Posted on 08/19/2004 3:09:04 PM PDT by AJFavish
Great statement but NOT the right thing for Bush to say. That's what John O'Neill and the Swifties should say.
The Swifties are men of great courage and conviction. They WILL NOT be silenced as they are speaking for millions of us who were smeared by that bastard Hanoi John!
This is a veterans matter, not a presidential matter. It should have been done many, many, years ago!
Consider that which Kerry has already admitted to be a lie - his Christmas in Cambodia charade & consider how that reflects on his mental condition.
If he says anything at all, he should state that he is not interested in impinging on the First Amendment rights of these veterans.
Bush should continue to say nothing on the issue. Strategery is at work here. Kerry has already locked himself into having to endorse or repudiate the ads of the 527 groups that support him, while W doesn't, since he is making a blanket condemnation of ALL 527s.
I believe the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act expressly forbids any coordination between a candidate and a 527.
Bush already responded to a question about the ads on Larry King's show. He doesn't need to make any other comments about it.
Why do you say that? W released his records and the discussion of that subject immediately disappeared. Now one only hears the odd charge in passing. No one seriously makes the accusations anymore. Kerry would ultimately benefit if he signs that form 180. Even if the info is all bad for him the problem will be old news in a week or two. It's holking it back that keeps it all going. Nixon learned that. Clinton knew it. Clinton refined the practice of "document dumps" and was able to release tons of information on Friday that was old news by Monday.
I will not participate in the illegal campaign activities no matter how stronger urged by the democrats!
I doubt Bush will touch this and that could be prudent, but I think the dems and media will turn this into a liability for Bush. Here is my suggested presidential statement.
(President Bush): I have never questioned Senator Kerry's service in Vietnam and I am not going to start now. However, a group of hundreds of Senator Kerry's fellow veterans have formed an organization which has criticized both his behavior during and after the war. Senator Kerry has asked me, even demanded, that I denounce these veterans. As I have not criticized Senator Kerry with respect to his Vietnam service, nor am I going to denounce hundreds of combat veterans for expressing their views. I would like to remind Senator Kerry that he is the only candidate in this race to criticize the other's military service. Senator Kerry has responded to questions about his own record by criticizing mine. I ask that Senator Kerry apologize for those remarks, and I repeat my pledge not to criticize the Senator's military record. Finally, prominent supporters of Senator Kerry have made intemperate remarks calling me a "deserter" and Vice President Cheney a "coward." This type of angry name calling is not appropriate during a time of war, or at any time, and I hope that Senator Kerry will also disavow such comments, which he knows to be untrue.
Yup, that's for sure...it would be really embarassing for the LIES that the left has been telling..."he was AWOL" etc....to be proven to be LIES AGAIN!!!
We seem to forget that President BUSH did report for duty in Alabama, he requested and was GRANTED time off to work for a campaign...he did not HAVE TO TAKE a flight physical because his UNIT WAS BEING SHUT DOWN...I really hate it when the FACTS get in the way...
G
an awesome reply would be this: "John Kerry exercised his first-amendment right to protest against the Vietnam War. I think it is unfair for John Kerry to deny his fellow Vietnam veterans the opportunity to protest against something they also strongly believe in. Censorship is not the American way."
John Kerry has ridiculed my National Guard service and has stated that I'm not qualified to question his Vietnam service and now he'd have me, a stateside National Guard pilot during that time, to condemn hundreds of war vets and says I should somehow forbid them from telling their story.
Bush should make a big show of signing a Form 180.
Just to show John Kerry how it is done.
Rush brought up earlier that since it is a 527 group, President Bush may have to take a hands off approach, or violate campaign finance laws if he addresses a specific one.
I like your response.
good quote :)
I agree. Bush should avoid getting involved but should point out that the Vets have been going after Kerry in protests since long before he was even governor of Texas and that they are not only republicans but also democrats who are Vietnam Vets against Kerry.
He shouldn't. He's not making the alegations, his fellow vets are.
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