Dems Attack Bush's Use of Aircraft Carrier for Speech

CNS News ^ | 05/07/03 | Susan Jones

[m1-lightning]

(CNSNews.com) - Two Democratic Members of Congress have criticized President George W. Bush for using the USS Abraham Lincoln as a platform to announce that the United States and its allies have prevailed over Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. On the Senate floor Tuesday, Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) questioned "the motives of a desk-bound president who assumes the garb of a warrior for the purposes of a speech."~~ He was referring to the fact that Bush wore a flight suit as he arrived on the ship. "As I watched the president's fighter jet swoop down onto the deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, I could not help but contrast the reported simple dignity of President Lincoln at Gettysburg with the flamboyant showmanship of President Bush aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln," Byrd stated. "American blood has been shed on foreign soil in defense of the president's policies," said Byrd, who had opposed sending military forces into Iraq. "This is not some made-for-TV backdrop for a campaign commercial." Also on Tuesday, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) sent a letter to the General Accounting Office -- the investigative arm of Congress -- asking for "a full accounting of the costs associated with the president's trip" since the event "had clear political overtones."

[Blueflag]

"As I watched the president's fighter jet swoop down onto the deck of the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln ..."

The Naval Aviators who actually fly fighter would be happy to inform Byrd that a Viking is NOT a fighter jet. The Prez's 'fighter' was a twin-engine ASW platform affectionately known as a Hoover. Hardly a Tomcat or a Hornet. If I am not mistaken, it is a three-seater in some configs, so if the PIC had become incapacitated, another pilot, besides GWB, sould have landed the aircraft. He could have flown out in a COD or a helo, but that would have been far less cool.

Byrd can't get the simplest military distinctions correct.

[Wphile]

Byrd and Waxman? Figures. The Dems are really getting desparate these days.

[CyberCowboy777]

Few More to add

Falsified report on the state of the economy, the use of LAX for a haircut, Clinton's regular private trips to Cincinnati on our dime, millions spent on travel for Chelsea

[CheneyChick]

Of all people for him to reference.

Makes sense. I think Byrd was present at the Gettysburg address.

[wasp69]

Didn't someone recently tell waxman to stick in his fat a$$ over a request for "how much it costed"?

[rs79bm]

Do I smell envy?

No. But whenever the Democrats come out with there mouths open you know President Bush did something right.

[PfromHoGro]

And don't forget Chelsea & all her friends. Where's the GAO report on that reimbursement? Savage's "Demon-cats" is right on.

[Howlin]

I am looking for that picture of Clinton at Normandy, but am not having any luck finding it.

[wasp69]

The poor guy looks like a bat.

[Howlin]

HEY, look what I found in my search:

A White House memo, dated June 16, 1994, concerning preparations for President Clinton's trip to Normandy for the 50th anniversary of D-Day:

MEMORANDUM FOR ALL STAFF WHO STAYED ON THE USS GEORGE WASHINGTON

FROM:

ISABELLE R. TAPIA

MICHAEL R. LUFRANO

OFFICE OF SCHEDULING AND ADVANCE

RE: Reimbursement for Items Removed from the Ship

The executive officer of the USS George Washington has relayed that a number of items were removed from Staterooms on the ship during the White House visit. The following items are unaccounted for:

13 Blue Towels with GW Insignia	$11 each
4 GW Bathrobes with Insignia	$35 each
12 Plain White Bathrobes	$15 each
55 White Towels	$1.80 each

As you know, the ship and the U.S. Navy served as our gracious hosts during this trip. They provided these items for our use, not as souvenirs. They have requested reimbursement of $562 from the White House for the above items.

If you are responsible for removing one or more of these items from the ship, please remit payment to Michael Lufrano in Room 185 of the OEOB. Make any checks payable to the USS George Washington. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call either of us at 456-7560 or Capt. Rogers at 456-2150.

[Trueblackman]

My comments send to Newsmax.com

The nerve of Senator Robert Byrd and Congressmen Harry Waxman to attempt to undermine the Command-In-Chief, the men and women of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, as well as the efforts of all our men and women who in their noble effort to free a nation of oppressed people.

Senator Byrd has a long association with the Ku Klux Klan that sought to oppress minorities in America, just as Saddam Hussein’s Government oppressed and killed 1000‘s of Iraqi Minorities during his reign of terror.

I believe that Senator Byrd, Congressman Harry Waxman, and the extremist, who lead the Democrat Party, who for the longest time tried to paint President Bush as a racist were complete angered at the diversity of the men and women that they saw surrounding President Bush on the flight desk of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln C.V.N.-72.

As a former sailor myself who served on the sister ship of “Big Abe”, I understand and commend President Bush for visiting the crew of a ship that for 10 long months had been away from home and accomplished a mission that extremist like Byrd, Waxman and Pelosi publicly stated was “not worth the cost or effort.”

For Senator Byrd to invoke the words of President Lincoln given has long association to one of the nation’s oldest homegrown terrorist group and his opposition to the most basic of civil rights for minorities in America is a slap in the face to those of us, who are veterans and stand up for real civil rights and against oppression of people worldwide.

Senator Byrd and Congressmen Waxman are no better than Saddam Hussein and Mohammed Said Sahaf(AKA Baghdad Bob) in seeking to cheapen a complete military victory coalition victory.

[CheneyChick]

Bwaaaaaa haaaaaaa haaaaaaaaa. OMG - that is rich! Someone needs to read THAT on the Senate Floor.

[Howlin]

I had forgotten how much I like digging up dirt on Clinton! :-)

[Miss Marple]

I can't find that picture either, and I have been looking. I took the time to send a letter to NRO's columnist who ran the "Truth Squad" refutation of Krugman's comments on the Bush carrier landing.

Very few pictures of Clinton with military people are easily found. I wonder why that is?

[MJemison]

No doubt President Bush in the flight suit was a powerful image, but the direct personal connection with the troops was unmistakable. Not to mention this message was something like a shot heard 'round the world. (The antacids consumption must be enormous at Democrat headquarters)

[Howlin]

I was just thinking the exact same thing.

[Texagirl4W]

I've been looking for this information most of this morning. Do you know the websites that listed all of Hillary and Chelsea's trip. Some listed the cost also.

[m1-lightning]

A little off the subject, what are your thoughts on Danny Glover calling Bush a rascist? And the fact that Bush wanted school vouchers, which would allow minorites to attend the school of their choice instead of being improsoned in their ghetto schools and the Dems opposed it?

[Happy2BMe]

Hell NO! - WE WON'T GO! Cameras - I Need More Cameras!! Emperor Ambiguous Speaks To His Clones

[m1-lightning]

Didn't someone recently tell waxman to stick in his fat a$$ over a request for "how much it costed"?

Daschle probably recommended it because he has been in the spotlight too much and wants the rest of his party to take some of the fall when the media lashes back at them.