Laura Bush Condemns Democrat 'Witch-Hunt'

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 2-20-2004 | David Rennie

[blam]

Laura Bush condemns Democrat 'witch-hunt'

By David Rennie in Washington
(Filed: 20/02/2004)

Laura Bush shed her cosy, non-partisan public image to accuse Democratic chiefs of a "witch-hunt" against her husband, President George W Bush, in interviews released yesterday.

Mrs Bush, whose image as a traditional wife and mother has earned her sky-high personal approval ratings, launched a passionate defence of her husband, who has been under withering Democratic fire over unemployment, Iraq and his Vietnam-era military record.

Laura Bush: speaking out in defence of her husband

"I think it's a political, you know, witch-hunt, actually, on the part of the Democrats," she said. She directly accused the Democratic party chairman, Terry McAuliffe, of lying when he charged that her husband went absent without leave from the National Guard during his service as a fighter pilot in Texas and Alabama.

"I don't think it's fair to really lie about allegations about someone like the Democratic national chairman did," she said. Checking herself, the former school librarian backed away from the word "lie", saying: "Well, he made it up, I guess I should say."

Her talk of a Democratic witch-hunt offered a rare echo of her predecessor, Hillary Clinton, who once alleged that charges against her husband were generated by a "vast, Right-wing conspiracy". In sharp contrast with Mrs Clinton, Mrs Bush has largely shunned raw politics in favour of such wholesome issues as the importance of reading to children.

Away from the cameras, however, Republican campaigners boast that Mrs Bush is a "secret weapon", whose cross-country official tours commonly combine public appearances at schools and libraries with private fund-raising lunches and receptions. Mrs Bush has raised £2.8 million for her husband's re-election war chest.

The First Lady spoke as Mr Bush slipped 12 percentage points behind his leading Democratic rival, Senator John Kerry, in a theoretical head-to-head Gallup poll taken among "likely voters", pollsters' jargon for the roughly 50 per cent of American adults who take an active interest in politics.

The other main Democratic contender for the White House, Senator John Edwards, also saw his support jump sharply, giving him a 10-point lead over Mr Bush in the same survey.

But at the elections in November, semi-interested Democrats have historically failed to vote in large numbers. A parallel poll, taken among all registered voters, showed Mr Kerry with a more modest five percentage-point lead over Mr Bush.

Mr Bush has endured a bleak month, failing to impress even some loyal supporters with a lacklustre State of the Union address and a defensive and cautious appearance in a rare, one-hour television interview.

The White House also fumbled its response to Democratic allegations that he shirked his duties during a "cushy" assignment with the Texas Air National Guard.

Although aides eventually released almost all Mr Bush's military records, their days of stalling fuelled the idea that he had something to hide.

[syriacus]

Her talk of a Democratic witch-hunt offered a rare echo of her predecessor, Hillary Clinton, who once alleged that charges against her husband were generated by a "vast, Right-wing conspiracy".

It's true that each woman knows her husband. But the similarity ends there.

There's a big a difference between what the two women said while defending their husbands.

Hillary misinformed the citizens when she said the right wing made up stories about her husband. She said that Bill was only providing "counseling." She was no dummy and was fully aware of his penchant for straying.

[af_vet_1981]

"I think it's a political, you know, witch-hunt, actually, on the part of the Democrats," she said. She directly accused the Democratic party chairman, Terry McAuliffe, of lying when he charged that her husband went absent without leave from the National Guard during his service as a fighter pilot in Texas and Alabama. "I don't think it's fair to really lie about allegations about someone like the Democratic national chairman did," she said. Checking herself, the former school librarian backed away from the word "lie", saying: "Well, he made it up, I guess I should say."

Go Laura !

Bush/Cheney in 2004 !!

[InvisibleChurch]

under withering Democratic fire

i doesn't see W withering

[jwalsh07]

I give Mrs Bush a heck of a lot of credit. She is the only person in Washington that I have ever heard call a dem a liar (Terry McCauliffe)

She goes way up the ladder in my book.

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[Defender2]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1079247/posts


For a little info on the President's Honorable Service record, click the link above. Very Best FReegards, Defender2 D2

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

It's a witch hunt alright, orchestrated by the head witch!

[Cicero]

Note that she didn't really take back the charge of lying. She just said that it would be more polite to say that he "made it up."

[vaudine]

Why backtrack. A lie is a lie is a LIE! Thank you Mrs. Bush. That needed to be said.

vaudine

[GailA]

Laura's first word LIE was the correct word.

[Don W]

While Bush is not the be-all and end-all of conservatism, he is the only way to slow the soccialist tide that has occurred since Bush 41.

Unless we can convince Harry Brown (LOL) to run as a Pubbie.

[oldtimer]

Bring it on Laura Bush who has more class than the entire rat team, and the creepo crowd is going to be in deep clinton.

GWB's stealth weapon. A true first lady.

[Jeff Chandler]

It's a witch hunt alright, orchestrated by the head witch!

Not hillary. This is Carville's doing.

[newzhawk]

I first heard Paul Begala blurt out that Bush was AWOL in Alabama and the truth was going to come out- said it on Crossfire few months ago and was not challenged. He and Carville are the snipers - I know people that only hear the first round or two of accusations -never the resolution. These are the people they hope to influence. A Clinton technique all the way.As for Laura Bush- at least she doesn't have to defend her husband as a rapist.

[tapatio]

"I don't think it's fair to really lie about allegations about someone like the Democratic national chairman did,"

It's not fair Mrs. Bush, but what can you expect from a party with no direction!

She directly accused the Democratic party chairman, Terry McAuliffe, of lying when he charged that her husband went absent without leave from the National Guard during his service as a fighter pilot in Texas and Alabama.

Not only are they liars,it is obvious they can't read either.Not a peep from the rabid reporters who couldn't wait to get their hand on the Presidents military records!

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I don't have any special or unique knowledge but my gut tells me that somewhere hillary's fat fingers are stirring this witches brew of lies and innuendo. Can't prove it though.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

And how does Terry defend himself against this? He can't! Because a LADY said it. A southern one at that.

[bushfamfan]

She really is a lovely woman. I think you can only take so much in slander against your husband before you openly voice your displeasure at those doing it. And they have been personally nasty toward her husband. I like this side of Laura once in a while though. She's a great asset and loves and supports her husband.