Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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

Posted on 08/28/2004 12:29:43 AM PDT by adam_az

Edited on 08/28/2004 12:21:18 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

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...


TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: benbarnes; bush; tang
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-105 next last
To: adam_az

That loser Josh Marshall was talking about this this week. He acknowledged that Barnes has always said neither Bush nor his fater nor anyone on their behalf contacted him to get W into the Nat'l Guard.

Marshall basically hoped Barnes would just make something new up.

Crappola like that is why Marshall can't get steady work even at CNN.


81 posted on 08/29/2004 1:44:18 AM PDT by CalRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: adam_az

Its going to backfire on them. It shows disrespect of a sitting President. They doing to Bush what we tried to do to Clinton. Unbelievable. The Democrats can't defend their own candidate so they feel compelled to discredit Bush's National Guard service when the truth of the matter is ALL the facts are on the President's side. NONE of the facts are on Kerry's side vis a vis the Swifties.


82 posted on 08/29/2004 1:44:32 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mass55th

Another lie? Never mind - see only Republicans are presumed liars just like the Cretans. The burden on Bush is to disprove Barnes. Of course, the standard of proof is exactly reversed when it comes to Kerry vs the Swifties. He's presumed to be telling the truth and its up to the Swifties to prove the contrary.


83 posted on 08/29/2004 1:47:30 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Fee

I agree. I think the reason a lot of people began opposing the Vietnam War is they saw the burdens were not equally shared. Which is why I oppose the reinstution of a draft. There are just too many ways for the rich and politically connected to game the system so their kids don't have to face dying like the sons of average folks. That's one of the things that made the war so divisive. All that being said, Bush didn't avoid service like quite a few of people of his generation did and it disrespects the service of every National Guard serviceperson to imply they're not defending their country like the sailors, airmen, and soldiers are. The Democrats have a political tone deaf ear here when they trash a President's honorable service to the country for political advantage.


84 posted on 08/29/2004 1:55:18 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: rocklobster11

Perhaps you should have made that the queen of another suit?


85 posted on 08/29/2004 1:58:21 AM PDT by rock58seg (Native New Yorkers forget 9/11/2001. Texans remember the Alamo, 3/13/1836)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies]

To: adam_az
 

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:EjVANS30yUEJ:www.texasmonthly.com/archive/barnes.php+%22Ben+Barnes%22+++texas+speaker+&hl=en

What ever happened to Ben Barnes? Having worked for Barnes during much of the eight years he was at the pinnacle of the Texas power structure—first as Speaker of the Texas House from 1965 to 1969, then as lieutenant governor from 1969 to 1973—I sometimes find it hard to imagine Barnes existing outside of politics. Does he now pout in self-exile, cursing Frank Sharp, the Houston financier whose manipulations led to Barnes' downfall? Is he secretly planning campaigns for future political wars? Or has he settled for the life of a prosperous West Texan, desiring only peace and quiet and money?

 

 

>>>>>>>Seems to me Ben Barnes was speaker during the time he claims he helped Bush get into the Air National Guard

86 posted on 08/29/2004 2:06:54 AM PDT by dennisw (Allah FUBAR!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: goldstategop
"Of course, the standard of proof is exactly reversed when it comes to Kerry vs the Swifties. He's presumed to be telling the truth and its up to the Swifties to prove the contrary."

Sad but true. The Left & MSM lapped up Kerry's allegations of atrocities, despite the fact that the stories he told were second & third hand, and some were even from frauds. But the Swifties aren't credible, because "they didn't serve on Kerry's boat." Forget about the fact that they were only feet and yards apart from each other.

87 posted on 08/29/2004 2:18:25 AM PDT by mass55th ( “Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings.”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: adam_az

Ben Barnes is so full of bs.


88 posted on 08/29/2004 5:50:40 AM PDT by freekitty
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: adam_az
Why is "Barnes Regrets Helping Bush Avoid Vietnam" a story on Fox News? You have a Democrat hack that is joining the fray to slime Bush. A Democrat bashes Bush. This is news? And besides GW's unit could have been called up and sent to Vietnam. Right?

Perhaps Fox is stinging from charges that its bias toward conservatives and is just trying too hard to be "balanced." I stopped watching nbccbsabc et al. of the BS they spew and I can do the same with Fox and go all Internet all the time.
89 posted on 08/29/2004 6:04:16 AM PDT by PolishProud (A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: adam_az

"Did it stick? Did it stick? Please tell me it stuck... Anyone? Anyone?!?"

90 posted on 08/29/2004 6:06:04 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Caipirabob

"Did it stick? Did it stick? Please tell me it stuck... Anyone? Anyone?!?"

I dunno, but you could throw McAwful against a wall and he would stick....

Hmmmm McAwful up against a wall... what a thought! ;)

(That's black humor, I'm not advocating violence!)


91 posted on 08/29/2004 8:41:49 AM PDT by adam_az (Call your State GOP office and volunteer!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 90 | View Replies]

To: xzins
"How did he get in the RESERVES SO EASILY and into OCS so easily in time of war?"

This is a thread worth tugging.

The answer might be found in pictures such as the following (note the dork sitting, appropriately, on the far left):



From http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/061503.shtml
92 posted on 08/29/2004 10:19:40 AM PDT by RightOnTheLeftCoast (You're it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: adam_az; jrlc; Carl/NewsMax; Owl_Eagle; Grampa Dave; jmstein7

Part 2 is posted!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1202419/posts


93 posted on 08/29/2004 10:43:24 AM PDT by adam_az (Call your State GOP office and volunteer!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: adam_az
There were about 2, maybe 3, GOP congressmen at the time IIRC. In 1968 Bush was a second term member from Houston in the seat later held by Bill Archer and now John Culberson. Texas also had one Republican senator, John Tower. Anyhow, there are several inconsistencies in Barnes' story.

First off, he claims he helped Bush when he was Lieutenant Governor, but Bush joined the national guard in 1968 when Barnes was Speaker of the House (see http://www.chronicallybiased.com)

Second, the Texas legislature only meets on odd numbered years and, barring a special session, would NOT have been meeting in May of 1968 when Bush joined the guard. That Barnes was even in Austin at that time is dubious as virtually all legislators have other jobs at home in their districts for the year and a half out of every two years that they are not in session.

94 posted on 08/29/2004 11:27:45 AM PDT by GOPcapitalist ("Can Lincoln expect to subjugate a people thus resolved? No!" - Sam Houston, 3/1863)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: GOPcapitalist

Best I can tell, Barnes was Special UN Rep. to Geneva that year.


95 posted on 08/29/2004 11:31:16 AM PDT by adam_az (Call your State GOP office and volunteer!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: GOPcapitalist
Following 3 and1/2 years in USAF I joined the TXANG and served with GWB -

In addition to GWB, Senator Loyd Benson (TX) had his son in the same guard unit at Ellington.

It was common knowledge that those who could (such as Benson)- pulled some strings to try and enroll their sons in guard units,

However, I would be the first to say that GWB served very honorably.

96 posted on 08/29/2004 1:31:44 PM PDT by VRWCTexan (History has a long memory - but still repeats itself)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]

To: adam_az

BTTT for later study.


97 posted on 08/29/2004 2:37:06 PM PDT by mrustow ("And when Moses saw the golden calf, he shouted out to the heavens, 'Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!'")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Susannah

If that is the case, why aren't Vietnam vets/draftees make up a substantial portion of our politicians in Wash DC? Many are of the age. Too many on either side of the aisle had many deferments. Those who went ended up in Guard units.


98 posted on 08/29/2004 5:20:33 PM PDT by Fee (Great powers never let minor allies dictate who, where and when they must fight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]

To: adam_az
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... 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... 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.
thanks also for http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1202419/posts

99 posted on 08/29/2004 5:20:41 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Unlike some people, I have a profile. Okay, maybe it's a little large...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: jnarcus

I agree about your point on the Dems, but the GOP was equally tainted with deferments. I actually criticize both parties. I also do not support the draft. I am not talking about deferments due to marriage, or a delay for additional degrees in a major (i.e medical doctor, masters, PhD), but five to seven deferments? Deferments were abused by those who did not want to go to Vietnam. Anyone who can figure out the nuances of the Sopranos do not need to figure out what just happened. I think the same mind set still exists, and it will manifest itself if we are forced to fight a long war. The only way to avoid this divisive problem is having a volunteer force and avoid using the draft. I am not a leftie. I am an independent Conservative and Nationalist


100 posted on 08/29/2004 5:33:55 PM PDT by Fee (Great powers never let minor allies dictate who, where and when they must fight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 74 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-105 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson