Debunking The Bush AWOL Story - From The Horse's Mouth

Brig. Gen. Turnipseed | February 6, 2004 | Hon

[Hon]

I just got off the phone about an hour ago with Brig. Gen. William R. Turnipseed. He is the sole source for the four year old story that Bush was AWOL during his National Guard service.

Mr. Turnipseed is very unhappy with the way what he said "casually" four years ago has been twisted by the "Bush haters" (his words) in the media, especially the Boston Globe (who first reported the story) and the New York Times.

In a nutshell here is what happened, according to Turnipseed. Back in 1972 his Alabama National Guard unit received a letter from Bush (who was in the Texas Nation Guard) asking if he while he was in Alabama do some equivalancy training with the Alabama unit.

Turnipseed said that this request was as a matter of routine turned over to his administrative assistant, Lott, who wrote back to Bush, giving him the dates of the next unit drills. Lott told Bush he could report for those dates.

Neither Turnipseed nor Lott can now remember whether Bush appeared for these drills or not. Turnipseed says he himself might not have even been around the base at the time, so he wouldn't know one way or the other. And he says he has always said this.

The points Turnipseed wanted to stress are these: Bush was never ordered to report for duty to his unit. Since Bush was in the Texas National Guard and Turnipseed was in the Alabama National Guard, he couldn't have ordered him even if he had wanted to. But he didn't want to.

He (or his assistant, Lott) simply gave Bush the dates he could report if he wanted to do equivalency training with them. There were no orders given. If he showed up or didn't show up, it wasn't their concern.

Additionally, Turnipseed says that he never once said anything about Bush being "AWOL." He said it isn't even a term used in the National Guard. And anyway, as already noted, Bush's training record was not his concern, but the Texas National Guard's.

He said that since the Texas National Guard gave him an honorable discharge it shows that he fulfilled his training requirements.

Turnipseed said that the media has constantly misrepresented what he said and edited him so as to make Bush look bad.

He also said that he had no idea who Bush was, and that he certainly didn't do him any special favors. Nor would he have.

He said that when he first spoke to the Boston Globe reporter about this four years ago he didn't realize he was talking to a "Bush hater."

Turnipseed is a strong Bush supporter. He said that he has been contacted many times especially recently, by "Bush haters" in the media, who try to get him to say that Bush was AWOL. Once they realize that he won't cooperate they lose interest in talking to him. When they do quote him, they say he is backpedaling--even though he is still saying the same exact thing he told them four years ago.

He has been recently asked to go on with Peter Jennings and NBC's Dateline, but he is concerned that they will edit him in such a way as to misrepresent his story again. I have been in touch with Fox news, in hopes that they will have somebody talk to him and try to present his story fairly.

Bottom line, this whole AWOL story was media spin from the git-go. The Boston Globe reporter simply cherry picked Turnipseed's comments and totally misrepresented him--to make Bush look bad.

And the media are still doing it four years later. They should be ashamed--but they have no shame. They have only their agenda.

[hellinahandcart]

I am really, really impressed. I nominate this for Thread of the Year.

[fritzz]

It is soooo nice to hear the real story. That AWOL crap was getting to me.

Thank you for your report.

[Buck W.]

I think he (Hannity) discussed this today.

[hellinahandcart]

Call the guy up on the phone, who would have thought of that one?

[Hon]

Since you checked my home page you could have checked my recent posts and seen how this came about. I was coming at this from an entirely different side. I got into contact first with Tom Turnipseed, who is an uber Bush basher. He told me Turnipseed was a solid Bush man (much to his disgust).

That started me thinking that something didn't quite sound right, so I called him up. If you want to verify further, you can do your own leg work. It isn't that difficult. I don't want to post Turnipseed's phone number or email address. But you could find them if you wanted to.

And yes, Turnipseed would like his side to get out. He gave me his consent to spread the word and to contact news agencies, such as Fox--which I have done.

[Hon]

"Hannity is the one to contact. He'll get him on Hannity and Homely."

I believe Turnipseed said that Colmes has contacted him--either today or yesterday. I got the feeling that he might not have been interested when he turned out to be a Bush supporter.

But I might be wrong about that. In any case, Turnipseed is a little gunshy, after the way his story has been twisted.

[Amelia]

This is not a sarcastic question....BUT....I know who Turnipseed is, I know who George Bush is but who are YOU? Your homepage shows a fairly current registration. They are many Freepers here whose word I would take but am always a little wary of such postings. Do you know Turnipseed personally and just called him for a response? Did he authorize this? Is the media not hounding him to give a response???? Just checking my sources!....

Good questions...I was wondering the same.

[RaceBannon]

major bump

[SuziQ]

Great Job!! Thanks for getting this info. I sure hope FoxNews picks it up cause it is very timely!

[MHGinTN]

And you're sure we don't have Hannity posting here?...

[socal_parrot]

This news was published on Newsmax this morning and there was a FR thread also. It's out there, we'll just see if it gets picked up.

[Hon]

"A simple resource not taught to most journalists."

It's worse than that. They have called him. They aren't interested in what he has to say.

[ladyjane]

Does anyone know who the Boston Globe reporter is who first wrote the article and accused Bush of being AWOL? and/or the date of the article?

[LilRhody]

Brit Hume has an e-mail coming from me.
Thanks
Linda

[hellinahandcart]

Previous thread:

Is AWOL Story Source Will Turnipseed Related To "Iraqi Shield" Left-Wing Bush-Basher Tom Turnipseed?

[Hon]

"Bush Guard Commander Recants AWOL Charge"

You can see why Turnipseed is gunshy about the media. He hasn't recanted anything. He is saying exactly what he has always said. (At least, according to him--and I believe him.)

He is in a bind. If he tries to correct the story they try to make it look like he is "backpedaling" or "recanting."

For some reason they can't admit the truth: "they lied."

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Sean Hannity was talking about this very thing today. He was saying that the general suddenly recanted. To me, the whole thing is moot. If Bush wasn't brought up on UA (Unauthorized Absence) or desertion charges, then there's nothing left to talk about.

[Rebelbase]

I sent the link to this thread and a brief note to Drudge at his "Send News Tips" window"

[JoJo Gunn]

OUTTA HERE!