Posted on 08/13/2004 1:17:01 AM PDT by kattracks
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) praised John Kerry (news - web sites)'s military service as honorable on Thursday but declined to condemn ads from Vietnam veterans who questioned the Massachusetts senator's military record."Senator Kerry is justifiably proud of his record in Vietnam and he should be," Bush said on the CNN television talk show, "Larry King Live." He referred to Kerry's Vietnam tour as "noble service."
A group calling itself Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has accused Kerry of misrepresenting his Vietnam War record. The group has released an ad and a book attacking the Democratic presidential candidate.
Their accusations are at odds with the glowing portrait of Kerry painted by the veterans who served with him when he was a Navy swift boat commander. Kerry was decorated with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts.
Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) of Arizona, a Republican who also served in Vietnam, has urged the White House to denounce the ads. Although McCain and Kerry are friends, McCain is supporting Bush's re-election and campaigned with him this week.
While declining to condemn the ads, Bush said the broader issue was independent groups known as "527s" that fall outside the boundaries of campaign finance laws and can spend unlimited amounts of money on attack ads.
"They've said some bad things about me. I guess they're saying bad things about him. And what I think we ought to do is not have them on the air," Bush said.
The Bush campaign has been upset by attack ads from liberal groups such as Moveon.org.
Also in the interview, the president defended his lengthy pause in a Florida classroom when he was first told of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
"Well, I had just been told by (White House Chief of Staff) Andrew Card that America was under attack. And I was collecting my thoughts," Bush said. "I think what's important is how I reacted when I realized America was under attack. It didn't take me long to figure out we were at war."
Bush gets slimed and smeared by Kerry ATTACK ADS for months -- where was self-righteous Reuters "news" demanding an apology then?
I have a simple message for Reuters: What Cheney told Leahy.
I guess I must've missed Kerry condemning Michael Moo's flick for its blatant BS.
where is that headline??
KERRY REFUSES TO CONDEMN ATTACKS ON BUSH
How's this? Kerry condemns Michael Moore's movie and says it was wrong to let him into the convention. Then maybe Bush can think about condeming the SwiftVet ads.
Did they ask Kerry to condemn Fahrenheit 9/11 or the moveon.org commercials?
This is what concerns me:
'While declining to condemn the ads, Bush said the broader issue was independent groups known as "527s" that fall outside the boundaries of campaign finance laws and can spend unlimited amounts of money on attack ads.
"They've said some bad things about me. I guess they're saying bad things about him. And what I think we ought to do is not have them on the air," Bush said.'
Rather than bravely stand up for free speech, he sounds like he wants MORE campaign finance reform.
For 32 years, John O'Neil has been challending Kerry with his charges. Kerry could have stopped this long ago with his records. If there is nothing to the charges, Kerry could have gone to court with slander or libel charges. Now there are 250 honorable vets that are charging Kerry IS NOT FIT.
When Bush's military service was challenged in 2000 he released his records, why won't Kerry deal with this?
We need to demand Kerry to release his records!!!!!
BINGO.
Seven minutes of contemplation-VS- 40 minutes of apathetic thought Hmmmmmmm
Tough choice .........................NOT !
lizard larry king is a POS.
of course he wouldnt ask kerry to condemn michael moore.
these low life maggots have no shame.
(here are the top three:
1- Peter Lewis-Peter B Lewis/Progressive Corp- Cleveland, OH- $14,030,000
2- George Soros-Soros Fund Management- New York, NY- $12,600,000
3- Steven Bing-Shangri-La Entertainment- Los Angeles, CA- $8,086,273
*note: if you follow the above link and click on the individual's name, you'll find a list of the 527 groups contributed to; for example, here's Peter Lewis' list:
Joint Victory Campaign 2004- $7,750,000
America Coming Together- $2,995,000
MoveOn.org- $2,500,000
Marijuana Policy Project- $485,000
Young Democrats of America- $250,000
PunkVoter Inc- $50,000
I agree with you (of course), but right now we need to demand that the press do their job and focus on Kerry to get his military records. Simple and straightforward (non-inflammatory) letters to editors will keep pressure on them to take action.
Rather than bravely stand up for free speech, he sounds like he wants MORE campaign finance reform.
And so do I.
""Well, I had just been told by (White House Chief of Staff) Andrew Card that America was under attack. And I was collecting my thoughts," Bush said. "I think what's important is how I reacted when I realized America was under attack. It didn't take me long to figure out we were at war." "
NY Slimes Headline on Sunday
BUSH IGNORES CHILDREN
Why does Rueters/King/CNN/ABC/CBS/PMSNBC ignore these numbers???? HUH????
GWB recognizes that the demand that he denounce the Swift Boat Ads is a trap. If he does it, the press will point to the denunciation and then imply that Bush was behind the Ads all along.
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