April 27 DNC Press Release Contradicts CBS, Dan Rather, and Barnes (Observation)

Kerry-Edwards Campaign Press release archives, April 27 2004 ^ | 9-13-2004 | Robert A. Cook

[Robert A Cook PE]

The Kerry-Edwards web site (above) issued a press release April 27 claiming that Stoudt used his influence to get Pres. Bush a seat in the TexANG as a pilot in 1968.

Dan Rather, interviewing Ben Barnes on 60 Minutes in September specifically claimed Barnes influenced the TexANG on Bush's behalf. Barnes confirmed the story to Rather, and provided amplifying details and comments, claiming he (a prominent democrat in Texas politics (before being run from office in the Sharpsburg Savings & Loan Corruption case) had used his position as State Lt Gov. to get the position for George Bush, son of a junior Republican Congressman at the time. Lloyd Benson's (a future democratic Senator) son also joined the TexANG at the same time.

Democrat Press release, April 27, 2004

"With Family Connection, Bush Got Coveted Slot in Texas Guard Shortly After Graduating from College.

A family friend of Bush’s father pulled strings to secure Bush’s spot; Bush joined the Texas Air National Guard after his student deferment ran out when he graduated from Yale in 1968. Before he graduated, Bush personally visited Col. Walter “Buck” Staudt -- the commander of the Texas Air National Guard -- to talk about the Guard. After Bush met with Staudt, he applied and was quickly accepted -- despite a waiting list of over 150 applicants. Staudt recommended Bush for a direct appointment, which allowed Bush to become a second lieutenant right out of basic training without having to go though officer candidate school. The direct appointment also cleared the way for a position in pilot training school. [New York Times, 9/27/99; Houston Chronicle, 10/10/92; Los Angeles Times, 7/4/99] "

Bush representatives have claimed there was no family influence in his entry to the National Guard.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Are any democratic claims believeable?

Barnes, a strong democrat fund-raiser and power broker (then as he is now for the Kerry-Edwards campaign) now claims he did, even though George Bush was the son of one of the few Republicans in Texas politics at the time.

Barnes' daughter, in an interview with Hannity on Friday, claimed that Barnes told her in 2000 that he DID NOT influence the ANG on behalf of Bush.

The DNC (Kerry-Edwards campaign) claims that Staudt significantly influenced his selection and promotions and assignments.

Dan Rather's (CBS) forged documents try to indicate Straudt was trying to change Lt Bush's evaluations four year's later.

Stoudt strongly denies he exerted any influence.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Well, we know no democratic claims are believeable.

Ditto for ABBCNNBCBS, PBS, and MSNBC.

This tends to leave out AP, the NY Times, LA Times and Washington Post as well.

[Howlin]

despite a waiting list of over 150 applicants.

There may have been 150 applicants for the Guard, but not for pilot training.

One of the pilots even said that.

[mountaineer]

I wonder which strings Kerry had to pull to avoid court martial for treason after meeting twice with the enemy in Paris (and subsequently urging that the U.S. accept the enemy's terms and conditions of truce) while still a member of the Naval Reserve.

[kingu]

...had used his position as State Lt Gov. to get the position...

Nifty trick.. Did he use the same time machine that those forged documents used? He didn't become Lt. Gov until after Bush entered into the ANG.

[evolved_rage]

Bush personally visited Col. Walter “Buck” Staudt -- the commander of the Texas Air National Guard -- to talk about the Guard.

In the business world, that is called an interview...

[Fire137]

. Kerry, on the campaign trail, greets children for photo-op; but has no comment on "memogate"

[ninonitti]

And what kind of discharge did this behavior earn????Release those records now

[Hank All-American]

I somehow find it hard to believe that a colonel was the commander of the Texas Air National Guard. Maybe in Libya. I think Staudt wouldn't have become commander until he got a star.

[xzins]

Before he graduated, Bush personally visited Col. Walter “Buck” Staudt -- the commander of the Texas Air National Guard -- to talk about the Guard. After Bush met with Staudt, he applied and was quickly accepted -- despite a waiting list of over 150 applicants. Staudt recommended Bush for a direct appointment, which allowed Bush to become a second lieutenant right out of basic training without having to go though officer candidate school. The direct appointment also cleared the way for a position in pilot training school. [New York Times, 9/27/99; Houston Chronicle, 10/10/92; Los Angeles Times, 7/4/99] "

The military has never had a policy of appointing on the basis of time on the list.

They have always had the policy of appointing on the basis of "best qualified."

That is determined by a combination of physical ability, intellectual ability, education, interview, recommendations.

If the President was in the shape then that he is now, then I would have appointed him, too.

Also, what was the method of being appointed to an active duty fighter pilot training program?

What if....just imagine....what if HE WANTED JETS and nothing else.

He didn't want the guard; he wanted jets.

Sounds like "An Officer and a Gentleman to Me."

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Are any democratic claims believeable?

Wait... wait: this is, like, a trick question, right...? :)

[mattdono]

In the business world, that is called an interview...

Hehe. That actually explains alot. These people have never worked a day of real work in their life.

[Mystic]

He wasn't Lt Gov until 1969

from his own bio at http://www.klru.org/texasmonthlytalks/archives/barnes/bio.asp

"In 1969, Barnes was elected lieutenant governor of Texas and served from 1969 to 1973."

[UglyinLA]

I think Barnes should challenge the DNC to a debate.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Now, did you notice the problem?

If Dan Rather is claiming that Barnes exerted his influence as Lt Gov before he was selected for Lt Gov, why is the DNC claiming (5 months ago), that only Staudt was exerting influence?

I mean really, how much influence is needed around there? 8<)

Did Dan Rather interview Barnes to promote Barnes because his book is coming out?

Or because he needed to interview somebody, and Staudt wasn't cooperating (er,lying) the way Dan Rather wanted him to lie?

[xtinct]

Dan Rather is a lying maggot. END

[Friend of thunder]

There may have been 150 applicants for the Guard, but not for pilot training.

Interesting, do you have a link to that quote? It would seem to take much of the, little remaining, wind out of the sails of this argument.

[Buttaboom]

After Bush met with Staudt, he applied and was quickly accepted -- despite a waiting list of over 150 applicants.

And a guy named Lively, who was the head of operations at the base in question in 72-73, said this morning on Fox & Friends that there was absolutely no waiting list to get into the pilot's program that Bush applied to, so there were no applicants for him to leap over.

I don't know why this single issue is so hard for most of the media to grasp. If there was no waiting list, then there could have been no pressure put on anyone to get Bush in. It's a no-brainer, which clearly puts it out of the Dem's reach, but I'd still think some of the other more intelligent press might repeat this a few hundred times. Lively also said that when Staudt retired in March of 72, he didn't come back to the base and wasn't heard from. Hardly likely that he'd have had any influence to sugar coat anything if he wasn't even in contact with the powers that be at the base.

[Arpege92]

LOL

[YaYa123]

"Are any democratic claims believeable?

Well....no, not if you're paying attention.

But democrat talking heads still spout them, and no one refutes them. It's maddening!! This morning on FOXNews, Eleanor Cliff repeated the myth that there was a waiting list to get in the Texas National Guard. She said the special privileged Bush kept deserving men out of the Texas National Guard. Not so. There was no waiting list for pilot training.

Democrat talking heads keep saying no one remembers seeing Bush in Ala. A man named Mintz said he couldn't have been there without him remembering, because there were only 30 pilots in that Alabama unit. Trouble is Bush wasn't in a flying slot in Alabama, and a man named Calhoun remembers Bush distinctly. There was the dental record, and pay records, but Bush bashers recite the same lie over and over, without correction!