Posted on 05/11/2003 3:55:00 PM PDT by fightinJAG
Graham alleges Bush 'cover up' Sunday, May 11
By Brian E. Crowley, Palm Beach Post Political Editor
Follow Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) on his campaign for the White House. The Post coverage
DES MOINES, Iowa - U.S. Sen. Bob Graham told a national television audience Sunday that the Bush administration is hiding intelligence information from the American people to "cover up" failures both before and after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Graham, former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, helped author a House-Senate intelligence report concerning terrorist activity and the role of the nation's intelligence community.
Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation from a studio in Des Moines, Iowa, site of the nation's first presidential caucus next year, the Florida Democrat said the report completed in December remains classified because the Bush administration is afraid to release it.
Calling the White House "one of the most secretive administrations in American history," Graham, who was in Iowa campaigning for president by doing a "workday" clearing tables at a diner, said even testimony given in public has been classified by the White House.
Unable to reveal details because it remains classified, Graham said the report provides detailed information that "the American people have been denied" which would help in the continuing fight against terrorists.
Graham voted against the war with Iraq saying that while "Saddam Hussein is an evil man," the war would distract from the nation's fight against terrorist cells in this country with a willingness to attack. He says that decision and the continuing terrorist threat, which he believes President Bush is doing little to prevent, are among the chief reasons for running for president.
"We do not have the information so that we can hold the administration accountable," said Graham. "I call that a cover up."
After the television appearance, Graham said the adminstration is worried about the Congressional report because, "We have connected the dots."
Tucker Eskew, a White House spokesman, said in response, "We have been cooperating with the joint inquiry from the beginning so that the American people will know what happened." He said Bush did not think the American people wanted "operational details or sources and methods that could compromise national security" to be revealed.
Graham replied, "That statement is certainly not consistent with what they have been actually doing. They've had the report for five months."
Following the CBS appearance, Graham changed out of his dark blue suit into a purple knit shirt, with a pattern of black and white checkers along the collar and sleeves, blue pants, white New Balance sneakers and a black apron stuffed with silverware wrapped in white napkins to do his second presidential campaign "workday."
For the Drake Diner, an old-fashioned metallic diner, Mothers Day is the busiest day of the year. This year they also had graduation at Drake University across the street. Every table and counter stool was filled and there was a long line in the lobby.
Graham arrived about 30 minutes after his CBS interview. He got a quick run down from fellow busboys Jay Kazol and Stephen Smith. The new 66-year old bus boy plunged in, wiping tables, rearranging bottles of Heinz ketchup, plastic salt and pepper shakers and the aluminum napkin holders before the next customers sat down.
Graham would chat a bit with curious customers but he always kept an eye on nearby tables ready to excuse himself as soon as one needed clearing.
As Graham walked by carrying a tray of dirty dishes, Susan Beecher of Des Moines said she was surprised to see a presidential candidate busing tables. "I don't really know anything about Bob Graham," said Beecher, a 46-year old Iowa native. "At least he's really working and not pretending to do it."
This was Graham's 388th workday. On Friday, he had his first presidential campaign work day in New Hamphire, where he worked as a high school teacher.
While he was little slower than his teenage colleagues at the diner, Graham does have previous experience. In 1978, when Graham was campaigning for governor, he was a bus boy at Miami's Versailles Restaurant on Calle Ocho.
And as he would write describing that day, Graham said one lesson he learned was, "extremely important, fill water glasses over the floor and not over the small tables."
Twenty-years later, after a five-hour shift, fellow bus boy Kazol said Graham's work "is good. He's a fast learner."
• brian_crowley@pbpost.com
1. Since it is classified, why bring it up?
2. How would disclosure of classified material help fight terrorists?
3. Graham is abusing his intel committee membership to differentiate himself from the other eight 'rat losers.
4. It is still not safe to vote for a 'rat.
Unable to reveal details because it remains classified, Graham said the report provides detailed information that "the American people have been denied" which would help in the continuing fight against terrorists.
1. Since it is classified, why bring it up?
2. How would disclosure of classified material help fight terrorists?
3. Graham is abusing his intel committee membership to differentiate himself from the other eight 'rat losers.
4. It is still not safe to vote for a 'rat.
FightinJAG adds: It's NEVER safe to vote for a Rat.
They are not work days, they are simply reasons to call the press in for photo-ops. Can't get press coverage for a few days? No problem...schedule some (so-called) "Work Days". He gets out on a job site, says "cheese" a few times and his work is over!
This guy has always been disgusting. Remember, he was closely related to the Ms. Graham that controlled the Washington Post.
Exactly. This story made me think of that little witch on the floor of the Senate, holding up that "Bush Knew" headline, ranting.
I am beginning to think "Bush Knew" is going to be one of the Rat talking points for the 2004 election.
Of course, only the tin-foil hatters in their base will take the bait, but the Rats are struggling to hold their base now. If it takes tin foil, tin foil it will be.
This allows him to make these allegations and when asked to prove it he can say 'it's classified'.
Graham is a weasel of the worst sort........Pssst....I have information that I have determined to be harmful to the president, but it's CLASSIFIED and I can't tell you about it. Take my word for it. Oh and by the way last year when I told you that I knew everything the president knew PRIOR to 911, and there was nothing he knew that could have prevented the attack on the WTC......well I was just foolin' around. TRUST ME!
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