How Should Bush Respond to Kerry on the Swiftvets Issue?

[AJFavish]

Kerry has demanded that Bush denounce the Swiftvets' charges. I believe Bush should respond by stating something to this effect:

I am not in a position to endorse or denounce the charges made by the Swiftvets because all of the available records tht may have some bearing on the charges have not been released, including all of Sen. Kerry's military records.

The release of all such records is a minimum requirement for me to even consider denouncing the Swiftvets's charges or endorsing their charges.

[Radix]

Bush's response so far is as good as it could be.

Lets move on!

[Cogadh na Sith]

You started a whole thread for that?

And I posted on it....

[Radix]

Bush's response so far is as good as it could be.

Lets move on!

[Boundless]

You forgot the BCRA "coordination" issue.

[Ed_in_NJ]

W should tell Jacques to put some ice on it.

[johnfrink]

Unfortunately, Bush does not want to get into a discussion about releasing military records.

[Sgt. Pile E-6]

Bush should say, "For his whole life John Kerry has been slandering veterans, today Kerry keeps with tradition slandering honorably discharged veterans. Slandering veterans, calling them war criminals, and liars has been the only consistent stance Kerry has taken in his whole life."

[xm177e2]

I disagree. Bush should keep his current stance which is "I want to talk about the issues." Bush should not say "I'm not going to comment on the fact that Kerry's lying about his Vietnam record." Anything he says like that is a comment.

[cripplecreek]

The fact that democratic pundits are sounding like auctioneers on a mix of mescaline and methamphetamines, tells me that the swiftvets are doing major damage. Bush can't really stop them anyway.

[federal]

He should say that the Swiftvets aren't Republican but patriots from Kerry's Naval Unit which have a personal problem with Kerry.


And he should say he thinks all 527s should be stopped, but he would never think of critizing veterans which have paid for their right to speak with their blood.

[comebacknewt]

Keep dodging it.

When questioned by reporters, W should respond that he thanks Sen. Kerry for his service to the country and is far more concerned about his ultra liberal voting record of increasing taxes and cutting defense.

[SteveH]

I think that sounds rather silly myself. If Bush wants to, as President he could probably have someone look up the records without getting Kerry's permission. But it would be news that he could not use, since the only current value of the information is political, and supplying the info to the folks who need it most (eg the RNC or the Swift Boat Vets) would violate Kerry's privacy rights and give Kerry ample cause to cry foul and thus win the election in a sympathy vote.

Nice thought, though...

[CheezyD]

Bush has already called for an end to ALL 527 ads. Kerry has yet to do the same.

[NonValueAdded]

Everything else in Washington is leaked, why not Kerry's records?

[smonk]

The swiftees’ problem with john kerry has nothing to do with george bush. They became john kerry’s blood enemy 30 years ago when he called them all war criminals. It was their sacred purpose to expose him as a charlatan long before george bush ever ran for governor of texas. For them, the presidential election is merely a means to that end.

[Saundra Duffy]

Bush should demand that Kerry denouce Michael Moore's movie.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Bush could nail the lid into Kerry's coffin in a debate.

"Senator, do you remember Bill Clinton's 1996 reelection campaign?

Well he touted building a bridge to the 21st century..

Seems like you are still living in the middle of the 20th century.

Seems like you missed that bridge.

Senator, the Vietnam War has been over for 30 years.

[VRWC_minion]

He should simply say that this whole thing is a matter for those who fought in Vietnam to settle amoung themselves and that he doesn't have time to refight a war 30 years old while he fights the current war on terrorism.

He should praise both parties for their brave service in Vietnam and leave them to settle their unfinished business.

[faithincowboys]

I respond by doing what I'm doing. I make more hard hitting ads.

What the Swifties should do is make a commercial saying that Kerry is lying by saying that anti-Kerry feelings among Vietnam Vets is Bush generated. They should make the point that Kerry declared war on the honor of all Vietnam Vets in 1971. It's clear to most honest people that these Vets oppose Kerry for reasons that don't have a darn thing to do with George Bush.

Kerry hust a lot of people-- and those people are speaking out and fighting back. Kerry should be ashamed that he is attacking these good, decent, courageous men (again!!). Kerry's dismissal of them is vicious and outrageous.

Kerry is a dishonorable SOB who is unfit for command.