MSNBC's "Imus In The Morning," 2/3/04 (Excerpt from RNC Research w/Sen McCain interview) MUST READ

Republican National Committee ^ | Feb 3, 2004 | RNC Research

[PhiKapMom]

THEY SAID IT!

RNC RESEARCH
February 3, 2004

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MSNBC's "Imus In The Morning," 2/3/04

DON IMUS: So Senator Kerry, sort of, subtly brought up yesterday, and I guess apparently Terry McAuliffe, who came from under some rock some place probably -- but anyway, they brought up this question about the president's military service and whether, in fact, there was -- whether he was AWOL from the Alabama National Guard. Are those appropriate questions, and should the president answer those questions and clear this up?

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ): That issue came up in the last election cycle. I think they were responded to. If this turns into a nasty campaign, clearly they have to respond to it. But, look, I believe that service in the National Guard is honorable service. There are thousands and thousands of National Guardsmen and women who are in Iraq as we speak, and so to somehow denigrate service in the National Guard is totally inappropriate, and I think there would be a backlash to it if they pursued that.

IMUS: I don't think they're doing that. I think what they're -- the question is, it's fine to be in the National Guard if you go to the meetings. I don't think he went to the meetings. I think that's the charge.

MCCAIN: Well, but that charge was never proven, and again, it was brought up in the primary that President Bush and I were in. I never pursued it. I never asked questions, but there were questions asked by the media about it. I don't know. You know, all is fair in love and war, and maybe they'll have to answer those questions again. But everything I know is that President Bush served honorably in the National Guard, and if you're going to make an allegation that somebody didn't, you better have some pretty good proof besides just throwing it out there. You see my point?

IMUS: Sort of.

MCCAIN: Well, look, I mean, you can accuse anybody of anything. But the burden of proof is on the person who is making the accusation.

IMUS: Well, that's not the way it works. You know that. That's not the way it works.

MCCAIN: Look, I know that President Bush has a record of honorable service during the Vietnam War in the National Guard where he also went through pilot training and flew a rather difficult airplane to fly and did well. And that's what I know about his service, and I will believe that until somebody proves otherwise. I mean, you can't say that you're guilty until you prove yourself innocent.

IMUS: I've always said that he went to enough meetings to learn how to fly one of those planes.

MCCAIN: Yes. And it's a difficult airplane to fly.

IMUS: But if he got transferred to the Alabama National Guard for some reason and then didn't show up for any of those meetings, I don't think...

MCCAIN: But, see, I don't know that that's the case.

IMUS: If you don't know that that's the case, that means it's never cleared up then.

MCCAIN: Everything that I've heard -- every bit of information I've ever heard, I never got into it because I wasn't that interested, is that he served honorably and well. And I assume that to be the case.

[colorado tanker]

I agree with those who say this is a preemptive strike to try to keep Republicans away from Kerry's traitorous activities in support of Vietnam Veterans Agains the War.

The simple answer is that if Bush hadn't made up missed meetings, he wouldn't have accumulated enough points to get an honorable discharge.

[Scenic Sounds]

Thanks for posting that link, backhoe.

I waded through that article and at least I now understand why it all seems so murky. LOL. However, the relevant murkiness seems confined to the final part of his service and it's not clear that he ever actually failed to do anything that was required of him. Or am I missing something here?

[hoosiermama]

Good one...(but isn't it nice we ALL get to talk to him everynight thanks to FR.)

[mystery-ak]

Im so sick of the degrading of the Guard and Reserves...they are fighting and dying in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia...Mike(hubby) has just been extened for the 4th time and will be gone 15mos...some *meeting*.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Imus comments that proof of an allegation is not on the accuser because "it doesn't work that way" speaks volumes to me.

In the American media, it doesn't work that way. Imus is right to point that unpleasant reality out.

[hoosiermama]

I think the GOP should use you two as their "secret weapon" Turn you loose on him! You go girls! Behind ya all the way!

[international american]

"This is the miliary...there's a HUGE paper trail here. Bush is just waiting to dump it all out to make the 'rats look like fools.
I give it two or three weeks..."


If this is Bush's strategy, it is a good one; let the morons hang themselves. Kerry should have never commented on this......ever hear of an officer BUYING an honorable discharge??:)

[jnarcus]

Right o, last time around. Bush didn't attend some meetings at a particular time but made them up later with additional dates..This is so much hooey and unfortunate;y these Rats will run it into the ground like James Bird...unethical slobs who loved the superbowl half time...liscentious and lascivious the lot of em

[kabar]

YES! Back to the play ground...."Well you are too" philosophy!....So much of the dems behavior can be compared to an elementary school playground. Which leaved the adults (R) to patrol it.

The Dems play hardball on the playground. They dropped the DUI charge on Bush just before election day. They tried to steal the election in Florida with the chad scam. They have corrupt political machines in most of the large cities, which commit voter fraud every election. If the Reps deign to get into the political arena and fight, they will no longer be in charge of the playground. It may make one feel good that they are adults and above the fray, but the bottom line is you must win in order to have any influence on events.

[bornintexas]

"Where are the media stories about that?"

Hopefully, waiting to be drug out after Kash and Kerry has actually 'won' the nomination. That's why they are rehashing the "deserter" charge. Bush should pull a Kerry and tell them that that is "old news."

I am already so sick of this dim campaign that I have to quit watching. It is not good for my health. The so-called debates are a joke and the 24-7 lovefest from the media is sickening. They are NEVER called on their lies about Bush.

For example, perky Katie was interviewing Breck girl this morning and asked him about his attacks on Kerry....which he totally DIDNOT answer and turned the question into a "how wonderful Edwards is and Bush ain't" response and she just let it go....it's nauseating.

[international american]

"Bush didn't attend some meetings at a particular time but made them up later with additional dates.."

That is what I read. If the NYT scum don't want to touch the story, it speaks volumes!!

[PhiKapMom]

It is the pilot training that he called meetings that I had a problem with. There are other times they are called meetings but not pilot training when Pres Bush was on active duty in the Air Force.

[rintense]

RAT bastards, every single one of them.

[international american]

"For example, perky Katie was interviewing Breck girl this morning and asked him about his attacks on Kerry....which he totally DIDNOT answer and turned the question into a "how wonderful Edwards is and Bush ain't" response and she just let it go....it's nauseating."


I found it necessary years ago to install a Couric "ZOT" in my television.

[PhiKapMom]

They are desparate! The media is really carrying the RAT water right now!

[hoosiermama]

"the bottom line is you must win in order to have any influence on events."

1. Yes and to win...."We must hold them accountable for their actions."
A. Not accept excuses
B. Not give in to intimidations
C. Not allow cheating...call them on it.
D. all of the above and more.

It's time to draw the line_________________________________________________________

[PhiKapMom]

I agree with you that IMUS spoke a fact about the media. I should have clarified it that it spoke volumes about all the media as IMUS is telling the truth.

[Howlin]

Bob Bechtel was just on Fox, claiming Bush was a deserter.

[PJ-Comix]

When is Imus's wife going to leave him for Kasey Kaseem or Paul Harvey?

Actually she has the HOTS for Howard Stern.