Posted on 08/28/2004 7:20:10 PM PDT by plushaye
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Saturday described John Kerry's tour of duty in Vietnam as more heroic than his own service in the Air National Guard, saying his Democratic rival had been "in harm's way."
But the president told NBC's "Today" show that both sides should drop the debate over their wartime service, saying, "I think that we ought to move beyond the past. ... The real question is who best to lead us forward."
Asked if he believed that he and Kerry "served on the same level of heroism," Bush replied, "No, I don't. I think him going to Vietnam was more heroic than my flying fighter jets. He was in harm's way and I wasn't."
Excerpts of the interview, conducted on Saturday for broadcast on Monday, were released by NBC.
The president continued to defend his own service in the Air National Guard, saying, "On the other hand, I served my country. Had my unit been called up, I would have gone."
Kerry's war record in Vietnam has dominated the 2004 presidential campaign in recent weeks, after advertisements by a group called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth accused him of lying about the events that led to his decoration for bravery.
The White House on Thursday said it would file a lawsuit to try to force the Federal Election Commission to crack down on the ads. Bush says he does not believe Kerry lied about his record, but he has refused to condemn the ads directly.
Kerry accuses the Bush campaign of colluding with the Swift Boat Veterans on the ads, a charge the White House has denied. But its case was hurt this past week when a top lawyer for the Bush campaign, Benjamin Ginsberg, resigned after disclosing he was providing legal advice to the veteran's group.
After Ginsburg's resignation, 50 percent of Americans said they believed the Bush campaign was behind the Swift Boat Veterans ads, according to a survey by the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Public Policy Center.
Pollster Adam Clymer said Ginsburg's resignation heightened the belief that the Bush campaign had supported the ads, but the controversy could fade from public view when the Republican National Convention begins next week.
Federal election rules bar organizations that take unrestricted donations from coordinating their activities with campaigns or political parties.
The issue has also caused tension with Republican Sen. John McCain, another Vietnam veteran and influential lawmaker who has urged Bush to condemn the ads and get them halted.
McCain is backing Bush for the White House, but the Arizona senator has defended his friend Kerry and threatened to raise the issue with Bush when they campaign in Iowa next week.
Goodness, he makes Kerry and the Democrats look small and petty.
His statement is what makes me LOVE his leadership so much. He is a man who elevates all of us.
I just love the tactics of the Republicans....brilliant move.
Clark was the General at the Army Base (Bliss?) in Waco during the Waco siege -- lots of controversy there.
And, yes, very political.
See Post #40 for news story on Clark today.
I'd bet the President has played bourre before (oil patch and so many workers at that time from La.); I'd love to play a game with him. What a great see/come (the best of so many so far). Po John, don't you wish you had a high off suit to lead and then trump Ace, King? But, but, but you can't get the lead. Ain't PRIDE a bitch?
"It's amazing how some weak-kneed yellow bellied RINOs on this board constantly think in checkers terms."
Worth repeating.
sure, in our eyes. but the sheeple may well be seeing something else.
most people already believe Bush is "linked" to the swiftvets - that's the nature of politics and people's reaction to these kinds of ads. how many people do you think even understand what a 527 is? and people probably don't care - the key is for the allegations to look credible, that's what people pay attention to, rather then "who is behind it".
right now, we've got Kerry plus the entire mainstream media versus the swiftvets and talk radio. If the fight becomes Kerry, the media and Bush versus the swiftvets and talk radio - we might lose.
Bush's self-deprecation is one of his strongest assets. It continually works for him, and adds to his opponents' constant mistakes of misunderestimating him.
"The issue has also caused tension with Republican Sen. John McCain, another Vietnam veteran and influential lawmaker who has urged Bush to condemn the ads and get them halted."
I don't think McCain condemned the second ad.
Cold hard facts of life.
Running away to Canada also needs defending, and so far no one seems to have done a very good job of it. Besides, Jimmy Carter didn't heal any wounds with his Draftdodger Pardon.
It was just a matter of time until veterans got a chance to publicize their generally acknowledged beliefs about the relative value of various situations during the Nam.
Right at the top of the list are the guys who volunteered for the Infantry and the Marines, and that includes the guys who were drafted for either service, and went.
Then there are the other people, and it's up to them to sort each other out.
Seems to me the Swift Boat guys have their own Naval oriented criteria, and Kerry is coming up short.
One Navy veteran I know suggested that the soft BS behind his Purple Heart awards may have more to do with a need to coverup the fact they had an officer with VD than any sort of wound to be recognized. I don't know about that, but am assured this did happen in the Navy which has a history of being highly protective of it's officer's public reputations.
Sounds like Clark has caught the deaniac illness.....and is using primal scream therapy like Dean.
The meltdown of the Kerri-kookies is fun to watch!
What would you have him do, act like a Dim? If he did that, why would we support him. Not acting like a Dim is what got him where he is. I believe that it is what will cause him to win again.
Kerry was heading to his beachfront home in Nantucket, Mass., where he planned to plot strategy
Time for another break ! Outght to plot on calendar - receiving treatment for something ?
Not all who post to this board are as strong-kneed, courageous and deeply committed Republicans as you.
The president is a gracious man, but his cleverness shouldn't be underestimated, which is the fatal flaw in the RAT party....they always underestimate him.
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." (Prov. 15:1)
" If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you." (Prov. 25:21-22)
Kerry's pompous sense of self-importance over his Vietnam "heroism" is as vital to him as food and drink. He has to be praised. The president is accommodating him, while Kerry is out viciously attacking the president every time he opens his mouth. Bush's graciousness is making a bigger fool of Kerry than he is already making of himself, and he is doing it by echoing Kerry's own claims.
I'd hope that will come ,BUT, if it does , thay better make damned sure the original records have been locked up. Maybe Al has them in his lock box next to Tippers!?
You're right, but the damage was done by his comments about the group after the first ad. However McCain did insist that Kerry take down McCain's comments from the Kerry revenge-against-Swifties ad and Kerry backed down. Maybe McCain actually started to listen to what the Swifties and POWs were trying to say after the first ad. He has been quiet about it since - which is a very good thing.
Mr. President, you are such a class act.
I can never hear Clymer's name again without thinking of *one* word!
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