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.

[olliemb]

I am sooooo impressed. Great show. Will try and catch it on C-span. Tell me what did the other reporters tell you after you asked the question?

[Jeff Gannon]

actually, Terry Moran gave me a thumbs up for being clever. Everyone else shuns me, which of course means they know I don't play for their team - and I play hardball!

[olliemb]

Great Post!!!! Thanks for calling all to work hard for the president and get off the middle road. I highly suggest to all who were upset re: immigration, etc and were threatening not to vote. It is about OUR future!! we need to continue with defense of the United States.

[plain talk]

Well, then we disagree. You are implying that Republicans were beating up on Dean and this impacted media reporting and public perception. I do not believe this is what did him in. The reason why it's important for you to understand this is because Republicans on news talk shows have little effect on public perception of politics. The liberals control the press. Republicans by nature are lame and boring, ineffectual attackers. Most people get their news from CNN and CNN haedline news anyway.

Over time as Dean kept opening his mouth, one gaffe led to another. It was the gaffes and his "I've got a scream" speech that did him in. It's only when Dean became even too embarrasing a buffoon for the media to swallow that the negative reporting did him in. It was not reporting of what Republican's said about him but the reporting on Dean's gaffes themselves that did him in. The media did him in because the media knew this idiot couldn't beat Bush and made them look like fools supporting him.

If, however, what you say is true, then, where are these Republican attackers? Name them. We can sure use them to discredit the rest of these liberals out there if they are so effective.

[olliemb]

Great Post!!!! Thanks for calling all to work hard for the president and get off the middle road. I highly suggest to all who were upset re: immigration, etc and were threatening not to vote. It is about OUR future!! we need to continue with defense of the United States.

[MonroeDNA]

thanks for the pingy dingy!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

LOL - people were asking, "WHO WAS THAT GUY?" Everyone thought it was so cool!!

THANK YOU!!!!

[Wolfstar]

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.

I am much more of a cynic when it comes to such bipartisan commissions than you, ohio. They are little more than witch hunts and quickly descend into the same kind of partisan wrangling seen in almost any committee hearing on Capitol Hill. And as always, the Dems and their supporters are the aggressors while the Reps and their supporters are milquetoasts. There's a reason why Republicans on Capitol Hill were almost always in the minority for 60 years until a Georgia bulldog named Newt Gingrich came along.

[Dubya]

Good job. Thanks.

[Wait4Truth]

Congratulations on your wonderful questions today! Please don't give up - keep those questions coming. You have many friends here and we appreciate you more than you know. The President is getting a very raw deal and it's sickening to many of us. You just became our team mascot.

[DollyCali]

Bravo, most excellent, we can now & then not cringe at the el-crapo questions at the news conferences...Thank you for making our day!

[MeekOneGOP]

Kerry: America needs a 'regime change' too

[Jorge]

Well, then we disagree. You are implying that Republicans were beating up on Dean and this impacted media reporting and public perception. I do not believe this is what did him in. The reason why it's important for you to understand this is because Republicans on news talk shows have little effect on public perception of politics. The liberals control the press.

Is this why FOX News is the #1 Cable News channel?

Or why Talk radio which reaches MILLIONS of people is TOTALLY dominated by conservatives?

Common! Start showing some courage when it comes to being a conservative and stop being intimidated by the liberal losers like CNN.

The fact remains that Republicans gave Dean the out of control unelectable label LONG BEFORE the media caught on to it. Don't tell me that this and the conservative media replaying and laughing at Dean's inane speech had NOTHING to do with his downfall! They did.

[bray]

How did you get your Cahones past the metal detectors??? We need to get a full accounting on Cash & Kerry's war hero records. If not for his Communist activism there would be 10 million Asians alive today!

Pray for W and The Truth

[ohioWfan]

Good points all.......

Let's just say I HOPE it comes up with some facts before our good President took office and started cleaning up the mess........

[StriperSniper]

btw, I was just on Sean Hannity's radio show.

Saw the briefing, heard the show, great job on both!

I haven't been watching the WHPB often since Ari left, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more of your killer questions. I think Scott appreciated it too from the smirk he was trying to hold back. ;-)

[Chi-townChief]

PURE PRAIRIE PING

[cyborg]

I got to listen to Mark Levin after, and to me Kerry is filth.

[Jeff Gannon]

It's hard to say with Scott but he usually knows what he's going to get from me.

[oceanview]

anyone listening to Buchanan on Scarborough right now? really disgusting, I am totally losing respect for him.