Fox News Reports Bob, not John Kerry Was Vice-Chairman of Intelligence Committee

Fox News

[what's up]

Fox News just had a news segment where the Kerry campaign, in angry response to Bush claims that Kerry attended few Intelligence briefings, said that Kerry had at one time been the Vice-Chairman of the Intelligence campaign.

In response, the Bush people gleefully (Fox's word) returned fire by saying that it was BOB Kerrey, not JOHN Kerry who was Vice-Chairman of the Intelligence committee.

[Lockbar]

Super funny for those of us who pay attention to this political stuff. Unfortunately, the average American can't figure out what color shoes to wear in the morning. "John Kerry, or Bob Kerry, are they brothers? Too hard to figure out. Let me go back to looking at my shoes. Duuhhhh."

[mconley22]

Great job catching this blunder, if that is what it was, on Fox. It looks like the Kerry (Kerrey?) campaign has been making this claim for quite some time. This US Newswire article is dated 3/24/04

John Kerry served on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for 6 years and is the former Vice Chairman of the Committee. Kerry joined the Committee in early 1993 and served until early 2001. http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=134-03242004

[TC Rider]

They will say that John Kerry is also Bob Kerrey. That he attended every committee meeting as Bob Kerrey. That is why he can now say he was not in Cambodia at Christmas, that it was Bob.

Expect Bob to drop out of sight and sKerry to get his leg amputated.

[humblegunner]

Classic and hilarious!

His name was Bob before he changed it to John during a secret CIA
mission somewhere that might have been Cambodia during Christmas
of '68 or possibly '69 and because Nixon sent him there it is SEARED
into his mind. Then he was appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the Intelligence Committee.

That clears everything up, it's all good now.

These folks are trying to lose.

[Nick Danger]

John Kerry is Bob Kerry. they're simply interchangeable! ROFLMAO

It would be funnier if Kerry had not also tried to pull this stunt with Lt. Peck, the officer who preceded him as commander of PCF-94. By referring to "Kerry's boat..." in the narratives, Kerry's campaign tried to take credit for combat action that took place under Lt. Peck. It seems that Kerry makes a habit of making other people's accomplishments his own.

[Timeout]

Effin's campaign reminds me of nothing so much as the proverbial
"cool kids" in every teeny bopper flick.

They always think they're so cool and only talk to each other. And in the end they always end up in the mud or the manure pile or....well, you get my point.

Vote for Kerry...he's too cool for his own good. LOL!

[Fizzie]

The Kerry campaign was making this claim back in March.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=134-03242004

Statement from Kerry Spokesperson on Zell Miller's Leadership of 'Democrats for Bush'

3/24/2004 3:00:00 PM

---

To: National Desk, Politics Reporter

Contact: Mark Kornblau of John Kerry for President, 202-712-2970

WASHINGTON, March 24 /U.S. Newswire/ -- John Kerry Communications Director Stephanie Cutter today made the following statement in response to Senator Zell Miller's announcement of his leadership of "Democrats for Bush."

"Just two years ago, Zell Miller sang John Kerry's praises in his home state of Georgia. Miller pointed out some of very same the traits that have inspired millions of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans to rally behind John Kerry's campaign to get America back on track and bring back jobs.

"As Senator Miller himself said, John Kerry is an 'authentic hero.' He has fought for his country on the battlefield and in the public arena. He has been a champion of balanced budgets, a leader in education reform, and powerful advocate for affordable health care and an economy that works for working Americans.

"Zell Miller's new leadership role will be a lonely post. Democrats, and Americans of all stripes, are tired of George Bush's failed policies and broken promises. The nearly 3 million Americans who have lost their jobs since George Bush took office are members of both parties. The millions of families who are struggling to pay for the rising costs of health insurance and the seniors who can't afford needed prescription drugs are both Democrats and Republicans. And the families of U.S. troops who were sent to Iraq without body armor to protect them are members of both parties.

"This November, millions of Americans of every political persuasion will unite in a powerful call for change, and they'll stand with 'an authentic American hero' -- John Kerry."

------

JUST THE FACTS:

ZIG ZAG ZELL

While U.S. Senator Zell Miller has signaled his support for George Bush, the facts are Miller and Kerry have the exact same record when it comes to defending the nation and Miller even called Kerry an "Authentic American Hero" who has "Worked to Strengthen Our Military."

"I've been going to Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinners in Georgia since the 1950s, so I've seen a lot of speeches," says Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.), easily the Senate Democrat most supportive of the Bush agenda. "Kerry's was by far the best speech I have ever heard given at a function like that. He talked about citizen-soldiers and he talked about the flag raisers at Iwo Jima. It was a very good, touching speech." (Salon, Aug. 10, 2001)

FACT: Zell Miller Lauded John Kerry as an Authentic American Hero

"My job tonight is an easy one: to present to you one of this nation's authentic heroes, one of this party's best-known and greatest leaders -- and a good friend. He was once a lieutenant governor - but he didn't stay in that office 16 years, like someone else I know. It just took two years before the people of Massachusetts moved him into the United States Senate in 1984. -- U.S. Senator Zell Miller (Remarks to the Democratic Party of Georgia Jefferson Jackson Dinner 2001)

FACT: Zell Miller Said John Kerry Worked to Strengthen Our Military; Fought for Balanced Budgets

"In his 16 years in the Senate, John Kerry has fought against government waste and worked hard to bring some accountability to Washington. Early in his Senate career in 1986, John signed on to the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Deficit Reduction Bill, and he fought for balanced budgets before it was considered politically correct for Democrats to do so. John has worked to strengthen our military, reform public education, boost the economy and protect the environment." -- U.S. Senator Zell Miller (Remarks to the Democratic Party of Georgia Jefferson Jackson Dinner 2001)

FACT: John Kerry & Zell Miller Have Supported the EXACT Same Amount of Intelligence Funding

Kerry & Miller Have Supported the Exact Same Intelligence Funding in the Senate -- Since joining the Senate in 2000, Zell Miller and John Kerry have supported the exact same funding levels for America's Intelligence agencies. John Kerry served on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for 6 years and is the former Vice Chairman of the Committee. Kerry joined the Committee in early 1993 and served until early 2001. Zell Miller has not served on the Intelligence Committee, Armed Services Committee or the Foreign Relations Committee in his four years in the Senate.

FY04 Intel Authorization (2003, Unanimous Senate Voice Vote 11/21/03) FY03 Intel Authorization (2002, Unanimous Senate Voice Vote 09/25/02) FY02 Intel Authorization (2001, Unanimous Senate Voice Vote 12/13/01) FY01 Intel Authorization (2000, Unanimous Senate Voice Vote 12/06/00)

FACT: John Kerry & Zell Miller Have Both Supported Increases in Defense Funding -- including the Largest since the 1980's

John Kerry & Zell Miller are Both Strong Supporters of America's Military & Voted for the "Largest Increase in Defense Spending Since the Early 1980's" -- John Kerry and Zell Miller are strong supporters of the U.S. Armed Services and has consistently worked to ensure the military has the best equipment and training possible. In 2002, John Kerry & Zell Miller voted for a large increase in the defense budget. This increase provided more than $355 billion for the Defense Department for 2003, an increase of $21 billion over 2002. This measure includes $71.5 billion for procurement programs such as $4 billion for the Air Force's F-22 fighter jets, $3.5 billion for the Joint Strike Fighter and $279.3 million for an E-8C Joint Stars (JSTARS) aircraft. Kerry's vote also funded a 4.1 percent pay increase for military personnel, $160 million for the B-1 Bomber Defense System Upgrade, $1.5 billion for a new attack submarine, more than $630 million for Army and Navy variants of the Blackhawk helicopter, $3.2 billion for additional C-17 transports, $900 million for R&D of the Comanche helicopter and more than $800 million for Trident Submarine conversion. The current chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, John Warner (R-Va.) stated:

"The defense spending increase for FY03 is the largest increase in defense spending since the early 1980's-reflecting the importance of defending the homeland and winning the global war against terrorism. The funding included in this bill will help to ensure that our military has the tools it needs to defend our nation." (2002, Senate Roll Call Vote No. 239; Websites of U.S. Senators Warner, Daschle, Dodd accessed 7/25/03)


http://www.usnewswire.com/

-0-

/© 2004 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/



Printer Friendly Format
© 2004 U.S. Newswire

A Division of

[varon]

I can hear John Kerry clearing this one up:
I was Bob Kerrey before I became John Kerry

I'm just waiting for them to claim that at some point John Kerry was the Pope ;-)

[Nick Danger]

I can understand John Kerry mistaking himself for Bob Kerry. I used to make the same mistake myself all the time.

I get that one right, but I'm always confusing Christmas with Valentine's Day.

But let me ask a serious question here. If this guy does not know John from Bob, Vietnam from Cambodia, Nixon from Johnson, or Christmas from New Year's, how can we be sure he knows sh*t from Shinola?

[RikaStrom]

It would seem like it, wouldn't it?

The handlers are not doing a good job!

LOL

[CCCnative]

The Kerry campaign has no fact checkers?
Nope. Just fact chuckers.

[bootyist-monk]

Now with incriminating "highlighter" goodness...

[NavySEAL F-16]

I wonder what else might be embellished by his staff?

[NavySEAL F-16]

Kerry & Miller Have Supported the Exact Same Intelligence Funding in the Senate -- Since joining the Senate in 2000, Zell Miller and John Kerry have supported the exact same funding levels for America's Intelligence agencies. John Kerry served on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for 6 years and is the former Vice Chairman of the Committee. Kerry joined the Committee in early 1993 and served until early 2001. Zell Miller has not served on the Intelligence Committee, Armed Services Committee or the Foreign Relations Committee in his four years in the Senate.

It appears from Kerry's attendance record, neither has he.

[Lady Heron]

OK, I want the girly man Bush sticker! LOL!

[Steve_Stifler]

Well, John Kerry is on vacation for the next 3 weeks. Why shouldn't his campaign factcheckers be able to take a vacation too? What's good for the would-be ruler should be good for the little people!

[what's up]

Thanks...looks like this is a lie that goes back awhile as well.

Perhaps this is why they don't rush to take it off their website. They first have to figure out how many other times in the past the claim has been made.

[NonValueAdded]

Another misstatement in that screen shot:

KERRY DID NOT “SLASH” THE INTELLIGENCE BUDGET

Ad Text: “That same year he proposed slashing America’s intelligence budget by $6 billion.”

Note the non-responsive answer Kerry provided, all in capitals. In fact, Kerry DID PROPOSE to slash $6 billion from the intelligence budget and it is right here in the Congressional Record for all to see: Deficit Reduction Act of 1994 S.1826 (the 103rd Congress). Given the fact that the proposal was included a budget freeze, one could easily make the case that the amount slashed was even higher. That Kerry was unsuccessful was a godsend and now it appears that even Kerry is crowing about it.

[Fizzie]

Beat me to it, mconley!

[pabianice]

psychosis [sy.KO.sis] (n).

“The inability to distinguish between what is real and what is imaginary. Psychosis is a term used to describe a severe mental illness. Psychotics are characterized by a variety of symptoms that most people consider abnormal. These include experiencing delusions, such as the notion that one is being persecuted or conspired against. Psychotics may see things which don't actually exist and hear Voices (i.e. God) when no one is around. They often exhibit compulsive, irrational, ritualized behavior, esp. when such behavior serves no purpose or is even harmful or disruptive to those around them. They show no concern for others but may exhibit total self-centered behavior. Includes sociopathy, schizophrenia.”

DSM-IV

“...and that’s MISTER Shithead to you, sailor!”