Mike Wallace Turns WWII Memorial into Anti-Bush Bash

NewsMax.com ^ | 6/01/04 | Carl Limbacher and the NewsMax.com staff

[kattracks]

It was supposed to be an event where World War II-era journalists could swap war stories and bask in the glory of the soon-to-be christened WWII memorial on Washington, D.C.'s mall.

But it didn't take long for CBS "60 Minutes" star Mike Wallace and USA Today founder Al Neuharth, who had been invited to address the crowd, to turn Friday's WWII reminiscence into bash-Bush rally.

Wallace began innocently enough, telling the crowd that in WWII, "We knew what we were fighting for. We knew how important it was. We loved our country. We loved our commander-in-chief.

"And when Pearl Harbor came and we finally got in, it was a damn good thing that we did," the veteran newsman recalled.

But then Wallace turned abruptly political:

"I look at where we are today and I say to myself, I wouldn't want to - this is not, in my estimation, a good war. . . . George Washington was commander-in-chief and president of the United States. Franklin Roosevelt was commander-in-chief and president of the United States. I don't have to persuade anybody of the validity of those two guys."

But when it came to President Bush, the CBS newsman lamented:

"I don't know how we got into a position where our present commander-in-chief and the people around him had the guts to take our kids and send them on what seems to be - it sure is not a noble enterprise."

At that point some in the audience, annoyed at Wallace's attempt to politicize what was supposed to be a WWII commemoration, began heckling him.

USA Today's Al Neuwarth stepped in and tried to calm the waters by noting that "all wars are bad wars." But within minutes, he too was bashing Bush.

"I'm proud of every veteran in this country, who fought in any of [the wars]. That includes Iraq," Neuharth announced. "But I must agree with [Mike] - we stumbled and bumbled our way into this war."

The USA Today founder complained, "That decision was not made by the troops who are over there fighting and dying. It was made in the Oval Office. And I think it does raise a question of whether we were absolutely right when our Founding Fathers said that the president of the United States shall be the commander-in-chief of our military forces.

Neuharth continued:

"They were right with George Washington. He had been a military person. But I'm not sure whether a non-military commander-in-chief, no matter which party he's from and no matter who he or she is, has the background or the instincts to take us to war."

At that point boos again erupted from the crowd and moderator Thomas Doherty tried to get the event back on track. But it was too late for many.

Square One Media Network's Kathryn Serkes was on hand and she tells NewsMax that at least 50 attendees got up and stormed out because of Wallace and Neuharth's partisan antics.

Although the event was televised by C-Span, the network declined to archive the video on its web site. NewsMax thanks Ms. Serkes for sharing her copy.

[MeekOneGOP]

TV News-wise, it's FOX News Channel 99.99% of the time for me.

I will only watch another channel for an exclusive story that I want to see or when prompted by someone else.

[Smartass]

I don't have all of those answers. However, I have the links
where I found the info. :o)

1) WorldNetDaily

2)Newsmax

[potlatch]

Thanks DC2000. I have to 'pick and choose' where to use that one, LOL.

[MarkL]

Um.... that was Dan Rather actually, but Wallace is repugnant in his own right.

My bad... I take responsibility for my error, but I plea ignorance... It's been at least 5 years since I watched any news on CBS.

In fact, about the only show I've seen on CBS in I don't know how many years is CSI.

Mark

[Beowulf]

There's no fool like an old fool.

He was truly pathetic in his justification of this ridiculous episode on The O'Reilly Factor last night.

[Smartass]

Wallace and Rooney should retire...NOW.