get out around the efforts of the leftist media, and this will all fade into oblivion.......