EXCLUSIVE: The Dirt on Ben Barnes Claims about Bush and the Air National Guard (NY Times Barf Alert)

The Blogspirator ^ | 8/28/04 | adam_az

[adam_az]

UPDATED 8/28/04 at 8:21 MST

According to an 8/27/2004 article in the the New York Times, a new Swiftboatesque testimonial video was released featuring Texas lobbyist Ben Barnes who claims that he got George W. Bush into the National Guard in 1968.

"I walked through the Vietnam Memorial the other day," Mr. Barnes said, according to a videoclip posted on the Internet this summer, "and I looked at the names of people who died in Vietnam and I became more ashamed of myself than I've ever been because the worst thing I did was get a lot of wealthy supporters and a lot of people who had family names of importance into the Guard and I'm very sorry about that and I apologize to you and the voters of Texas."

The New York Times did not mention Ben Barnes connections with John Kerry's campaign, or the DNC connections with the release of these videos.

Who Is Ben Barnes?

CBS News reports that Ben Barnes is one of eight "bundlers" who have raised more than $500,000 for John Kerry's campaign. He is also listed as a Vice Chair of the Kerry campaign on the John Kerry campaign website. According to the Dallas Ft. Worth Star Telegram, Barnes is one of the "gatekeepers and endorsers for Texas appointees and job-seekers" in a potential Kerry administration.

Ben Barnes had been the Lt. Governor of Texas in the early 1970's, but saw his elected political career end as a result of the Sharpstown stock-fraud scandal.

The timing of this news release, days before the Republican National Convention, is suspicious. A Texas Observer editorial from 10/15/1999 shows that Ben Barnes has made this accusation before.

Ben Barnes, then Lieutenant Governor... has admitted that he personally interceded with Guard officials at the behest of a business associate of Congressman Bush. The ex-President says he is "almost certain" he didn’t ask Barnes, directly or indirectly, to intercede for his son; the carefully crumbling denials suggest there is smoking documentation somewhere, and we may yet get a more precise snapshot of how the people who start the wars avoid risking their children to fight them.

These claims were already discredited by then. CNN reported in July 1999 that the Los Angeles Times had already investigated them, reporting that the "Los Angeles Times said it found no evidence that either Bush or his father, former President George Bush, had personally tried to influence or pressure anyone to get the younger Bush a place in the Texas Guard. Bush's father was a congressman from Houston at the time."

Additionally, Mr. Barnes wasn't Lt. Gov yet in 1968, he was the UN Representative to Geneva. Previously, he US Representative to the NATO conference in 1967. He wasn't elected governor until 1969. The Republican party had it's first Republican majority in all three branches of government in Texas for the first time in 130 years in 2002. In 1968, there were only 8 Republicans elected to the State Legislature out of 150 seats. At the time, President Bush's father was one of Republicans elected in a state that was primarly Democrat., which did not put him into a position of great influence.

Who is Distributing This Video Now

According to the New York Times, the website which released the video, Austin4Kerry.com, crashed when James Moore, the author of "Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential" and "Bush's War For Reelection : Iraq, the White House, and the People" sent an email to his mailing list, with the resuling traffic crashing the website hosting the video.

According to the New York Times, the website changed to http://69.59.167.160

This website is hosted by www.polycot.com but contains the instructions "email info@greaterdemocracy.org"

I spoke with Greaterdemocracy.org blogger Aldon Hynes, who was also an accredited "blogger" at the Democratic National Committee. According to the DNC Blogwebsite, "Aldon is one of approximately 20 bloggers who received press credentials for the convention."

Mr. Hynes says that he is not involved with the Barnes video. He directed me to Mr. John Lebowsky, CEO of Polycot Consulting LLC, who is the actual proprietor of GreaterDemocracy.org, and the person who Mr. Hynes says is hosting the Barnes videos.

The Blogspirator will update this page once Mr. Lebowsky is interviewed...

[LuvMyRedneck]

Man you're good! You always catch me off guard...I'm reading a thread, thoroughly absorbing every drop of intellectual sweat..and BAM! There's KEVIN BACON!

Thanx...I needed that!


SuzQ

[adam_az]

"There were three: George Bush (West Houston), Jim Collins (North Dallas), and Robert Price (Panhandle)."

At the same time, there were 20 Democrat Congressmen.

Thank you!!!

Do you have a webpage source I can cite?

You are evidence of the reason I love FR!

[rocklobster11]

Man you're good! You always catch me off guard...I'm reading a thread, thoroughly absorbing every drop of intellectual sweat..and BAM! There's KEVIN BACON! OK, that inspired me to come up with something totally obtuse:

[nopardons]

bttt

[writmeister]

I use the online Congressional Biographical Dictionary. The website is bioguide.congress.gov

You can search by office (Senator or Congressman), by State, by party, by first or last name, by year in congress, or by any combination of these categories. It is an excellent site for getting a short-hand introduction to members of congress.

[RBroadfoot]

As quoted by Texas Monthly, Ben Barnes is the guy a Democrat will call when he wants them to do his dirty work:

"I'm not really a lobbyist. I don't represent clients day to day on legislation. I'm more of a crisis manager. I get called when people have a big problem in Washington that they can't solve by passing a bill."

Back in the days of the Sharpstown stock manipulation scandal, Frank Sharp told federal investigators that "Ben is smarter than those other politicians—he only takes cash."

Since then Barnes represented GTech in the Texas state lottery, working a deal that makes him and a partner 3.5 cents on every lottery tick sold. Perhaps smelling a rat, the Texas Lottery Commission pressured GTech to sever its dealings with Barnes for a contract buyout of $23 million.

Once he took a group of Methodist minister to meet Governor Bill Clinton. "I may have to switch religions," Clinton told the ministers. "If you all will take a sinner like Barnes, you might take me."

Barnes must have plenty on his conscience to be ashamed of.

Texas Monthly, September 2001
http://www.texasmonthly.com/mag/issues/2001-09-01/politics-2.php

[lonestar]

If I remember, GWB got into the guard because there wer openings--NOT a waiting list. Not everybody qualified for flight school.

[PhilDragoo]

[katiedidit1]

Thank God for this forum. Great work in exposing Ben Barnes for what he is...now I will forward this to everyone I know.

[adam_az]

There is more coming shortly :)

It's worse than you think.

[Arizona Carolyn]

They don't care. Poe did an article on Hilary several years ago where heuoted Horowitz on the current state of affairs:

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=3608

When Chicago police beat up journalists outside the 1968 Democratic Convention, Walter Cronkite exposed it on national television. The resulting scandal helped bring down the Democratic Party. You won't see that happening today. The new breed of journalist knows his place. And that place is right under Hillary's boot.

How did this woman acquire such power? During his speech, David Horowitz explained that it's all part of the plan. Left-wing operatives have been infiltrating government, media, and academia for decades. Now a powerful network is in place to promote the agenda of "America's foremost leftist," as Horowitz calls the First Lady

[BunnySlippers]

Bump

[jnarcus]

You have the TExas social order exactly correct

[jnarcus]

You sound more like a demorat than a conservative or republican with that bit of nonsense. Lots of folks of all economic backgrounds received student deferments during the Viet Nam experience. ANd lets not forget that those writing the rules then were the likes of Tip O'Neill, RObert Kennedy, RObert McNamara, and a bunch of other demorats. The only people calling for a draft these days aare demorats from the northeast...perhaps that's where your sympathies lie. You speak of social weaknesses of "pur society" that were manifested by the draft...I say pish and tosh. The so called weaknesses are nothing more than typical classism claims by the lefties

[igoramus987]

You just debunked the entire story. Why not send that info to someone who can get it out to the public? The NYT should be embarrassed for running with this bogus story. They won't be, but they should be.

The nyt should print a front page retraction and apology

[adam_az]

Total for this search: $86,000

Contributor	Occupation	Date	Amount	Recipient
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701		4/15/2003	($2,000)	Schumer, Charles E
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701		10/3/2003	$1,000	North Dakota Dem-Nonpartisan League Prty
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	BENNETT-BARNES INVESTMENT/CONSULTAN	6/10/2003	$2,000	Frost, Martin
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	CONSULTANT	12/18/2003	$1,000	Clinton, Hillary Rodham
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	CONSULTANT	12/18/2003	$2,000	Clinton, Hillary Rodham
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	CONSULTANT	12/19/2003	$2,000	Kennedy, Edward M
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	CONSULTANT	12/19/2003	$2,000	Kennedy, Edward M
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRE CORPORATION/CONSULTANT	3/3/2003	$2,000	Kennedy, Patrick J
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	1/22/2003	$12,500	Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	3/26/2003	$1,000	Daschle, Tom
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	3/26/2003	$1,000	Daschle, Tom
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	3/31/2003	$1,000	Reid, Harry
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	3/31/2003	$1,000	Reid, Harry
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	4/30/2003	$2,000	Dorgan, Byron L
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	5/12/2003	$2,000	Bayh, Evan
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	6/27/2003	$2,000	Murray, Patty
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	8/12/2003	($1,000)	Murray, Patty
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	8/12/2003	$1,000	Murray, Patty
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	9/23/2003	$1,000	Democratic Party of Harris County
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	10/15/2003	$1,000	Knowles, Tony
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	12/31/2003	$2,000	Stabenow, Debbie
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	2/12/2004	$12,500	Democratic Senatorial Campaign Cmte
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	3/31/2004	$2,000	Mikulski, Barbara A
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	6/20/2004	$1,000	Salazar, Ken
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	6/20/2004	$1,000	Salazar, Ken
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP/PRESIDENT	5/20/2003	$5,000	DASHPAC
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP/PRESIDENT	6/30/2003	$2,000	Kerry, John
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP/PRESIDENT	10/3/2003	$2,500	Glacier PAC
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP/PRESIDENT & CEO	6/8/2004	$5,000	Citizens for Hope Responsib Indep & Svc
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP/PROPRIETOR	6/4/2004	$5,000	Democratic Congressional Campaign Cmte
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	GRIGGS & HARRISON/ATTORNEY	2/12/2003	$1,000	Gephardt, Richard A
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	GRIGGS & HARRISON/ATTORNEY	2/12/2003	$1,000	Gephardt, Richard A
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	SELF EMPLOYED/CONSULTANT	5/22/2003	$2,000	Lieberman, Joe
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	SELF-EMPLOYED/ATTORNEY	9/30/2003	$500	Delahunt, Bill
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78701	SELF/GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CONSULTANT	9/30/2003	$2,000	Graham, Bob
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78703		11/5/2003	($1,000)	Hollings, Fritz
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78703	ENTERCORP	3/31/2003	$1,000	Leahy, Patrick
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78703	ENTERCORP	3/31/2003	$1,000	Leahy, Patrick
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78703	ENTRECORP	12/30/2003	$2,000	Biden, Joseph R Jr
BARNES, BEN AUSTIN,TX 78703	ENTRECORP	12/30/2003	$2,000	Biden, Joseph R Jr
BARNES, BENJAMIN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	3/24/2003	$1,000	Dodd, Chris
BARNES, BENJAMIN AUSTIN,TX 78701	ENTRECORP	3/24/2003	$1,000	Dodd, Chris

[Mr.Atos]

Ammo Ping!

[Mr.Atos]

Excellent info! Such propaganda (re: the original story) is meant for the voluntarily ignorant who don't intend to educate themselves regarding the truth. Soundbite logic is the extent of their moral compass... always pointing Left.

[Susannah]

Some statistics from VietnamHERE

26% of combat deaths came from the families in the highest third of income levels

76% of the men sent to Vietnam were from middle/working class backgrounds

Three-fourths had family incomes above the poverty level; 50% were from middle income backgrounds

Some 23% of Vietnam veterans had fathers with professional, managerial or technical occupations

79% of the men who served in Vietnam had a high school education or better when they entered military service. (63% of Korean War vets and only 45% of WWII vets had completed high school upon separation)

[rock58seg]

kerry actually enlisted in the Naval Reserve. Probably went for a longer commitment as a result of qualifying for OCS (officers Candidate School). Had he not, He would then have served a short active training period, and assignment to a training unit. In essence, The same type of function as the NG or AirNG.