Who will hurt Bush worse? Ben Barns on 60 minutes or Kitty Kelly?

[Quixote1818]

I think when people focus on the fact that some poor kid who had a higher test score than Bush might have been killed in Vietnam because Bush had strings pulled to get out of Nam. they will be furious! It's no more than class affirmative action. The poor already have things stacked up against them and by stacking things up even more, to the point that they could be killed is over the top. This kind of Crap has to stop and Bush should pay for using his privilege to get out of harms way.

[David Dunham]

1. The bad situation in Iraq will hurt Bush the worst.

[markus]

2. How many of the people you expect to be outrage by Barnes

had a deferement, or knew someone who did?

I just dont' see the mass of voters making the ChickenHawk-to-Veterans-Smear connection, or making too much of it.

[NewJeffCT]

3. Kelley's book will hurt more

60 Minutes will be spun furiously as the "librul media" out to get Bush.

Kelley is a scandal monger, and Americans love their gossip.

[rkc3]

4. I'm not sure about the harm from Barnes.

I've talked with several 50 and 60 somethings recently and there's a general feeling of resignation that this stuff happened all the time during the war.

Also, I think most people of that era would like to pt the whole war behind them, so there is little commentary about the subject.

[Ducks In A Row]

5. Kitty because people love sex and drugs

It was sex in the clinton scandal, and now drugs in the bush scandal.

[Bridget Burke]

6. Now, now, we're taking the high road here at DU!

What can we say about Bush? We can mention his failure to protect the country against terrorism. Then there are the two wars that are still draining lives & funds. Let's not forget the economy--disappearing jobs & massive deficit! Not to mention the environment, education & medical care.

If Ben Barnes points out that W* was a chickenhawk & Kitty Kelley reveals the Bush family as a nest of vipers--that's just icing on the cake.

[oasis]

7. They are both equally helpful in softening the support for Bush. If folks

leaning his way are discouraged from voting, that's a good thing. Why do you think there is such a massive absentee vote drive by the GOP? They knew this stuff was in the pipeline.

[LoZoccolo]

8. Ben Barnes

I think people will want a lot of proof for the Kitty Kelley stuff, but then again I also think that some people will just dismess Ben Barnes outright because he's a Democrat.

[Capn Sunshine]

10. I don't think people care about proof

Or the Swiffer liars wouldn't have stayed alive so long. People only hear the original slanderous statement repeated several timesad infinitum, then they're done with the story. This is what the Kerry campaign--or many of those here at DU---does not seem to recognize.

That's how sleazy campaigns work.

[Bunny]

9. A lot of good and decent people did whatever they could legally do to

avoid going to Nam. The most offensive part about Bush is not (necessarily) that he got a plum assignment, it's that he then FAILED to fulfill his obligations to that assignment. THAT is what is truly obnoxious - not only was he too good to go to Nam, he was also too good to show up for his training. Douchebag.

[WI_DEM]

11. probably neither

and we can't depend on this stuff to be what defeats him. It has to be his record as president with Kerry convincing enough people that he is a suitable alternative that will defeat Bush.

[shraby]

12. Kitty Kelley will do the most damage

cause it will generate gossip at women's clubs and any other place women get together for several reasons:
Most women like to have the "latest" and the juicier the better
Each one will try to one-up the other
They will discuss the latest gossip ad infinitum
Women are much more verbal than men and are more prone to read her book

I've found they even discuss the soap operas. One time my friends and I were at a volley-ball get together for exercise and the others had what sounded like "good" gossip but I didn't recognize any of the people in it. Found out it was a soap episode and I don't watch them.

[otohara]

13. BenBarnes Is Not On 60 Minutes

check yesterday for Wed. show - NADA - they did not promo it on Sunday - only Robert Duvall tango right-winger.

[Qutzupalotl]

17. Next week.

Check next week's 60 Minutes. They held this story because of the holiday.

[Nordic]

14. the question should be: which will the media cover?

My vote's with the Kitty Kelley book

[Gothmog]

15. Both stories breaking at the same time can only help

I hope that there is a cumulative effect of both stories breaking at the same time. In combination, these stories really hit Bush at whether he is a likable guy which is all he has going for him right now.

[noonwitch]

16. Everyone knows Kitty Kelley writes books about gossip

Few readers take her that seriously.

[Poiuyt]

18. Bob Graham

because it shows that Bush has been soft on terror.

Otherwise, I'd say Kitty Kelly because it's the type of gossip that the media loves to talk, about even if it isn't true.