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McCain Joins Bush to Rein In Groups
Washington Post ^ | August 27, 2004 | Dan Balz

Posted on 08/27/2004 12:06:23 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

..........McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam, was among the first to condemn the veterans group for challenging Kerry's combat record and spoke out against the ad throughout his 90-minute luncheon interview. But he also said Kerry had invited scrutiny of his record by putting so much emphasis on Vietnam at the Democratic National Convention in Boston last month.

"His critics are saying, 'Look, you made it fair game,' " McCain said. "I mean, that's very legitimate, and I think there's a risk that he took when he made it such a centerpiece. He may be paying a very heavy price."

McCain said that he urged Kerry sometime ago not to talk about Vietnam during his campaign. "I did advise John. I said, 'Look, you shouldn't talk about Vietnam because everybody else will. Let everybody else do it.' His advisers figured that was probably not enough, that he had to emphasize that in his campaign. In my campaign, as you know, I didn't talk about it because I didn't need to."

McCain also said he drew a distinction between the first anti-Kerry ad by the veterans group, which focused on Kerry's Vietnam service, and a second ad now airing that criticizes Kerry for his leadership in the antiwar movement after he returned from Vietnam. McCain condemned the first ad but not the second.

................He said neither Kerry nor Bush should have their service records challenged. ...........

Asked whether he is equally passionate in wanting to put Kerry's antiwar activities off-limits, he said, "I think his activities after the war open, and are subject to, any debate and discussion that they want to, .................. Everybody is accountable for what they do, and certainly John Kerry is accountable for what he did after the war, and people can make a judgment." .......

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 527; 527ads; 527groups; balz; bush; campaign; cfr; doublestandard; election; freespeech; kerry; mccain; moveonorg; sbvt; swiftboat; veterans; vietnam
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To: joesnuffy

McCain is an ambitious man.


41 posted on 08/27/2004 6:02:54 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: nopardons
I stopped watching him a while back.He's driving away his audience and doesn't care.

If the O'Reilly Factor viewer numbers start to go south in a meaningful way he'll care ... guaranteed. Never listen to his radio show but understand the ratings are abysmal.

42 posted on 08/27/2004 6:05:40 AM PDT by BluH2o
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
These are the key graphs:

But he also said Kerry had invited scrutiny of his record by putting so much emphasis on Vietnam at the Democratic National Convention in Boston last month.

"His critics are saying, 'Look, you made it fair game,' " McCain said. "I mean, that's very legitimate, and I think there's a risk that he took when he made it such a centerpiece. He may be paying a very heavy price."

McCain said that he urged Kerry sometime ago not to talk about Vietnam during his campaign. "I did advise John. I said, 'Look, you shouldn't talk about Vietnam because everybody else will. Let everybody else do it.' His advisers figured that was probably not enough, that he had to emphasize that in his campaign. In my campaign, as you know, I didn't talk about it because I didn't need to."

McCain also said he drew a distinction between the first anti-Kerry ad by the veterans group, which focused on Kerry's Vietnam service, and a second ad now airing that criticizes Kerry for his leadership in the antiwar movement after he returned from Vietnam. McCain condemned the first ad but not the second.

43 posted on 08/27/2004 8:40:14 AM PDT by NavySEAL F-16 (Proud to be a Reagan Republican)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife

bump TO SUPPORT THE NEW SWIFT VETS AD AND GEORGE BUSH... http://swift2.he.net/~swift2/gardner2.mpg


44 posted on 08/27/2004 8:44:41 AM PDT by freddiedavis
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To: Ursus arctos horribilis; Hank Rearden

>>HE can rest assured there will be two right wingers voting for the rat here in Arizona come November.<<

There is no way in Eloy that McCain will not be reelected. That being said, I'm going to vote for him, too, because W needs a majority in the Senate. Think "Supreme Court Nominees".


45 posted on 08/27/2004 9:06:35 AM PDT by Jeff Chandler ("Lieutenant Ricebottom reporting for duty.")
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To: NavySEAL F-16

Bump!


46 posted on 08/27/2004 9:20:27 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Jeff Chandler
There is no way in Eloy that McCain will not be reelected.

So, like Fat Teddy, we have to rely on old age or cancer? That sucks, and doesn't say much for the electorate.

That being said, I'm going to vote for him, too, because W needs a majority in the Senate. Think "Supreme Court Nominees".

Like David Souter, appointed by his dad?

47 posted on 08/27/2004 9:25:16 AM PDT by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government job attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: Prime Choice
Help get the message out while you drive with this sticker!

Many FReepers are requesting this EXPOSE KERRY'S FRAUD SWIFT BOAT VETERANS FOR TRUTH sticker.

They are being made by a disabled vet FReeper who has a bone to pick with Kerry, like we all do!
Large $20 (24" Wide 12" Tall) like mine
Small $10 (12" Wide 6" Tall)
Profits go to SwiftVets.com

FReep mail for details.

48 posted on 08/27/2004 9:35:48 AM PDT by Chieftain (Support the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and expose Hanoi John's FRAUD!)
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To: Texasforever
Forget the issue. What is President Bush doing trying to restrict the political speech of any groups, let alone veterans who bled for their nation?
49 posted on 08/27/2004 3:43:30 PM PDT by asmith92008 (Rome wasn't burnt in a day.)
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To: Hank Rearden
Bush is thinking of putting his White House Counsel in as the "first Hispanic nominee." Aside from the prior disaster of Republican "affirmative action" picks for the Court (Sandra Day O'Connor fulfilling the Regan promise to appoint the first woman), there are rumors that the man's name is Spanish for "Souter."
50 posted on 08/27/2004 3:46:38 PM PDT by asmith92008 (Rome wasn't burnt in a day.)
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To: Hank Rearden
Like David Souter, appointed by his dad?

This isn't your father's Bush. He may be wobbly in most areas of domestic policy, but W understands the importance of the appointment of Constitutionalist judges, which is second only to the war on radical islam for our survival.

We are never going to get everything we want from our elected officials. The most we can hope for is incremental progress, and it would be egotistical and childish to cut off our noses to spite our faces. So yes, I'm going to hold my nose and vote for McQueeg.

51 posted on 08/27/2004 7:42:37 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler ("Lieutenant Ricebottom reporting for duty.")
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To: Free2Be49; nopardons; wardaddy
Sheesh, grow a backbone.
I guess all of you O'Reilly crybabies don't care that he continually spotlights corrupt judges. Or, that he puts NOW on the spot over partial birth abortion? Or, that he regularly highlights illegal alien issues? Sure, O'Reilly is wrong on several issues, but he is a valuable media figure on several other issues.
52 posted on 08/29/2004 11:14:53 AM PDT by Nephi (A marriage amendment that allows for civil unions protects the word "marriage" not the institution.)
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To: LS

My gosh but you are generous to Bush!

There is no plan here at all. It is all tactics of the moment.


53 posted on 08/29/2004 4:02:11 PM PDT by Gen. Longstreet
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To: Gen. Longstreet
Let's see, didn't I say there was no strategy involved?

But sometimes the best strategy is to let your enemy hang himself, which is exactly what CFR is doing to the Dems. The great thing about the 527 loophole is that a lie has to be told a million times but the truth only told once to be effective. We have a classic example of that: one $150,000 ad vs. $60 million. And the $150,000 ad wins.

54 posted on 08/29/2004 4:13:19 PM PDT by LS (CNN is the Amtrak of news.)
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To: wardaddy

John cares what the media think about him.
THAT is his mistake.


55 posted on 08/29/2004 4:16:11 PM PDT by onyx (JohnKerry -- the standard bearer for the unbearable)
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To: Jeff Chandler
McCain is a Republican because there was an opportunity in Arizona. If he had run in California, he would have run as a democrat.


56 posted on 08/29/2004 4:17:54 PM PDT by onyx (JohnKerry -- the standard bearer for the unbearable)
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To: Moderate right-winger

The Libertarian and Green parties are almost polar opposites.


57 posted on 08/29/2004 4:19:50 PM PDT by canadiancapitalist
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To: joesnuffy

McCain and his first wife, Carole, remain very good friends. Here's a news flash for you: McCain was her "second" husband.
Next slur....?


58 posted on 08/29/2004 4:21:35 PM PDT by onyx (JohnKerry -- the standard bearer for the unbearable)
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To: onyx

You may think it's nonsense, but I've actually followed his career.


59 posted on 08/29/2004 9:35:50 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler ("Lieutenant Ricebottom reporting for duty.")
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To: Jeff Chandler

I doubt it.
You'd know better than to post such specious drivel.
You don't like McCain; fine, but you do not know
much about him.


60 posted on 08/29/2004 10:16:13 PM PDT by onyx (JohnKerry -- the standard bearer for the unbearable)
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