Bush urges immediate end to 'soft money' ads

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | August 6, 2004 | Bill Sammon and Stephen Dinan

[TBP]

The White House yesterday distanced itself from a political ad that questions John Kerry's Vietnam service and called on the Democratic presidential nominee to join President Bush in demanding an "immediate cessation" of all advertisements by outside groups.

"We have not and will not question Senator Kerry's service in Vietnam," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters aboard Air Force One. "The president is calling for an immediate cessation to all the unregulated soft money activity."

He added: "We hope the Kerry campaign will join us."

The TV ad features 13 Vietnam veterans who say Mr. Kerry, a Navy lieutenant who earned three Purple Hearts and was awarded a Silver Star and a Bronze Star in four months of action, lied to obtain his medals.

[TBP]

Such a policy would be unconstitutional -- a clear violation of the First Amendment's protections of free speech -- and would concentrate even more power in the hands of the liberal Democrat media. This is just another betrayal of principles by Bush. It's alos very bad politics, virtually guaranteed to hand control back to the Democrats.

[cyborg]

The Kerry campaign WILL NOT join US EVER.

[rep-always]

Strategery. President Bush says that knowing, no one will do it. In the meantime, no one can say (msm) he backs the swift boats ad but the ad stays in the limelight. Win, win for the president.

[Eagle of Liberty]

I think of it more as a warning.

"Hey Kerry, we can bash you too! Truce? Truce? No? OK!"

[sinkspur]

It's politics, TBP. Bush knows it won't happen. He's saying that to slap Kerry's camp for jumping on the SwiftVets.

[A CA Guy]

Who would have any control over private parties who are doing things on their own?

Granted some groups are direct arms of political parties, but these vets are not stopping for anyone.
They are in this for themselves against Kerry. I don't think the President has any control over them in fact.

[af_vet_1981]

No, this is good politics. The focus should be on Kerry vs. Vietnam Veterans on this issue.

[Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok]

I think the President said this to distance him self from from any negative fall out. The vets aren't pulling their adds, so Bush will still benefit from it, and by calling for an end he can't be accused of dirty politics. Bush is an incredible leader, but also an effective and shrewed politician and this shows that.

[ASA Vet]

They are in this for themselves against Kerry

NO! They're not in it for themselves.

They're it doing for our nation.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Arie Fleischer played the same game with the Assault Weapons Ban sunset... "The President will sign (a renewal) if it hits his desk."

It never did, but it completely gutted it as an issue the DEMO(N)cRATS could demagogue.

Same thing here. The ads will continue, but Bush gets to play innocent so the ads cannot be used against him.

The object here is to win the election.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

This was actually a pretty smart tactic. You are correct that it is unconstituitonal only if we are talking about original intent. The reality of the matter is that the SCOTUS has said that this kind of campaign speech is not protected by the First Amendment. Go figure. We need a new court.

[cyborg]

The president should not, ought not silence the voices of these veterans. Kerry is using the Vietnam veteran memory like a three dollar whore. He's a whore himself *LOL* This is only happening because the libruls got a taste of their own bitter medicine.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Exactly. He personally places himself above the fray and lets others do the nasty infighting.

[Paloma_55]

I think G.W should come out and inform the press "John Kerry said yesterday that if he were sitting in front of those children and an aide came up and said 'Mr. president, the United States is under attack', I would do something...

Well, I am here to say that I *was* sitting in front of those children and my aide did not inform me were were under attack.

My aide informed me that a plane had hit the World Trade Center and that my administration was gathering information on what was happening.

Mr. Kerry owes me and the people of this country an apology for fabricating this story and implying that I would sit idle as our nation is being attacked."

But, G.W. won't.

[Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok]

Kerry is like a lill yelping Dog. it would be pointless to respond to every stupid asinine thing Kerry says.

[secretagent]

The reality of the matter is that the SCOTUS has said that this kind of campaign speech is not protected by the First Amendment. Go figure. We need a new court.

And a Congress that will repeal Campaign Finance Reform.

And a President that would have vetoed CFR.

[Rakkasan1]

"We hope the Kerry campaign will join us."

Kerry said "when monkeys fly out my moveon.org paid for butt"

[rep-always]

The bottom line here is that the main stream press will carry the water for Kerry and the rest of the liberals. If you don't believe me just look at the Sandy Berger story. Zip, nada from the msm. Do you really think if this had happened to anyone in the Bush Administration we could have heard crickets chirping?

The bottom line is that the hypocrites in the media are towing the line for the Democrats and the President has to continually figure out ways to outsmart them at their own game.
But that's fine. Let them continue underestimating him.

[sam_paine]

This is just another betrayal of principles by Bush. It's alos very bad politics,

Glad Rove is there and not you!

This is the BEST way politically to fight the Soros/Moore faction. These guys have made their points against Kerry.

[A CA Guy]

The President is only making sure it is understood that he is not behind these ads.
No way any private parties will stop their ads, but regarding stations that refuse to run these vet ads, unless they refused to run ads from the other side, I can see them at risk from lawsuits.

I read one ABC station caved, so as long as they did not run anti-Bush stuff from a private party, I have no issue. If we find they DID run ads of those connected to the Democrats, but not now those favorable to Republicans, then their should be a lawsuit against them for a million bucks or so.