Bush's military service lacks record of attendance: Bill Press

[bigtree]

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section=40&screen=news&news_id=30602


Commentary by Bill Press
February 10, 2004

The White House bristles at allegations that Bush shirked his National Guard duties, which Republican Chair Marc Racicot calls a "new low" in politics. But there's one way to put the issue to rest. Let President Bush name one guardsman he met during the seven months he served in Alabama. If he can, the issue's dead. If he can't, it's a good sign he's lying.

In 2000, a group of former Alabama guardsmen offered a $3,500 reward to anyone who could remember serving with Lt. George Bush. Nobody came forward.

Is it, as Racicot charges, dirty pool for Cleland to raise this issue? Not at all. Cleland is a decorated Vietnam hero who left both legs and one arm behind on the battlefield. He lost his Senate seat when President Bush went to Georgia and accused him of being unpatriotic because, while he sponsored his own homeland security bill, he dared oppose Bush's version of the same legislation.

Fair is fair. If it was OK for Bush to question triple-amputee Max Cleland's patriotism, it's OK for Max Cleland to question George Bush's military service.

Bill Press is a political analyst for MSNBC and author of Spin This!

[lovedems]

1. It's Karma so you better watch out chimp, The Dick, and KKKarl.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Deficits aren't your "due", karma is and you guys are in big trouble!

Go Karma! Work you magic!

[SpiralHawk]

2. Time to up the ante, Guardsmen

To protect America from treachery, I respectfully suggest that you offer your reward again. Many patriotic Americans would be willing to support you with monetary donations so you could raise the ante.

We would like to know the truth about our selected "commander in chief"

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Absolutely!

I bet Shrub couldn't look Cleland in the eye and tell him he was unpatriotic. Hope Max has a prominant post in the Democratic White House come Jan. 2005.

[Tim4319]

4. Let Larry Flint offer the reward.

He has shown in the past that money is no object when it comes to offering rewards. I am sure he could come up with a lot of cash. And, if there is one National Guardsmen, just one, they would come forward.

[bigtree]

5. John Kerry offered this about the president's enlistment in the Guard

"People made their choices":

Some went to Canada;
Some went to Jail;
Some went to the National Guard.

In an article introduced by WiseMen, Bush was quoted as saying that:

"I was not prepared to shoot my eardrum out with a shotgun in order to get a deferment. Nor was I willing to go to Canada. So I chose to better myself by learning how to fly airplanes."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4114162

But the fact is that Bush had a minimal risk of going to Vietnam. He must have known that when he chose the Guard. Everyone else did. It was tough to get in. He must have known that also.

In the Vietnam War:

9.087.000 military personnel served on active duty during the Vietnam era (Aug. 5, 1964-May 7, 1975).

8.744.000 Gls were on active duty during the war (Aug. 5, 1964-March 28, 1973).

National Guard: 6,140 served; 101 died

Reservists killed: 5,977.


In the present conflict

More than 174,000 reservists and National Guardsman are currently on active duty and 34 of them have been killed.


Vietnam Stats from VFW: http://www.ojc.org/NL/march/warriors.htm

[adriennel]

6. the old addage

that "thou protesteth too much", Bushie, holds true here. If there is no validity to the claims that Bushie went AWOL, then why does he (and his handlers) get so darn upset whenever the issue comes up??

Bush questioning Cleland's patriotism is unforgivable!!

Bushie joined the Reserves so he could avoid Vietnam and yet still "serve" his country. Now he is sending our Reserves to war in Iraq. I hope this irony is not lost on anyone come the election. It's disgusting.