CNN is projecting that Rep. Saxby Chambliss will win and claim the seat of incumbent Democratic Sen. Max Cleland in Georgia. (More on Georgia race)
Posted on 02/09/2004 3:28:15 PM PST by rocklobster11
I just saw Chris Matthews on Lester Holt, and Lester asked him whether the National Guard issue would continue. Chris said that it would because Bush didn't answer the question.
Lester mentioned Terry McAuliffe's statement about Bush being AWOL. Chris brought up the president's answer about people not bad-mouthing the National Guard, and said that Terry McAuliffe had not said anything bad about the National Guard. Well, Russert did not ask Bush to comment on Terry McAuliffe, he asked Bush to comment on the National Guard issue. I've seen many stories in the press about how the National Guard is not real service and that people enlisted in the National Guard as a way of avoiding going to Vietnam. Thus, I think Bush's statement was right on.
Then Lester asked Chris about Bush getting out of the Guard 8 months early in order to go to HBS. Chris responded that HBS started in September and the period in question was from May of the previous year to May of that year. Well, that may have been Chris's period in question, but Tim Russert specifically asked the president if he had gotten out of the Guard 8 months early in order to attend HBS, and the president said yes.
So it seems that we have people saying three things about Bush's service
Here's the text of the Russert interview, and I think the president answered the questions fully.
President Bush: Political season is here. I was I served in the National Guard. I flew F 102 aircraft. I got an honorable discharge. I've heard this I've heard this ever since I started running for office. I I put in my time, proudly so.
I would be careful to not denigrate the Guard. It's fine to go after me, which I expect the other side will do. I wouldn't denigrate service to the Guard, though, and the reason I wouldn't, is because there are a lot of really fine people who served in the National Guard and who are serving in the National Guard today in Iraq.
Russert: The Boston Globe and the Associated Press have gone through some of their records and said there’s no evidence that you reported to duty in Alabama during the summer and fall of 1972.
President Bush: Yeah, they re they're just wrong. There may be no evidence, but I did report; otherwise, I wouldn't have been honorably discharged. In other words, you don't just say "I did something" without there being verification. Military doesn't work that way. I got an honorable discharge, and I did show up in Alabama.
Russert: You did were allowed to leave eight months before your term expired. Was there a reason?
President Bush: Right. Well, I was going to Harvard Business School and worked it out with the military.
Russert: 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?
President Bush: Yeah. Listen, these files I mean, people have been looking for these files for a long period of time, trust me, and starting in the 1994 campaign for governor. And I can assure you in the year 2000 people were looking for those files as well. Probably you were. And absolutely. I mean, I
Russert: But would you allow pay stubs, tax records, anything to show that you were serving during that period?
President Bush: Yeah. If we still have them, but I you know, the records are kept in Colorado, as I understand, and they scoured the records.
And I'm just telling you, I did my duty, and it's politics, you know, to kind of ascribe all kinds of motives to me. But I have been through it before. I'm used to it. What I don't like is when people say serving in the Guard is is may not be a true service.
Russert: Would you authorize the release of everything to settle this?
President Bush: Yes, absolutely.
We did so in 2000, by the way.
Folks, I'll get slapped for this, but I've had a bellyful of this fat jerk.
He lost both legs, but he lost his mind, too, apparently. He's a very bitter man for getting his ass handed to him in 2002, and he's taking it out on every Republican he meets.
And Chris is revealing his Democrat sympathies tonight in a very big way.
And they've got to go back to Vietnam to find something on Bush.
If they want the gloves off, we should put Kerry and Jane Fonda on every piece of GOP literature that's sent out.
This is so sad. Most veterans I know don't even want to discuss their service. Cleland and Kerry are a disgrace to all those veterans.
Hang it up Kris, you poser!
I think he's going to spend the rest of the program chewing away on Bush's military service records.
You are not alone. A colleague of mine today was so down about Imus and Russert today and their glee in what they consider the President's weak showing. I told him the only thing he could do with that was get out and work on the campaign and he has agreed. This is coming from a man in his early 50s, who opposed the Viet Nam war as a teenager and young adult. The Dems should just keep it up as far as I am concerned, they are attacking a man who is truly loved and respected by too many of us.
CNN is projecting that Rep. Saxby Chambliss will win and claim the seat of incumbent Democratic Sen. Max Cleland in Georgia. (More on Georgia race)
Democrats touted McBride's military service - he was awarded a Bronze Star in Vietnam - and hoped it would appeal to many of Florida's 1.7 million veterans.
Unfortunately for the Dems, having served in Vietnam will mean nothing for Kerry come election time. The was was along time ago, and anyone who is pro-military who would be impressed by his service will not be impressed with his lack of support for the military since then.
Just heard Matthews call Cleland a war hero. So, in the last hour, he has called Kerry and Cleland war heroes and said Bush was just a rich kid avoiding service in Vietnam.
The National Guard uses form 22.
This is the President's.....
From the FAQ of this VA site...
If you were discharged from the Selected Reserves or the National Guard, you must include copies of adequate documentation of at least 6 years of honorable service. If you were discharged from the Army or Air Force National Guard, you may submit NGB Form 22, Report of Separation and Record of Service, or NGB Form 23, Retirement Points Accounting, or it’s equivalent. If you were discharged from the Selected Reserve, you may submit a copy of your latest annual points statement and evidence of honorable service. Unfortunately, there is no single form used by the Reserves or National Guard similar to the DD Form 214. It is your responsibility to furnish adequate documentation of at least 6 years of honorable service.
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