Retired General Assails Dean's Comments; Candidate Questions Timing

AP ^ | 5-02-2003 | Nedra Pickler

[Cagey]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The former commanding general of Parris Island is asking Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean to explain during his visit to South Carolina this weekend why he said "we won't always have the strongest military."

Retired Brig. Gen. Steve Cheney, head of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot from 1999-2001 and an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the South Carolina House last year, sent a letter to Dean, saying his comments raise questions about his ability to be commander in chief.

His letter echoes a statement issued this week by the campaign of one of Dean's rivals for the Democratic nomination, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. Cheney said he supports Kerry's candidacy but wrote the letter as a former military leader and not at the request of the Kerry campaign.

"I have a deep concern for somebody who has the potential of being commander in chief even hinting that we might not always have the strongest military," Cheney said in an interview.

Dean's comments appeared in an article posted Monday on Time.com. They drew an immediate rebuke from Kerry's communications director, Chris Lehane, that created a public spat between the two camps leading into the first Democratic presidential primary debate Saturday in South Carolina.

The former Vermont governor issued a statement in response to Cheney's letter, saying he believes that strong diplomacy and multinational institutions are crucial to America's future and his words have been "twisted, distorted and spun" by the Kerry campaign.

"General Cheney and other military veterans should be honored for their service to our country," he said. "But the fact that this letter - exactly restating the attacks which John Kerry's communications director made against me on Monday - was sent out to news organizations by a Kerry supporter the day before a major national debate seems to have more to do with politics than with a meaningful debate about America's place in the world."

[Cagey]

Interesting political gamesmanship by the Kerry camp.

[SwinneySwitch]

Wadda bunch of maroons!

[billorites]

"Kerry's communications director, Chris Lehane"

Is he that loathsome Clintonoid with the underbite?

[facedown]

Yup.

[Cagey]

Yep, Al Gore's infamous press secretary, aka sleezebag.

[yoe]

."I have a deep concern for somebody who has the potential of being commander in chief even hinting that we might not always have the strongest military," Cheney said in an interview.

How quickly we forget that just a few years ago that sort of remark made to or of him, Bill Clinton would have seen the General sacked! Clintons are tyrants - never forget it and they hate the military – all of it.

Why do you think Hillary is sitting on the Armed Services Committee and who put her there?

[Cameron1]

Dean just cooked his goose with this comment if its true. All the conservs have to do is play this over and over and ask if this is what we need in a commander and chief in these troublesome times.

[Mustang]

A retired Brig.Gen.Marine...a democRAT. Zounds!!

Did he give Kerry the medals which he tossed over the White House fence?

Mustang sends from "Malpaso" News.

[onedoug]

"Cheney said he supports Kerry's candidacy...."

They can all go to hell as far as I'm concerned.

[Cagey]

And I see this General Cheney was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the South Carolina House last year. Something about the former General doesn't pass the smell test. Maybe CNN will hire him.