Kerry's Anti-War Record Discussed at White House Briefing

2/10/2004 | Jeff Gannon

[Jeff Gannon]

This was the exchange at today's White House press briefing, much of which focused on George W. Bush's service records with the National Guard.

JEFF GANNON (Talon News): Since there have been so many questions about what the President was doing over 30 years ago, what is it that he did after his honorable discharge from the National Guard?

Did he make speeches alongside Jane Fonda, denouncing America's racist war in Vietnam?

Did he testify before Congress that American troops committed war crimes in Vietnam?

And did he throw somebody else's medals at the White House to protest a war America was still fighting?

What was he doing after he was honorably discharged?

MR. McCLELLAN: We've already commented on some of his views relating back to that period the other day. And, obviously, this was a time period also when he was going to get his MBA at Harvard. But the President was certainly proud to serve in the National Guard.

TERRY MORAN (ABC NEWS): And would the White House consider those actions by Senator Kerry, that Jeff mentions fair game in the political season?

MR. McCLELLAN: Terry, I think -- I know that that's a way to try to draw us into a Democratic primary that is ongoing.

[Darlin']

Thanks for the ping, oWf.

Jeff, you were wonderful. Thank you so very much. How in the world can you stand being in the same room with some of those lib reporters ?

[visualops]

[MeekOneGOP]

TERRY MORAN (ABC NEWS): And would the White House consider those actions by Senator Kerry, that Jeff mentions fair game in the political season?

MR. McCLELLAN: Terry, I think -- I know that that's a way to try to draw us into a Democratic primary that is ongoing.

Nah ! The 'RATS or their media enablers would never, ever ever do that ! (yeah, right!) ...

[Lady GOP]

Get a life

[ohioWfan]

IMO, one of the reasons that the President OK'd the investigation of intelligence failures was to get the fact that the problems were the result of xlinton policy made public without having to say it himself.

He has spent his entire first term cleaning up the messes that x42 left behind, and has done admirably at that.

But, I come from a spiritual perspective, and know that they will all be held accountable for what they did to this country in the end.........

They aren't really going to get away with anything.

[arasina]

Pinging the enterprising FReeper Hon! Come over and check out this thread.

[Purdue Pete]

I saw the news conference...I STOOD AND CHEERED!!

You were magnificent, sir! Thank You.

[ThePythonicCow]

Thanks for the ping, Ohio. I would've missed this otherwise.

Delightful !!

[Dan from Michigan]

Why would Kerry hide the fact that he's Jewish?

He's 1/2 Boston Brahmin(his mom's side), and 1/2 Austrian Jewish bloodwise(Kerry's dad).

He hid that because Irish have a clear advantage when they run for office in heavily Irish Massachusetts(Kennedy, Meehan, Lynch, McGovern, Tierney, etc). He pretended to be Irish(Kerry is a county in Ireland) for that reason. Those of Irish blood oftentimes 'vote for their own'. Growing up in an Irish family myself, I can say this for a fact.

He's Catholic.

Gotta correct you here. He ain't Catholic. He says he is, but real Catholics don't support partial birth abortion.

[CobaltBlue]

Oh, come on, saying somebody's a Jew because a grandparent was a Jew is like the Nazis. I don't mean to invoke Godwin's law here, it's a fact. His grandfather converted to Catholicism, Kerry was brought up Catholic.

As for who is a "real" Catholic, I think I will leave that to the Church and to God.

Kerry didn't pick his name, either.

[BoxerDawgs]

God Bless you, Mr. Gannon. You are one brave, honest reporter.

[PISANO]

One bright spot in an otherwise ridiculous press briefing. The maniacal press coverage about a NON-EVENT (GW's service) is beyond absurd. I have stopped watching ANYTHING but the History channel on TV. Constant POSITIVE press/media coverage of Kerry and constant NEGATIVE coverage of the POTUS. It is absolutely sickening!

[Jeff Gannon]

Thank you all for your kind words.

You can listen to the Q & A clip at www.jeffgannon.com

[prairiebreeze]

Did you see this?

Ping of possible interest to you and your lists

Prairie

[CobaltBlue]

Yeah, well, your post was pulled, so maybe you should take that into consideration . . . .

[DrDeb]

"Standing ovation here! Bravo!"


BIG TIME DITTOS!!!!!!

[Dan from Michigan]

I don't care what he is(and usually refer to him as a blueblood). My only problem is that for 20 years, he claimed to be something he's not in order to get votes.

[Jorge]

Republicans had virtually nothing to do with it and didn't need to. It was all self-evident for everyone to see. Dean kept stepping in it every time he opened his mouth.

If it was so "self-evident" Dean wouldn't have been the overwhelming front-runner, on top of every poll and on the front page of every newspaper and magazine.

Who are you kidding?

Dean was all the rage. Kerry was considered all but out of the contest.

History shows that the ONLY ones who were saying Dean was a loose cannon, a hot head and so far left that he was unelectable were the Republicans prior to Iowa.

What the Republicans said about Dean was THEN picked up on by the media and the Dems and THEN he began to implode.

Your claim that the Republicans had nothing to do with it makes no sense. Sorry.

[ntnychik]

Great job today! I'm extra happy to hear of your Penn State background. "We ARE..."