Should the DNC Formally Now Take the Gloves Off About Bush's AWOL?

[David Zephyr]

Poll question: Should the DNC Formally Now Take the Gloves Off About Bush's AWOL?

The entire nation is aware that Bush is gleefully behind the relentless swiftboat character assassination of John Kerry.

The fig leaf of covering that the RNC had has now been removed with exposure of Bush's top lawyer advising the group, Bush family friends developing the swiftboat television ads, Bush Campaign official "steering committee members" participating in the TV Ads, and more.

In reflecting on his 2000 GOP Primary contest with George W. Bush, Senator John McCain said the following regarding why he didn't challenge Bush's draft dodging and AWOL status in Alabama, "I gave George a pass on Vietnam".

What happened?

Bush and many of the very same people involved in his swiftboat media campaign maliciously smeared John McCain with blatant lies about his REAL Vietnam record in South Carolina.

The result?

George W. Bush won the South Carolina Primary and beat John McCain for the GOP nomination.

Should the DNC just sit back and give George, still once again, "a pass on Vietnam?

I don't think so. Do you?

[dennis4868]

1. but but....

Peter Jennings said there was no truth to Bush missing time in the national gaurd during the primary election debates.....

[Racenut20]

2. The DNC should go after Peter Jennings

Just the way he slimed Clark because Clark's friend Holbrook ran off with Jennings wife.

[geek tragedy]

3. I vote "other"

They should save it for the knockout punch. Bush will lurch forward with other dishonest smears, and Kerry should then catch him with a right-cross.

[snyder]

4. Damn Right They Should

There are gaping holes in Bush's service record, and it's about time they be explored with a spotlight. I think we should also ask very loudly what Bush's service with the inner-city group in Houston was all about. This looks like community service for a crime, and if the Democrats make an issue of it then Bush's people won't be able to avoid it.

[David Zephyr]

5. "Ask Very Loudly"

What happened in Houston?

"I think we should also ask very loudly what Bush's service with the inner-city group in Houston was all about."

[snyder]

15. Check This Out

Here's the link:

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_02_08.php

[Rambis]

6. He should keep saying....

If you want to talk about "OUR" service in vietnam BRING IT ON! that way he keeps shooting down the swifties and brings up the Bush no service at the same time. The soundbite should be bring it on and then let the records of both men speak for themselves. The shrub's record should speak volumes if we ever get it out in the open.

[Dick_Tuck]

7. A Dead Horse????

Most Americans know that if Bush wasn't an all out deserter, he was at minimum, a slacker. I don't think there's much more milage we could get from this.

It's now a question of resources, and where best to put them. The DNC should be spending their money on what a crappy job Bush did over the last few years. Focus on the economy. Focus on the lies about Iraq.

Kerry, and his campaign, should start to focus on his agenda, and how he'll fix up the things that Bush screwed up. His ideas about changes in the tax code to reward employers who create jobs here is a winner. Focus on that. He can spend a bit more money on showing Bush to be a sleazy candidate, who'll use dirty tricks, thus, turning back an October surprise.

If Move On, or anyone else wants to compare the service records of Bush v Kerry, fine. They, and their members, can decide how best to use their resources. I personally think they should air "Childs Play" until they run out of money.

[Karenina]

10. "Most" Americans don't "know"

JACK SHIT and their "opinions" are a nose ring on *corporate media's leash. They have not yet grokked that Iraq is Viet Nam redux, and the central issue is about LIES and a true assessment of "character." If YOUR LIFE were endangered, WHO would YOU want next to you? John Kerry or a superficial, supercilious *DIMWIT? Bringumon.

[Cocoa]

8. the DNC did not give Bush a pass on Vietnam

http://www.democrats.org/wherewasbush/

[The Magistrate]

9. Yes, Mr. Zephyr

It is time for exposure of the low character and dishonesty this matter establishes....

"Politics ain't bean-bag!"

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[Karenina]

11. Indeed.

[RadiDem]

12. Let surrogates who are Generals (Clark, McPeak) do it

I think

[sandnsea]

13. It's not necessary

Isn't that great!! Anybody who cares, knows about Bush and the Guard. And now they know this guy who weaseled his way out of Vietnam will stoop so low as to lie about someone else's service, and has done it time and again. That's the story and it's way better than whether Bush served his time or not. The Smear Vets are about Bush's actions today, he's the same weasel he always was.

[Dawgs]

14. Needs to be taken down with this, but..

I would rather someone find proof first. If not, the whole thing will be he-said/they-said. It could backfire and turn many folks off of the Vietman issue altogether. Right now Kerry is starting to look like the stronger leader. Let's leave it at this until more info is found. If it's possible to find documents that prove he was AWOl then I say yes, but for right now what Kerry is doing is enough.

After this and the RNC it will be time to focus on the debates. At that point, unless proof is found, the focus needs to be shifted to the real issues affecting Americans.

[snyder]

16. "The Real Issues?"

Get your head out of the clouds. Look, we've got an appointed president who took the country to war on false pretenses. I'd say it's a "real issue" that this president was a deserter and (if it can be proven) did community service on a cocaine rap.

[rocktivity]

17. Having an AWOL commander in chief is a PROBLEM!

So it's the DNC that should go after him. Unlike the smear voters, we have the facts on our side. And surely it's impeachable, at the very least, to have a AWOL deserter as commander-in-chief.

:headbang:
rocknation

[CarinKaryn]

18. Do it! Go get him!

[NewJeffCT]

19. Not only AWOL during Vietnam...

He has also been AWOL for most of his presidency. I really think they could score with voters by comparing Bush's 150 days a year of vacation time to the average worker getting 10-15 days vacation time each year.

George W. Bush - Deserted his Guard unit in a time of war and is now AWOL during the War on Terror.

[sampsonblk]

20. AWOL then, AWOL now

I say go after him on Vietnam and his vacations since he's been pResident.

[LimpDickCheney]

21. Surrogates for the time being.

Charles Rangel, Dan Inouye, "Mad" Max Cleland and other decorated Democratic veterans should be hitting the talk show circuit and create an echo chamber with questions and conjecture about Bush's Guard duty (or lack of). We could take a page from the GOP attack machine on this one. I think Cleland should give the response to the GOP Keynote speaker... I can't even speak his name.

[rullery]

22. DNC should Nail Bush!

Bush is such a son of privilege. He has had everything handed to him all his life. He has never had to work for anything, and has no concept of what it means to earn a living and struggle to pay the bills. When he was given an oil company to run he ran it into the ground, and then was bailed out by a corrupt money-laundering bank that Sen. Kerry was working to get shut down! Then Bush sold his stock in said company, pocketed his millions, and let the new owners go down into bankruptcy. Same thing with his baseball team. No wonder he was such friends with "Kennyboy" Lay, and other major crooks! He is just one of them, but with less skill at their game.

Bush has no concept of what it means to truly serve his country, unlike Kerry who volunteered for dangerous duty in Vietnam. Bush got a cushy position in the Texas Air National Guard, could not cut it there, got a transfer to the Alabama National Guard and failed to show up there, except for a dental appointment. Do I think the DNC (and everybody else) should nail this smirking, AWOL jerk? Damn right I do! I served three plus years in the Army, 1959-1962, and I did it with pride, unlike our disgrace of a President.

[DeepModem Mom]

23. Yes -- if Vietnam service is to be the only campaign issue, bring it on --

[Scorpious_Maximus]

24. Don't take the bait

Going after Bush's AWOL status is bait. It is a trap we would be smart to avoid.

We should attempt to manipulate the media the way the repugs do, and let them do the heavy lifting.

That we WE have plausible deniability.

[MoonRiver]

25. Absolutely! I can't believe it hasn't happened yet!

[TNMOM]

26. Take the fight to Chimpy. Let's ask 'where was George'

That should be a tagline for a series of commercials that point to Chimp's failures and his cowardice:
*Defending America in Vietnam: Where was George?
*Defending America during 9-11 crisis: where was George?
*Growing the economy/jobs: where was George?
*Supporting programs for men and women who fight America's wars: where was George?
*Protecting our budget surplus? where was George?
*Condemning dirty campaign tricks that impugned all vets: where was George?

When Americans needed leadership, George shirked the responsiblity. Americans deserve better.