Russert's Low Blow: Ignores Key Witness on Bush AWOL Charge

NewsMax.Com ^ | 2-8-04 | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[jmstein7]

"Meet the Press" host Tim Russert repeatedly grilled President Bush in an interview broadcast on Sunday about allegations he went AWOL from the Alabama National Guard - but never once mentioned that the key witness behind the charge had recanted his story.

Sounding like a surrogate for Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe, Russert echoed the DNC chief's words last week on ABC's "This Week."

"I look forward to that debate," Russert told Bush, "when John Kerry, a war hero with a chest full of medals, is standing next to George Bush, a man who was AWOL in the Alabama National Guard. He didn't show up when he should have showed up."

But the NBC newsman never mentioned his network's own scoop, garnered just last week by White House correspondent David Gregory, who interviewed the ex-Alabama Guard commander who first claimed that Bush had gone AWOL from his unit in 2000.

Back then retired Brig. Gen. William Turnipseed told the Boston Globe that Bush had never appeared for Guard drills. But on Wednesday Gen. Turnipseed withdrew the allegation, telling NBC, "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."

While failing to note the exculpatory account, Russert continued in an accusatory tone, bearing down on the issue of Bush's Guard service:

"You were allowed to leave eight months before your term expired. Was there a reason?" he demanded to know. "When allegations were made about John McCain or Wesley Clark on their military records, they opened up their entire files. Would you agree to do that? . . . . Would you allow pay stubs, tax records, anything to show that you were serving during that period? . . . Would you authorize the release of everything to settle this?

Bush responded, "Yes, absolutely," then noted, "We did so in 2000, by the way." But Russert didn't explain why he hadn't taken the time to review the long available evidence.

Instead, the NBC Washington Bureau chief shifted gears, asking why Bush didn't volunteer to go to Vietnam since he was in favor of the war.

For his part Bush remained firmly on the defensive, saying he was proud of his Guard service, but never challenging Russert about why he had decided to carry the DNC's water by raising questions that had long ago been answered.

In several interviews in recent months with Sen. Kerry, the "Meet the Press" host never questioned the top Democrat's controversial activities with the radical anti-American group, "Vietnam Veterans Against the War," including Kerry's testimony before the Senate in 1971, where he painted soldiers serving honorable in Vietnam as war criminals.

Kerry told the Senate that his fellow GI's had "personally raped [Vietnamese civilians], cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephone to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan."

Though the Democratic presidential front-runner later admitted he hadn't personally witnessed any of the atrocities he claimed his fellow soldiers had committed, he has yet to be challenged on the issue by mainstream journalists.

[WOSG]

The President wasn't served by his White House communications team by allowing this interview. Ever since Ari left it seems it's been going down hill.

Oh, I agree that WH comms is not so great these days. Actually pretty bad... Bush was a bit haggard and not 100% focussed. IMHO he hit doubles where he could have hit home runs.

But it was the right thing to get Bush out there. The venue was okay - Russert's a tough interviewer, but you can *predict* where he's coming from. You *know* he'll do the "you said this then" what do you say now? routine. He's tough and he'll raise the DNC talking points and ask for response, but he' not unfair, and he mostly gave Bush lots of time to say what he had to say. I think on Iraq he made many good points, but he still is a bit behind the curve on a few things. He should go watch the Tenet speech and Kay testimony and sharpen his points. He got one thing right, he correct the 'we were wrong' with the Tenet point that it's grey, we have success and we have inaccuracies. He failed to point out particulars on Iraq links to terrorism that could bolster the case, but he did make clear the evidence of TODAY justifies the action we took to liberate Iraq.

Although Bush could have done better, this was better than not responding at all to the Democrats attack... Frankly, this is just the opening skirmish in the general election battle. This whole past month was McPherson's farm near gettysburg, a few shots fired back and forth ... more to come!!

[537 Votes]

And a little (very little) simple research into National Guard practices and policies would have shown Mr. Russert that it was standard practice to discharge a Guardsman honorably when that individual had less than a year left on their current term.

The issue of concern is not that Bush was discharged early, but that he failed to show up for drills the year before that. The standard practice for AWOL of that extent is prison time.

[W04Man]

OUTSTANDING!!!

Can I quote you? Seriously. Can I?

[demlosers]

Back then retired Brig. Gen. William Turnipseed told the Boston Globe that Bush had never appeared for Guard drills. But on Wednesday Gen. Turnipseed withdrew the allegation, telling NBC, "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."

Again, the Press appears to be lying. Turnipseed did not 'withdrew' the story, the lying scribblers manipulated his words.

From the "Debunking The Bush AWOL Story - From The Horses Mouth" thread:

The points Turnipseed wanted to stress are these: Bush was never ordered to report for duty to his unit. Since Bush was in the Texas National Guard and Turnipseed was in the Alabama National Guard, he couldn't have ordered him even if he had wanted to. But he didn't want to.

You cannot be AWOL if you did not receive any official transfer orders. Nothing but lies from the press.

[White Eagle]

There was another question brought up about early release. So, besides not understanding making up time in a fiscal quarter, now the Tim Russerts of the world need to sort out two different things that should not be issues. Of course, if anybody ever asked Tim what the SPN code on his DD-214 was, maybe we'd have a better understanding of Tim's expertise in these matters.

[Robert A Cook PE]

BULLSH*T!

We have showed, several times, that HE DID SHOW UP!

All of his required times were made up, as required. No exacuses, no AWOL, no nothing!

You're quoting democrap sound bites that are based on an original Boston Globe story that is patently false.

Now, go ask your Kerry supporters why shooting a wounded VC in the back is "heroic" ...

Now, go ask your Kerry supporters why using 3 "band-aid" flesh wounds as an excuse to leave Vietnam (after 3 months) to go home to campaign for Congress is "heroic" ....

[TruthNtegrity]

My Great Aunt Martha Rountree co-started, co-hosted "Meet the Press".

My pride in the show ended this Morning.

I was disgusted with Russert's libelous and misleading assertions. His unfair attacks on the President over his National Guard service and that he never asked Kerry about his anti-Vietnam Veterans activities.

Russert disgusts me. Oh wait. I said that already. Well, he still does.

[Neenah]

Tim Russert echoed the accusation/remark made by DNC chairman Terry McAuliff

You are right !! I was taking notes while watching and taping , and forgot that it was Mc Goon that said that !! Thanks !

[jackbill]

Kerry, by contrast, won honors for himself, then came home and attempted to blacken the honor of his fellow servicemen.

And he didn't stop there. He has been voting to gut the military and intelligence ever since. If Kerry had his way the Soviet Union would still exist and half of Central America would still be communist.

[TruthNtegrity]

Good one.

I can't wait to see the catting around hit the press and someone finally publish it.

Wimps.

[EQAndyBuzz]

I'm a Vet. Will look at the site when I get into the office tomorrow.

[freekitty]

These dimits would know the truth if it slapped them in the face.

This scam interview just proves it.

[arasina]

Russert is supposed to be the smartest and toughest interviewer around.

Here's a letter by Russert in response to a complaint that he was taking an advocacy or biased position in an interview. The year is 2000. I'm not sure why it doesn't appear on the letter.

---

		A Division of National Broadcasting Company, Inc.
4001 Nebraska Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20016 202 885-4548				Timothy J. Russert Moderator Meet the Press

November 1

Dear Professors Molnar and Achilles,

Thank you for your letter.

You are mistaken. I have never engaged in “dogged advocacy of educational vouchers”. My interviewing technique and style is to challenge the guest with the “other” view. For instance, when I interviewed Bill Bennett I raised just as vigorously the anti-voucher argument.

By the way, the Vice President’s technique is to say to a questioner, “I know you’re for vouchers,” thus suggesting to the viewer he is in an unfair position.

And so it goes.

I did find your research helpful. As always, I will continue to vigorously question both sides.

T. Russert

[PattonReincarnated]

Thanks Gunny.

What you said was my original impression of the term AWOL. I was a bit surprised by what was reported by what the General said. I'm sure it is the press twisting things. President Bush was never called to active duty, and perhaps this was the context in which the General was speaking. I always assumed anyone on active duty could be charged with absent without leave.

[mattdono]

I think that you may be right about Bush talking to the undecided.

His replies were very down-to-earth, common-sense replies. His remarks are on the record now and when the DNC troglodytes pull this crap (which we know they will), we can simply reiterate the President's statements, the clarified statements by Brig. Gen. Turnispeed, and the actual facts.

As far as Russert trying to give the President "a platform" just to clarify his record. I don't actually believe that. Russert may be idealistic (as most liberals are), but he is not naive. He is a Washington insider in every sense of the word. Russert will vote demoCREEP regardless of the who the nominee is, so his loaded questions and half truths don't really surprise me.

I didn't get to see the entire interview, but I read the transcript and it seems that the President was very effective with his responses.

[claudiustg]

Bush was quite good: knowledgeable, warm, genuine, and confident.

[shhrubbery!]

Turnipseed's memory or lack of it is irrelevant because Bush may not have personally interacted with Turnipseed in Alabama

According to FReeper 'Hon,' Turnipseed has acknowledged that he wasn't present on base himself during much of the period in question, so it was quite likely he wouldn't have seen Bush. The media simply aren't reporting that part of his statement.

Turnipseed said he didn't realize, years ago when he agreed to an interview with a Boston Globe or NYTimes reporter, that he would be talking to a Bush hater!

I think there's a problem with your idea: What if no one responded as remembering Bush at drills in Alabama? It's quite possible no one would -- people die, forget, are oblivious to the news story, or just plain don't want to come forward, only to be immediately set upon by the Bush-hating media, who would subject any such witnesses to the worst anal exam of their personal lives.

[biblewonk]

Why do these people ignore the elephant in the room on this topic?

[FreedomPoster]

>>Newsmax only perpetuates the myth. I have not seen Turnipseed interviewed, only selectively quoted.

It is really a shame the depths to which so-called journalism has sunk. It's amazing it takes a private individual to go check out the source of a story that's so much based on one man's supposed statements.