Posted on 08/26/2004 8:06:56 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - President Bush (news - web sites) wants to work with Republican Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) to pursue court action against political ads by "shadowy" outside groups, the White House said Thursday amid growing pressure on the president to denounce attacks on John Kerry (news - web sites)'s war record.
"The president said if the court action doesn't work, that he would be willing to pursue legislative action with Sen. McCain on that," Bush spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to New Mexico.
McCain, R-Ariz., has called on Bush to condemn the anti-Kerry ads, even as he is actively supporting Bush's re-election. McCain told The New York Times that he plans to personally "express my displeasure" to the president, the paper reported Thursday.
Bush called McCain from Air Force One and the two had a brief discussion about the matter, McClellan said.
The debate over Democratic nominee John Kerry's service in Vietnam has dominated the presidential race in recent weeks after the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth aired ads questioning Kerry's decorated record.
Conservatives for the longest time were speculating that Bush was pushing CFR in hopes that the SCOTUS would strike it down as unconstitutional. Now that it has become apparent that the Dems are using CFR to their advantage through 527s - let's do more of the same. We'll push more legislation to outlaw 527s - or something to that affect. What brainless drivel!
You're quick!
I know what you heard Buford.
You are flat out wrong in your interpretation.
Relax, everyone. This is actually a very clever move on Bush's part. He is helping to keep the SwiftVeterens issue in the news by proposing a "solution" that he (Bush) knows the Dems don't really want. There will never be bipartisan backing for (more) restrictions on political ads, and Bush knows it. Bush is calling Kerry's bluff by saying, "You want me to denounce the SwiftVets ads? I'll go farther: I'll denounce ALL such ads." It'll never fly, and the President knows it. I say, thumbs up, Mr. President!
Oh but he is - if you have lots of money.
McCain is a slimy little suck-up who toadies up to anyone with big bucks.
He supported Fife Symington , the impeached, disgraced ex Governor of AZ who ripped off is own family, friends, wife, business partners and pension funds.
He was censured by congress for his relationship with S&L scam artist Charles Keating.
He married money.
He was a long time friend of Duke Tully, former owner of the Arizona Repugnant, who turned out to be a PHONY WAR HERO.
So if you have millions, McCain will be on your side..
Probably because he figured the Supreme Court would shoot it down.
Duh ! What as moron.
Fine. Litigate. Not a damn thing will happen, Bush looks presidential, above the fray, and people will see scores of the ads that the suit seeks to squash, including the swifties. Free advertising for the swifties.
This is all a tempest in a teapot.... a sideline story peddled by the MSM so that they do not have to talk about the substance of the second swiftie ad.
Exactly. Well stated.
Just saw where the Kerry campaign is taking the ads down per McCain's wishes.
Seems they didn't have his permission. Just a mere technicality.
Now you're full of it. I picked a few comparisons.
| Name | ACU rating, 2003 | ACU rating, lifetime | ADA rating, 2003 | ADA rating, lifetime (up to 2000) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John McCain (R-AZ) | 75 | 78 | 35 | 9 |
| John Warner (R-VA) | 80 | 82 | 10 | 12 |
| Arlen Specter (R-PA) | 65 | 43 | 25 | 59 |
| Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) | 35 | 44 | 65 | 70 |
| Zell Miller (R-GA) | 75 | 65 | 10 | N/A |
| John Breaux (D-LA) | 35 | 46 | 45 | 55 |
| John Kerry (D-MA) | 13 | 5 | 85 | 92 |
Plus, it subjects the president to criticism from the swifties, which further demonstrates the independence of the Bush campaign from the swifties, and adds credibility to the swifties allegations against Kerry.
What Bush is saying is "look at these terrible terrible ads, why look at this one ad against Kerry, look how they call him a traitor, look how devistating it is, look at it again, no, go ahead, look again . . ."
You got it! Bush is playing this perfectly.
I'm sorry to bother you, but please help me out here. What is the best way to tick you off so you'll donate more?? :)
Yep, and CFR never happened. I won't get my britches in bunch over this. Let's wait and see what transpires over the next few weeks and months...and then after the election. Expect more "touchy-feely feel good" legislation from the "compassionate" conservative.
I don't like the attack on free political speech either. But if W remains silent, he continues to get smeared for not condemning free political speech enough, and the media happily carries the message. This move, which will be totally ineffective in terms of further limiting speech, shuts up both Crash McCain and Cut & Run Kerry. If you're concerned about protecting free speech, be very concerned about a Kerry presidency.
McCain's voting record has become a lot more liberal in the past 4 years. Those ACU ratings could very well consider his votes dating back far earlier.
Bush never attacked the vets. Ever.
He's attacked all groups, side stepping the Vets. (This AP article just makes it look like Bush is after the vets. It's the liberal press. Get used to it).
Bush is not condemning ANY group. He's speaking out against them all, including the Move On ads.
If Kerry wants the SBV to go away, this forces him to agree his ads are just as bad.
Nothing will happen from this until after the election anyway, but the swing voter will see Bush is a man of his word, and will work to clean up all 527's, even remove CFR all together at a later date if necessary.
"Bush condemns all mean spirited ads, but Kerry only condemns those who show dissent against HIM."
It doesn't look good for Kerry.
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