ABC Defends “Kerry’s Distinguished War Record,” CBS Skips Topic

A lot more skeptical of Bush than Kerry on Vietnam-era service. Back on February 10, when the White House, in reaction to Terry McAuliffe’s uncorroborated claim that George W. Bush was “AWOL” from the National Guard in the early 1970s, released his military records, the networks stressed how they only “raise more questions.” But with Kerry, the networks ignored for a week questions raised last week in the Boston Globe about whether he deserved one of his Purple Hearts, and then prompted by Kerry’s release of his records finally got to the story on Wednesday, but were satisfied with the records despite the lack of documentation for his first Purple Heart.

“We’ll take 'A Closer Look’ tonight at John Kerry’s distinguished war record,” ABC anchor Charles Gibson promised Wednesday night in stating as fact a claim that is in dispute. Gibson then shifted the burden to Kerry’s critics: “His opponents are trying hard to use it against him.”

In the subsequent story, Dan Harris spent less time on questions about Kerry’s war time service than on gushing over his record. The entirety of Harris on questions about Kerry’s record: “Some conservatives and fellow veterans have asked questions about the seriousness of the injuries for which Kerry received his first purple heart.” But Harris soon effused: “One wonders why the campaign didn’t release” the records “long ago. They show an officer who got glowing reviews from superiors. Quote, 'Kerry’s calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.’...”

In contrast, on the February 10 World News Tonight, Terry Moran insisted the records Bush released “do not prove” his service “and no witnesses have ever come forward to say they saw Mr. Bush performing military service in Alabama.”

Moran challenged the White House’s case: “The White House insists this matter is now closed. But given those gaps in the record, given the absence of any witnesses who could fill in those gaps and corroborate the President’s recollection, and, Peter, given the fact that it is a campaign season, as you note, and there are plenty of Democrats who are only too happy to stoke this, the issue is not going to go away.”

Back to Wednesday of this week, CNN and NBC aired stories, but not the CBS Evening News which continued to ignore the subject. (On February 10, Dan Rather asserted: “The White House did release some of what it called newly discovered documents today. But as CBS’s John Roberts reports, it did not put the issue to rest.”)

(On Thursday morning, the three broadcast network morning shows all ran stories on the release of the Kerry records, but not any guest interview segments as they did for the media-fueled Bush controversy.)

Excerpts from the Wednesday night, April 21, stories on NBC and CNN, followed by a full rundown of ABC’s piece:

-- NBC Nightly News. Kelly O’Donnell began with how Kerry was greeted in Louisiana, earlier in the day, by veterans and hsi campaign plans to have veterans at every campaign stop from now on. She then noted how the tactic began as the “campaign comes under criticism for its sluggish pace releasing Kerry’s military records as promised Sunday on Meet the Press.”

Since the records were not put out on Monday, the Bush campaign “pounced” and that “fueled some critics who question the circumstances of one of Kerry’s three Purple Hearts, awarded for battle injury. A third such honor allowed him to leave Vietnam.”

O’Donnell explained: “Tonight, posted on Kerry’s Web site, 150 pages of Navy records. Documents that support two Purple Hearts, showing Kerry was hit by shrapnel in February 1969 and again in March 1969. But the same paperwork does not appear for an earlier honor. The campaign says it only has a medic’s 'treatment record’ from December 1968, indicating Kerry was injured by shrapnel. The Web site does show documents for Kerry’s bronze and silver stars.”

-- CNN’s NewsNight ran a story on Tuesday night, when just some of Kerry’s records were up on his Web site, looked at the subject again on American Morning and did a second report for Wednesday’s NewsNight in which Kelly Wallace explained that the Kerry campaign says the records “put to rest” questions about his service.

“But,” she cautioned, “regarding his first Purple Heart, Kerry’s military records don’t specify his injuries or how he was wounded. One of his former commanding officers told the Boston Globe, he had questioned whether Kerry’s boat had taken enemy fire. The campaign showed CNN what it called a 'sick call treatment record’ from Kerry’s personal files, describing a shrapnel wound to his left arm.”

Wallace added: “The documents are filled with praise. One superior saying, 'in combat’ Kerry 'was unsurpassed.’...”

-- ABC’s World News Tonight. As noted above, anchor Charles Gibson plugged the upcoming segment: “We’ll take 'A Closer Look’ tonight at John Kerry’s distinguished war record. His opponents are trying hard to use it against him.”

Gibson introduced the subsequent story, as taken down by MRC analyst Brad Wilmouth: “In the presidential race today, Senator John Kerry launched a huge new advertising campaign. Many voters still do not know much about the likely Democratic nominee. The new ads are meant to fill in the blanks by introducing him and outlining his policies. Kerry also released military records today detailing his service during the Vietnam War. That service is a source of pride for Kerry, but it also has become the subject of controversy. Here’s ABC’s Dan Harris with tonight’s 'Closer Look.’”

     Harris began: “Arriving in New Orleans today, John Kerry, as often happens, was greeted by a group of veterans. Kerry’s record as a decorated Vietnam Navy lieutenant is at the core of his candidacy.”
     Clip of ad: “For 35 years, John Kerry’s fought for his country.”
     Harris: “You see it in his ads, at his campaign events, and occasionally hear it in his rhetorical jabs.”
     John Kerry, on outdoor stage on April 16: “I’m tired of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and a bunch of people who went out of their way to avoid their chance to serve when they had the chance. I went. I’m not going to listen to them talk to me about patriotism and-”
     Harris: “But Kerry’s opponents are increasingly working to turn this strength into a liability. Some conservatives and fellow veterans have asked questions about the seriousness of the injuries for which Kerry received his first purple heart. On a Sunday TV show, Kerry promised to release all his military records to refute that charge.”
     Kerry, on Meet the Pres: “People can come and see them at the headquarters and take a look at them.”
     Harris: “When he didn’t do so immediately, the Republicans pounced.”
     Ed Gillespie, RNC Chairman, on Tuesday: “When President Bush committed to release all his military records on the same program, he kept his word. John Kerry should do the same.”

With a picture of Kerry in uniform on the right side of the screen and on the left text changing with a big picture of Bronze Star, Harris asserted: “Now, Kerry is releasing hundreds of pages of documents. But one wonders why the campaign didn’t release them long ago. They show an officer who got glowing reviews from superiors. Quote, 'Kerry’s calmness, professionalism and great personal courage under fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.’ Kerry earned a Bronze Star for saving a Green Beret knocked overboard in a river during a firefight. Quote, 'His arm bleeding and in pain and with disregard for his personal safety, he pulled the man aboard.’ When Kerry was honorably discharged, his superior wrote, 'The detachment of this officer will be a definite loss to the service.’
“A Kerry campaign spokesman today conceded that running as a Vietnam veteran is complicated. 'But,’ he said, 'if the Bush campaign wants to compare military records, we welcome that.’ Dan Harris, ABC News, New Orleans.”

“Kerry faces questions over Purple Heart,” announced the headline over the April 14 Boston Globe story by Michael Kranish which generated some cable attention at the time, but none from the broadcast networks. An excerpt from the top:

WASHINGTON -- John F. Kerry's tour of duty in Vietnam, distinguished by Silver and Bronze stars and the close-range killing of an enemy fighter, is highlighted in his campaign ads and cheered on the trail. Even the campaign of President Bush, who did not see combat, hasn't tried to make an issue of his opponent's service record.

But as the presidential campaign heats up, some Vietnam veterans are using the Internet and talk radio to question the Democratic candidate's military record. They complain that Kerry's three Purple Hearts were for minor wounds and that he left Vietnam more than six months ahead of schedule under regulations permitting thrice-wounded soldiers to depart early.

A review by the Globe of Kerry's war record in preparation for a forthcoming book, "John F. Kerry: The Complete Biography," found that the young Navy officer acted heroically under fire, in one case saving the life of an Army lieutenant. But the examination also found that Kerry's commanding officer at the time questioned Kerry's first Purple Heart, which he earned for a wound received just two weeks after arriving in Vietnam.

"He had a little scratch on his forearm, and he was holding a piece of shrapnel," recalled Kerry's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Grant Hibbard. "People in the office were saying, `I don't think we got any fire,' and there is a guy holding a little piece of shrapnel in his palm." Hibbard said he couldn't be certain whether Kerry actually came under fire on Dec. 2, 1968, the date in question and that is why he said he asked Kerry questions about the matter.

But Kerry persisted and, to his own "chagrin," Hibbard said, he dropped the matter. "I do remember some questions, some correspondence about it," Hibbard said. "I finally said, `OK, if that's what happened . . . do whatever you want.' After that, I don't know what happened. Obviously, he got it, I don't know how."

Kerry declined to talk to the Globe about the issue during the preparation of the Kerry biography. But his press secretary, Michael Meehan, noted that the Navy concluded that Kerry deserved the Purple Heart....

     -- February 5 CyberAlert. “New questions have arisen about President Bush’s military service record,” Dan Rather declared on Wednesday’s CBS Evening News, although the “questions” are not “new” since they were raised and dismissed in 1999 and 2000. CBS and NBC on Wednesday night picked up on DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe’s unsubstantiated “AWOL” charge, and how the John Kerry campaign is fueling the allegations, but ignored how in 1992 Kerry himself took to the Senate floor to denounce those critical of Bill Clinton’s efforts to avoid military service during the Vietnam era. Matching a theme of many cable news channel segments this week, both networks portrayed the attacks on Bush’s personal military record of 30 years ago as a legitimate retort to questions about Kerry’s professional policy positions on national security issues. See: www.mediaresearch.org

     -- February 11 CyberAlert. The White House on Tuesday released pay records which disproved the unsubstantiated allegation of DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe that President George W. Bush was AWOL from his Air National Guard duties for a year in 1972-73. But instead of rebuking McAuliffe and other liberals for such scurrilous tactics, on Tuesday night the networks avoided castigating McAuliffe and moved the goal posts on the subject as they assumed Bush is guilty until the White House proves him innocent by accounting for his activities for every week 30-plus years ago. ABC, CBS and NBC all led with the subject and stressed the lack of eyewitnesses to Bush’s 1972-'73 activities. “The issue is not going to go away,” ABC’s Terry Moran insisted in a self-fulfilling promise as CBS’s Dan Rather declared that the White House effort “did not put the issue to rest.” See: www.mediaresearch.org

     -- February 11 CyberAlert. Tuesday’s White House press briefing was quite contentious, with the press corps pounding away at Press Secretary Scott McClellan for nearly 30 straight minutes over their dissatisfaction with the 1972-'73 pay records proving George W. Bush’s service in the Air National Guard. The reporters demanded proof of what Bush did every month and eyewitnesses to it. CBS’s John Roberts snapped at one point: “I asked a simple question. How about a simple answer?” And when McClellan pointed out how he’d already answered a question, NBC’s David Gregory shot back: “I'll ask it until we maybe get something.” See: www.mediaresearch.org

     -- February 12 CyberAlert. The media obsession with advancing the liberal Democratic campaign quest, to make President Bush’s National Guard record an issue, continued on Wednesday morning. Instead of castigating those leveling unsubstantiated “AWOL” charges, and demanding that the accusers provide proof, the network morning shows presumed Bush is guilty until proven innocent. With “Was He AWOL?” plastered on screen over video of present day Bush next to a black-and-white still shot of Bush in uniform during his National Guard days, ABC’s Charles Gibson asserted: “President Bush still in the hot seat after releasing his military records. Was he AWOL as his critics charge?” And showing no self-awareness of how it is the media which are making it a story, Gibson claimed: “The questions about the President's National Guard service just won't stop.” CBS and NBC delivered similar takes. See: www.mediaresearch.org

February 16 CyberAlert, four items:
# On Sunday’s Face the Nation, at the start of a segment on President Bush’s National Guard duty, CBS’s Bob Schieffer said he was “surprised, frankly,” that the Guard story “has gone on as long as it has.” As if he had no control over the subject matters addressed on his own show. But neither Schieffer, nor his guests on the topic, Time’s Karen Tumulty and Boston Globe reporter Walter Robinson, went so far as Meet the Press panelist Roger Simon of U.S. News who remarked that, as opposed to Bush taking the nation to war, “nobody died when Bill Clinton lied.”

# The White House’s Friday afternoon release of additional records about President Bush’s National Guard years didn’t quiet the media which simply found more “unanswered questions” and complained about the late Friday timing. NBC’s John Seigenthaler asserted: “Some political observers wonder whether the release of these new documents could raise more questions about the President’s credibility.” ABC’s Geoff Morrell maintained that the document release “does not answer the fundamental question that has been dogging Mr. Bush: Did he report for duty in the Alabama National Guard between May and October 1972?” Peter Jennings whined to Terry Moran: “Terry, I have to note first that it comes very late on a Friday evening.” CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux recalled: “Document dumps like this one, of course, were so common in the Clinton administration...”

# CNN’s Bill Schneider on Friday night awarded Democrats for their hounding of President Bush on AWOL charges, trumpeting how “the Democrats now have standing to play the military card and make it the 'Political Play of the Week.’” Schneider argued: “The issue may work this time not just because the Democrats have a war hero but because the Republicans have a war, an increasingly unpopular war and a President with a growing credibility problem coming out of that war.”

# On Friday morning, as they had done on Thursday night, network stories and interview segments continued to feature book author James Moore and former Texas National Guard Lt. Colonel Bill Burkett, without bothering to note how Moore’s book has a definite anti-Bush agenda on the Iraq war, how a Friday Boston Globe story undermined Burkett’s claim that he witnessed efforts to “cleanse” Bush’s National Guard records and how Burkett is a member of a left-wing group, Veterans for Peace, and last year wrote a disgruntled screed blaming George W. Bush for his health problems.

Still left unexplored by the media, how on Sunday’s Meet the Press Kerry conceded he was inaccurate in claiming that U.S. troops in Vietnam regularly committed “atrocities,” though he stood by the claim that certain atrocities and inhumane practices were carried out.

On the April 18 Meet the Press, Tim Russert played a clip from Kerry’s April 18, 1971 appearance on the show. Kerry had asserted: “There are all kinds of atrocities and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free-fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction fire. I used 50-caliber machine guns which we were granted and ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people. I took part in search-and-destroy missions, in the burning of villages. All of this is contrary to the laws of warfare. All of this is contrary to the Geneva Conventions and all of this ordered as a matter of written established policy by the government of the United States from the top down. And I believe that the men who designed these, the men who designed the free-fire zone, the men who ordered us, the men who signed off the air raid strike areas, I think these men, by the letter of the law, the same letter of the law that tried Lieutenant Calley, are war criminals.”

     Back live, Russert challenged Kerry: “You committed atrocities?”
     Kerry: “I thought a lot, for a long time, about that period of time, the things we said, and I think the word is a bad word. I think it's an inappropriate word. I mean, if you wanted to ask me have you ever made mistakes in your life, sure. I think some of the language that I used was a language that reflected an anger. It was honest, but it was in anger, it was a little bit excessive.”
     Russert: “You used the word 'war criminals.’"
     Kerry: “Well, let me just finish. Let me must finish. It was, I think, a reflection of the kind of times we found ourselves in and I don't like it when I hear it today. I don't like it, but I want you to notice that at the end, I wasn't talking about the soldiers and the soldiers' blame, and my great regret is, I hope no soldier, I mean, I think some soldiers were angry at me for that, and I understand that and I regret that, because I love them. But the words were honest but on the other hand, they were a little bit over the top. And I think that there were breaches of the Geneva Conventions. There were policies in place that were not acceptable according to the laws of warfare, and everybody knows that. I mean, books have chronicled that, so I'm not going to walk away from that. But I wish I had found a way to say it in a less abrasive way.”
     Russert: “But Senator, when you testified before the Senate, you talked about some of the hearings you had observed at the winter soldiers meeting and you said that people had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and on and on. A lot of those stories have been discredited, and in hindsight was your testimony-”
     Kerry: “Actually, a lot of them have been documented.”
     Russert: “So you stand by that?”
     Kerry: “A lot of those stories have been documented. Have some been discredited? Sure, they have, Tim. The problem is that's not where the focus should have been. And, you know, when you're angry about something and you're young, you know, you're perfectly capable of not, I mean, if I had the kind of experience and time behind me that I have today, I'd have framed some of that differently. Needless to say, I'm proud that I stood up. I don't want anybody to think twice about it. I'm proud that I took the position that I took to oppose it. I think we saved lives, and I'm proud that I stood up at a time when it was important to stand up, but I'm not going to quibble, you know, 35 years later that I might not have phrased things more artfully at times.”

"Kerry draws heckler . ."

Kerry to heckler: 'I never run away from a fight,' especially with Bush (What a Jerk Alert!)

"On the April 18 Meet the Press, Tim Russert played a clip from Kerry’s April 18, 1971 appearance on the show. Kerry had asserted:

- “There are all kinds of atrocities and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free-fire zones."

- "I conducted harassment and interdiction fire."

- "I used 50-caliber machine guns which we were granted and ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people."

- "I took part in search-and-destroy missions, in the burning of villages."

- "All of this is contrary to the laws of warfare."

- "All of this is contrary to the Geneva Conventions and all of this ordered as a matter of written established policy by the government of the United States from the top down."

- "And I believe that the men who designed these, the men who designed the free-fire zone, the men who ordered us, the men who signed off the air raid strike areas, I think these men, by the letter of the law, the same letter of the law that tried Lieutenant Calley, are war criminals.”

WINTER SOLDIER.COM

With antiwar role, high visibility

As an antiwar leader, John Kerry was arrested with hundreds of others after protesting on the green in Lexington, Mass., on May 31, 1971. The Nixon White House identified Kerry as the movement's most effective spokesman.

Compare and contrast:

John Kerry, on outdoor stage on April 16: “I’m tired of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and a bunch of people who went out of their way to avoid their chance to serve when they had the chance. I went. I’m not going to listen to them talk to me about patriotism and-”

"Even the campaign of President Bush, who did not see combat, hasn't tried to make an issue of his opponent's service record.

How can Kerry be "tired" of something that no Republican is doing? He has more beef with the Boston Globe than anything the Bush Campaign has, is or will do.

Russert: “But Senator, when you testified before the Senate, you talked about some of the hearings you had observed at the winter soldiers meeting and you said that people had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and on and on. A lot of those stories have been discredited, and in hindsight was your testimony-”

How does one testify to something that someone did not witness, and, as history has shown, didn't happen? Is that not perjury?

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