Ex-Honcho: I Got Bush Into Guard

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-07-2004
Ex-Honcho: I Got Bush Into Guard
65
Sat, 08-28-2004 - 12:52pm
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/07/09/politics/main628437.shtml

(CBS/AP) In a video posted on the Internet, former Texas Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes, a Democrat, says he is ashamed that he helped President Bush and the sons of other wealthy families get into the Texas Air National Guard in 1968 so they could avoid serving in Vietnam.

"I got a young man named George W. Bush into the National Guard when I was lieutenant governor of Texas, and I'm not necessarily proud of that, but I did it," Barnes said in the 45-second video, which was recorded May 27 at a meeting of John Kerry supporters in Austin.

Barnes, who was House speaker when Mr. Bush entered the Guard, later became lieutenant governor.

He said he became ashamed after walking through the Vietnam Memorial and looking at the names of people who died.

"I became more ashamed of myself than I've ever been because the worst thing I did was get a lot of wealthy supporters and a lot of people who had family names of importance into the Guard and I'm very sorry about that and I apologize to you and the voters of Texas," Barnes said.

President Bush has denied that family influence got him into the Guard.

"With controversy swirling around Kerry's service as a swift boat commander in Vietnam, Barnes' latest statements renew questions about (Mr.) Bush's military record, but also about Barnes' motivation for telling his story," the Houston Chronicle says in its Saturday editions.

"It is no surprise that a partisan Democrat is making these statements," Bush spokeswoman Claire Buchan told the Chronicle. "This was addressed five years ago, and there's nothing new."

The video was posted June 25 on the Web site www.austin4kerry.org, but didn't get much attention until Friday, when Jim Moore, an Austin-based author of books about Mr. Bush, sent out e-mail messages calling attention to it, The New York Times reported in its Saturday editions.

It was the first time Barnes, a Kerry supporter, has discussed at length his role in getting Mr. Bush into the Guard. In 1999, he said he recommended Mr. Bush for a pilot's position at the request of a Bush family friend.

"I got a lot of other people in the National Guard because I thought that's what people should do when you're in office: You help a lot of rich people," Barnes said.


© MMIV, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 11:08am


Actually, John O'Neill has been disputing Kerry's version of events for 30 years now, not sure how that qualifies as "coming out of nowhere". Obviously (unlike your comparison to moveon.org) this organization had no reason to exist until John Kerry was the candidate, hence it sprung up only after he was nominated.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 12:08pm
Actually, you are incorrect...good, bad or ugly, political figures cannot sue for libel as you suggest. I can say and smear them in any way I so see fit, and am free from litigation....where I could get into trouble, is in not say abiding by the Federal Election Laws in raising funds to fund wide distribution of my opinions.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 12:10pm
I do not question their right to exist, nor their right to speak their mind...I do though serious question how all those things necessary to get their message out fell so perfectly and quickly into place....IE, the half million dollar donation from a close personal friend and backer of Bush....especially since this is a well known tactic of the Republicans and Bush that has been enacted three times so far in the last four years.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 1:12pm

Welcome donita_60!


It's grrreat to see a new poster take such an active interest in the board!

Renee ~~~

Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 1:17pm
Welcome to the board iv_mysticdreamer!

I have to disagree. The unit Bush joined was actively seeking pilots because they had a few openings they were unable to fill due to the time committment that was required.

Renee ~~~

Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 1:23pm


Sorry, it is you who are incorrect. They most certainly can sue, and if they can prove the statement is untrue and they can prove they have been damaged by the statement, they would win. Fact is most political (and other public figures) don't sue in large part because they don't want the public scrutiny of their records that a lawsuit would invite.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-23-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 1:25pm


Wrong again. You as a private citizen can raise funds any way you like to say whatever you choose-there are restrictions on what you can say immediately prior to an election, but otherwise if you can find a media outlet willing to sell you the ad space you would be legally entitled to purchase it.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 2:25pm

It is more difficult to prove liable when you are a

Renee ~~~

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 2:30pm
You are welcome to disagree, but the facts and records back up my ascertions in this regard. Bush's test scores were deplorable when he wanted to become a pilot, and his father in fact and deed did intercede on his sons behalf.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-21-2004
Mon, 08-30-2004 - 2:33pm
There are specific limitions and rules on what I can do to raise and spend money for political advertising. As one example, even if I can afford it, I cannot spend above certion limits of my own money in campaigning for certion officials even if I can afford it. I know this, as I wanted to put up and fund solely on my own an anti-Bush Website.

Pages