The Decent Thing

The Corner ^ | Thursday, December 28, 2006 | Bill Bennett

[Checkers]

Since "decency" seems to be the watchword of the day and the consensus modifier for Jerry Ford (a view with which I generally concur), may I nevertheless be permitted to ask this: just how decent, how courageous, is what Jerry Ford did with Bob Woodward? He slams Bush & Cheney to Woodward in 2004, but asks Woodward not to print the interview until he's dead. If he felt so strongly about his words having a derogatory affect, how about telling Woodward not to run the interview until after Bush & Cheney are out of office? The effect of what Ford did is to protect himself, ensuring he can't be asked by others about his critiques, ensuring that there can be no dialogue. The way Ford does it with Woodward, he doesn't have to defend himself...he simply drops it into Bob Woodward's tape recorder and let's the bomb go off when fully out of range, himself. This is not courage, this is not decent. The manly or more decent options are these: 1. Say it to Bush's or Cheney's face and allow them and us to engage the point while you're around, or 2. Far more decently, say nothing critical of Bush will be on the record until his presidency is over. There's a 3. Don't say anything critical of George Bush to Bob Woodward at all. You're a former President Mr. Ford, show a little more decency to the incumbent who is in a very, very tough place and trying to do the right thing....you may recall those days and positions yourself.

[Hawthorn]

> how about telling Woodward not to run the interview until after Bush & Cheney are out of office? <

Perhaps Ford did exactly as Bennett suggests. AFAIK we have only Woodward's word to the contrary. And who among us is naive enough to believe Woodward?

[threeleftsmakearight]

Also, isn't there another interview--done at a later date--with a reporter from the NY Daily News, where Ford says he supported the war but disagreed with using WMD as the main justification?

[Checkers]

"Also, isn't there another interview--done at a later date--with a reporter from the NY Daily News, where Ford says he supported the war but disagreed with using WMD as the main justification?"

Yes, there is.

[LADYAK]

I agree with this that he wasn't man enough to back his comments when he was alive but wait to critize when he was gone.....this was a chicken thing to do!!!!

[Al Gator]

Listen: Ford was a gutless wonder.

Wonder where he was when General Giap was breaking EVERY ONE of the Paris agreements.

Wonder where he was when the south Vietnamese army badly needed a few bomb drops to change the direction of the war.

Wonder where he was when the killings and exodus began in earnest.

I could go on, but I'll end with one final "wonder".

Wonder where he was when the Marines found out that they left 3 men manning a machine on Koh Tang island, and could not get back to retrieve them. (All 3 were tortured and killed)

I'll quit here, but the list is longer.

[Coldwater Creek]

I will not defend Gerald Ford. I did not vote for him, nor would I change that vote if it were today, but just remember that Gerald Ford was a ninety year old man in bad health. Also, who believes that publicity pimp, Bob Woodward?

[Checkers]

"Perhaps Ford did exactly as Bennett suggests. AFAIK we have only Woodward's word to the contrary. And who among us is naive enough to believe Woodward?"

You don't believe Woodward's deathbed "interview" with Bill Casey?

[Checkers]

"Also, who believes that publicity pimp, Bob Woodward?"

Who, indeed?

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

What? you expect the press to do something honorable and keep something like this under cover?

Of course not! Any chance they have, they do what ever they can to demoralize their country. No misinformation is too evil or damaging in their eyes when they have an opportunity to bring this country down or make it look bad to the entire World

Woodward is only alive today because of the quick response and royal treatment he received by our Military. As a sign of gratitude, he does all he can to damage its' image even further. (These people are beyond despicable!)

[King of Florida]

I will not defend Gerald Ford. I did not vote for him, nor would I change that vote if it were today

You voted for Jimmah??

[Coldwater Creek]

There has to be a special place in Hell for people like Bob Woodward!!

[Coldwater Creek]

Now, that is the one thing that I would change. I just would have sat it out!

[Coldwater Creek]

Now, that is the one thing that I would change. I just would have sat it out!

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

There also has to be a place for the Democrat controlled legislature that cut all funding for the war and allowed the South to be over run! Ford also knew good and well, that when our forces abandoned Viet Nam, there would be millions of executions at the hands of the Communist Generals.

The latter came true immediately. Untold millions of people were slaughtered before we could even get our last helicopter off the Embassy building. It was sickening to watch as well as to think of the dishonorable actions of our "wonderful" DemocRAT party who didn't give a damn about the outcome of their selfish actions.

Iraq will see a similar situation if the Democrats do what comes natural to them. Only instead of executions by bullet, the Islamofacists will behead their victims instead.

[Right_in_Virginia]

If he felt so strongly about his words having a derogatory affect, how about telling Woodward not to run the interview until after Bush & Cheney are out of office?

Great point.

[CoastWatcher]

Mr. Woodward has become adept at slamming the current administration with quotes from influential people that can not be verified. As the world ages; I am certain we will hear many more unsubstantiated disparaging quotes regarding conservatives from Mr Woodward.

[SOLTC]

I wouldn't believe a word Mr. Woodward says.

Remember his book "Vail" from 1988. His deathbed visit to William Casey, former CIA head, has always been disputed by Mr. Casey's family.

I knew Mrs. Casey and her daughter. They said that Mr. Casey's hospital room was always guarded by CIA security officers. The wife and daughter took turns at his bedside.
Does Mr. Woodward have a "Klingon Cloking Device" that no one saw him in the room.

Bob Woodward is a liar!

[Kenton]

You're a former President Mr. Ford, show a little more decency to the incumbent who is in a very, very tough place and trying to do the right thing....you may recall those days and positions yourself.

He's dead, Bill...