Posted on 09/20/2004 5:32:23 PM PDT by Dont Mention the War
Posted on Mon, Sep. 20, 2004
NEW YORK - At the behest of CBS, an adviser to John Kerry said he talked to a central figure in the controversy over President Bush's National Guard service shortly before disputed documents were released.
Joe Lockhart denied any connection between the presidential campaign and the papers. Lockhart, the second Kerry ally to confirm contact with retired Texas National Guard officer Bill Burkett, said he made the call at the suggestion of CBS producer Mary Mapes.
"He had some advice on how to deal with the Vietnam issue and the Swift boat" allegations, Lockhart said Monday, referring to GOP-fueled accusations that Kerry exaggerated his Vietnam War record. "He said these guys play tough and we have to put the Vietnam experience into context and have Kerry talk about it more."
Lockhart said he thanked Burkett for his advice after a three to four minute call.
Lockhart said he does not recall talking to Burkett about Bush's Guard records. "It's baseless to say the Kerry campaign had anything to do with this," he said.
CBS News apologized Monday for a "mistake in judgment" in its story questioning Bush's Guard service, claiming it was misled by the source of documents that several experts have dismissed as fakes.
Burkett admitted this weekend to CBS that he lied about obtaining the documents from another former National Guard member, the network said. CBS hasn't been able to conclusively tell how he got them, or even whether they're fakes or not.
Kerry ally Max Cleland, a former Georgia senator, also said he had a brief conversation last month with Burkett, who told him he had information about Bush to counter charges against Kerry's Vietnam War service. Cleland said he gave Burkett's name and phone number to the campaign's research department.
Kerry spokesman David Ginsberg said nobody in the campaign's research department followed up on Burkett's offer of information.
Lockhart said Mapes asked him the weekend before the story broke to call Burkett. "She basically said there's a guy who is being helpful on the story who wants to talk to you," Lockhart said, adding that it was common knowledge that CBS was working on a story raising questions about Bush's Guard service. Mapes told him there were some records "that might move the story forward. She didn't tell me what they said."
Very few American ones actually at this point. The whole thing has been quite a success, particularly in Bosnia, which is something of a surprise. Granted in Kosovo, most of the few remaining Serbs were driven out (except in a couple of sectors they control), but that was a given based on prior events. My rap on Clinton is that he was slow at the switch in Bosnia, but then Europe was even slower. Continental Europe (aka France and Germany mostly, but that is where the action is, but also some others), at this point is effectively worthless or a detriment from a foreign policy standpoint.
Rush calls him Tad "perhaps a tad too" Devine.
I think the "Fortunate Son" ad is paid for by Move on .org. If so there is your connection to 527.
Most likely wire fraud, if it could be proven to a sufficient degree. Very hard, though. Again, it comes back to unlawful tampering with a federal election.
I'm sure that the U.S. Attorney's office in the Texas district (and probably in New York, as well), will have something to say about it.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
Barnes has made a comeback in Texas Democratic circles since his Sharpstown scandal days. You have to remember how thin the ranks of Texas Democrats have become.
After raising over $500,000 for Kerry, he probably was going to get some kind of political payoff for his help.
Yes, further investigated is certainly called for, and the press needs to keep asking Lockhart questions. Which is why he will probably absent himself from the campaign, come to think of it.
OMG, that's the best laugh I've had all night!
One takes one's allies where on can. They are no permanent allies, just permanent "interests." I don't know who said that, but whomever it was, there are right.
It's much funnier the way Rush says it.
I understand that Dean was in Texas around the same time frame of Max
Perhaps Lockart will be sent to that same safari preserve in Kenya as Kerry's girlfriend.
Stunned does not begin to describe my concern over this.
This is one of the most flagrant violation of journalistic ethics there could be when it comes to politics.
I agree with the quote. I think it's Kissenger but I could be wrong.
Personally, I was and still think it wasn't worth poking Russia in the eye over something in which we had no national interest.
Von Clauswitz, I think. He also said that "war is just politics by another means".
Game, set and Match.
Drink up, me hearties! Don't splash any on your jammies!
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Right on, brah. Pragmatic and smart, definitely.
The official Kerry campaign site has a long thread on this as well...they are coming here to spy and dig up evidence against Buckhead. They are still delusional...
http://forum.johnkerry.com/index.php?showtopic=78284&st=150
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