Since grasswire pointed to Digby's site this morning I've been finding a LOT of details. Wonder where Michelle Malkin came up with the "self-inflicted wounds" crap on Hardball? Digby might have stumbled upon the answer.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2004_08_15_digbysblog_archive.html#109305446449877913Here is the "Ask The White House" exchange he refers to. On August 13th, an unidentified questioner...an unidentified Vietnam vet, at that...asks a question that really isn't a question at all. A Karl Rove plant, a shill, or what?
Similar to Bush's response in the new Kerry ad when McCain says that his actions hurt ("yeah"), Bush responds to this White House-sanctioned swipe at Kerry with "Well, I appreciate that. Thank you"...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040813-7.htmlQ On behalf of Vietnam veterans -- and I served six tours over there -- we do support the President. I only have one concern, and that's on the Purple Heart, and that is, is that there are over 200,000 Vietnam vets that died from Agent Orange and were never -- no Purple Heart has ever been awarded to a Vietnam veteran because of Agent Orange because it's never been changed in the regulations. Yet, we've got a candidate for President out here with two self-inflicted scratches, and I take that as an insult. (Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you for your service. Six tours? Whew. That's a lot of tours.
...kind of set the stage for the Swift Boat Vet ads, wouldn't you say?