Bush-Cheney '04 Chair Denounces Character Assassination

Drudge | Today | Marc Racicot

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

Statement from Governor Marc Racicot, Chairman, Bush-Cheney `04

Tue Feb 3 2004 12:31:55 ET

``Sen. Kerry is supporting a slanderous attack on the President by refusing to repudiate comments by DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe who on Sunday accused the President of being AWOL and said that his service in the National Guard did not qualify as service in the military or service to his country.

``President Bush served honorably in the National Guard. He was honorably discharged. To suggest, as Sen. Kerry has, that the military should 'answer questions' about President Bush`s honorable discharge is an outrage. The furtherance of these charges is despicable.

``Peter Jennings called the accusation by Michael Moore that the President was a deserter, 'a reckless charge, not supported by the facts,' and the Annenberg Center at the University of Pennsylvania has said that the charges are unfounded.

``By embracing this line of attack, Sen. Kerry has made clear that he will accept and promote character assassination, innuendo and falsehood even when he doesn`t have all the facts. 'I don`t even know what the facts are,' Kerry said yesterday. A man seeking the presidency has an obligation to get the facts straight before he sends his surrogates out to slander the Commander in Chief

[ItsMyVoteDammit]

Can we say the POTUS ain't fightin' back?


No, he isn't. In the Press briefing this morning Scotty's response to the AWOL question was to try and deflect it with a "That was discussed four years ago." response.

That is not an answer which will stop all the ranting and raging by the press. In fact it will probably make them worse.

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[international american]

"Backhoe has a wonderful file refuting this charge."

I read it, thanks

[prairiebreeze]

Pretty funny about the Jenning reference. Racicot might have well said "Even ABC acknowleged Moore is full of crap!"

LOL

Prairie

[mystery-ak]

Ok, one more time...this is a good start, but not enough....Send out Rumsfeld and Gen Myers and let them state that the RATS have just insulted tens of thousands of Guardsmen fighting and dying in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Bosina.....that's how you shut them up.....I wish I had Rush's direct line.

[backhoe]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1066746/posts

Is President Bush a Deserter? How the military defines the crime.
Slate ^ | Brendan I. Koerner
There are LINKS in this article to follow, so click on the link and take a gander at Bill Hobbs debunking of this crap.

Was Bush "AWOL"?

Bush 'Desertion' Charge Debunked
The Real Military Record of George W. Bush: Not Heroic, but Not AWOL, Either

 

Read this White House response to these spurious slanders:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1070679/posts?page=9#9

 

 

Debunkers: 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1064541/posts

Bush 'Desertion' Charge Debunked
NewsMax ^ | 1/24/04 | Limbacher

...in the months before the 2000 presidential election, the New York Times pretty much demolished this Democratic Party urban legend...

Related thread from Oct. 2000.

 

 

Repost of original "George" magazine article:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1070518/posts

The Real Military Record of George W. Bush: Not Heroic, but Not AWOL, Either-The Original Story
George Magazine Archives ^ | 10-10-00 | By Peter Keating and Karthik Thyagarajan

Culturally, this country has become completely A.D.D. Anything fresh, new, and mysterious is automatically of interest, in spite of its characteristics. Voters will surf for Presidents the way they surf cable. They won't listen to the details, the evidence, or their consciences. It's all about who will outsell who to the undecided block of voters.

[GunnyB]

I just saw a dem strategist on Fox using the deserter thing..the interviwer told him the accusation was AWOL

The principle aspect of this line of attack is that the Dims show no understanding of how the Guard system works. Missing meetings is NOT AWOL! It is certainly NOT desertion either. Unlike the regular military, in which simply not showing up for duty CAN be considered one of these crimes, the Guard and Reserves work under a totally different structure - because they are PART TIME. Because they are made up of people who have civilian jobs, schooling and other demands on their time. Because they are PART TIME, they make considerations in the form of points per drill. A certain number of points in a given year means that year is a "good year" in terms of retirement.

As a member of the Maryland National Guard I missed meetings at least once a month due to business trips or tests. I was NEVER considered a deserter or AWOL - and neither was the President.

[mattdono]

You're right.

" We refuted these charges WAY back in 2000. I guess we will do it again.

The Truth about Bush's Record: Not Heroic, Not AWOL

I have a clean HTML version of this article ready for emailing (here is a link where I detailed my personal mission, my email jihad, to spread the word). If you want a copy, FReepMail me a real email address and I will send the file along (emails are not used for any purpose other than to send the file).

[Ancesthntr]

Bush needs to fight Kerry with the truth...which, in Kerry's case, hurts a LOT. Here are the FACTS:

On Kerry's war record:

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnkerry.com/

On Kerry's record on defense matters (REALLY lousy):

http://www.washingtontimes.com/functions/print.php?StoryID=20040127-084854-4468r

[MEG33]

FYI

[areafiftyone]

Here is another source (FactCheck) although I am not crazy about the website, it does show Michael Moore's and Clark's stupidity. Bush A Military “Deserter?” Calm Down, Michael! Clark backer Michael Moore calls President Bush a “deserter” for missing Air National Guard drills 31 years ago. Puh-lease!

[teletech]

The principle aspect of this line of attack is that the Dims show no understanding of how the Guard system works. Missing meetings is NOT AWOL! It is certainly NOT desertion either. Unlike the regular military, in which simply not showing up for duty CAN be considered one of these crimes, the Guard and Reserves work under a totally different structure - because they are PART TIME. Because they are made up of people who have civilian jobs, schooling and other demands on their time. Because they are PART TIME, they make considerations in the form of points per drill. A certain number of points in a given year means that year is a "good year" in terms of retirement. As a member of the Maryland National Guard I missed meetings at least once a month due to business trips or tests. I was NEVER considered a deserter or AWOL - and neither was the President.

I served proudly in the Illinois Army National Guard (Helicopter Crew Chief) and I too missed several meetings, ALL OF WHICH I HAD TO MAKE UP. This is VERY common in the National Guard and NOT considered AWOL!

[sr4402]

It's going to be an UGLY election. Among the re-runs we are goin to get. The 2000 election was stolen, he lied they died, big special interests vs. the people, the most RW reckless extreme administration ever, worst economy in 50 years.....

Yes, this is exactly what I want. I want the democrats to keep showing their hatred, I want them to keep putting out this kind of false witness and I want them to keep on pandering. The more the better, because then the American People will see the democrats for who they really are.

As for Ugly. Let the wool fly, as President Bush said "Bring em on"