Soldiers' familes, Dems 'appalled' by Bush jokes ( Media-selected "Victim" alert)

HoustonChronicle.com ^ | 3/27/04 | Frank Jones

[anonymous_user]

WASHINGTON -- Democratic critics and some family members of soldiers serving in Iraq are taking President Bush to task for his jokes at a black-tie dinner about the fruitless search for weapons of mass destruction.

The jokes came at Wednesday night's annual Radio and Television Correspondents Association dinner. In a 10-minute, mostly puckish, self-deprecating speech, the president presented a slide show he called "an election-year, White House photo album."

In several photos, he appeared to be searching the Oval Office. A photo of Bush looking under a piece of furniture was flashed on the large projection screens in the ballroom.

[anonymous_user]

Do a Google Search" for Larry Syverson Richmond, VA and I think you'll find he's not quite the average Iraqi soldier's father.

"After the War 'Major Combat' in Iraq May Be Over, But the Dying Continues. So Does the Dread Larry Syverson Confronts Knowing His Sons are Still There"

Richmond military father holds 100th protest..."

Familes With Loved Ones in Iraq Oppose War"

[Peach]

But Kerry joking during George Herbert Bush's presidency that the first thing Secret Service agents are to do if Bush dies is shoot Quale didn't bother these non-partisan victims. Bah!

Bunch of weenie victims. Maybe they should sue. Edwards could take the case.

[Rabid Dog]

Thanks to the links you provided I found out that the guy is with "Military Families Speak Out" which is a total sham operation funded in part by the Teresa Heinz Kelly. There is an excellent column over on the Free Republic Network site that describes the relationship.

[cyborg]

This is what happens when people aren't familiar with things like this and group meetings like Friars Roasts.

[DoughtyOne]

I've seldom been less impressed by supposed relatives of our military members or 09/11 victims, than I have been this last week. Some of these people are digusting ilk. For every one of them, there are thousands who feel diametricly opposed to their views.

[anonymous_user]

As Rush pointed out last week, where's the outrage from the Vietnam victim's familes when Kerry uses that conflict for his self-promotion?

[staytrue]

The joke was probably bad.

But the media could a) spare the feelings of those who would be offended and only play the joke once or twice or b) try to get Bush out of office by replaying the joke continously out of context to everyone who has access to a tv, here and abroad and if anyone is offended, too bad, getting Bush out of office takes priority.

Of course they chose B.

We need to send the media a message.

[anonymous_user]

the guy is with "Military Families Speak Out" which is a total sham operation funded in part by the Teresa Heinz Kelly

Excellent catch, Rabid Dog! I was amazed at how similar this was to the "WTC victims against Bush" from a few weeks ago. I wonder how the press finds these people? </sarcasm>

[Clara Lou]

Regrettably, it has become fashionable to be a whiner-- and a very public whiner, at that. Absolutely everything hurts someone's feelings. Pity those of us who have to listen to them whine about it.

[Peach]

Definitely. AND when Kerry lied to Congress about the supposed atrocities committed by our soldiers, Kerry's fellow soldiers? Where is the outrage?

Those alleged atrocities have been disproven in several books, one of them "Stolen Valor".

[anonymous_user]

I've seldom been less impressed by supposed relatives of our military members or 09/11 victims, than I have been this last week. Some of these people are digusting ilk.

Exactly, and what's TRULY shameful is that a couple useful idiots have been anointed spokespeople for all the victims.

[anonymous_user]

Regrettably, it has become fashionable to be a whiner

Just like that guy that took "under God" to the SCOTUS because he feels is might offend his abandoned daughter...

The list could go on and on.

[NYCVirago]

Do a Google Search" for Larry Syverson Richmond, VA and I think you'll find he's not quite the average Iraqi soldier's father.

Good research! Too bad the media can't even start to do the same kind of research before they quote somebody as an unbiased source.

[international american]

"This is what happens when people aren't familiar with things like this and group meetings like Friars Roasts."

I wish Bush had not brought the WOMD in the speech. You can't give the left media any opportunities to trash Bush.
The rest of the speech was great.

[tessalu]

Is it just me? I am getting pretty sick of "relatives and others" who go on their 'fault finding" missions. They will be getting less sympathy from me.

[cyborg]

I agree.

[anonymous_user]

There was a guy on Mike Gallagher last week talking about how Vietnam vets were by-and-large more college educated and wealthy than the general population. The stereotype of the bedraggled, post-traumatic stress syndrom victim is highly exaggerated.

He even went so far to imply that many of the "veteran protestors" were just the same old war protestors -- only they bought camo jackets at the army surplus store to add "veteran credibility" to their anti-war arguement.

[StAnDeliver]

We need to send the media a message.

Yep. Here ya go...

By the way, this isn't a Chron article, this is a Chicago Tribune article...

• E-mail the writer: Frank James

• E-mail the Trib's Public Editor using an online form: Public Editor

• Send the Trib a Letter to the Editor online.

[Rabid Dog]

This "story" is going to have legs and be paraded in every paper - so freepers stand ready to write letters to the editors. I'm going to ping the Houston Chapter.

[Peach]

The book "Stolen Valor" through census data and interviews and statistical analysis concluded that most Vets were better educated, owned their own homes more often and had better jobs and higher incomes than their non-vet counterparts.