That's the
RNC's response to McAuliffe's charge of the AWOL A$$Hole President.
"This is a demonstrably false and malicious charge that would be slanderous under any ordinary circumstance. It's not unusual, however, for Mr. McAuliffe to not tell the truth on national television.
"Terry McAuliffe has become the John Wilkes Booth of character assassination.
Hmm, you think this has caught their attention? HeHe
Scott McClellan and the White House are getting in on the act too:
White House defends Bush's Vietnam-era record
The White House has swung into campaign mode to defend President George W. Bush's record in the Texas Air National Guard far from the battlefields of Vietnam after Democrats accused him of going "AWOL."
White House spokesman Scott McClellan on Tuesday denied Democratic charges that Bush shirked his military duties in the early 1970s unlike Democratic presidential front-runner John Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran.
McClellan called the accusations "shameful" and the "worst of election-year politics." Bush "fulfilled his duties" in the National Guard and was honourably discharged. "The president was proud of his service," McClellan added. ...
... Without naming McAuliffe, McClellan said "these kinds of attacks have no place in politics and everyone should condemn them."
Of course not Scott... why telling the truth about Dear Leader... why that is down right shameful!! The press deserves a good tongue lashing for even hearing McAuliffe out, right Scott?! Heh.
You can almost hear Scott's gerbils turning, "Man, if the press even begins to look at this... we're sunk".
The article goes on to actually bring up the charges and throws some of the facts back in McClellan and the RNC's face. To bad it's only receiving play in the UK:
According to a copy of the National Guard document granting him an "honourable" discharge on October 1, 1973, Bush completed five years and four months of service -- less than the obligatory six years -- before entering Harvard Business School. ...
... Asked whether he considered Bush "AWOL" during his service in the National Guard,
Kerry told CNN, "It is a question that's been raised and that ought to be answered."
But he added: "I spoke out against the use of the word deserters, which I thought was inappropriate ... and over the top."
Way to go there John. That's right, back down and give into McClellan/Rove's charges of outrage. Way to legitimize their hapless flailing. Sheesh, you see why I don't like this guy?
You know they are worried though. Check out Bush's campaign chair reaction:
Bush campaign chairman Marc Racicot attacked Kerry directly. "To suggest, as Senator Kerry has, that the military should 'answer questions' about President Bush's honorable discharge is an outrage," he said.
Yes, we know. Just outrageous. LOL. You know what they say, right? Something like... When the facts are on your side... bang on the facts. When the law is on your side, bang on the law. When neither are on your side... bang on the table. Why do I get the feeling that the Bush campaign will be banging on the table furiously in the run up to November?
Look, it is great that the media is taking a re-look on Bush's AWOL status. It is great that the WH/RNC are forced to declare the whole subject out-of-line. Hell, I can't understand why they aren't just ignoring the charge like they have been doing up until now. The more they flail against it the more people will hear about it. Right now, I would expect that more people think Saddam was personally responsible for 9/11 than know about Bush's AWOL status. McClellan, Racicot and Gillespie keep responding... that might change :)
Oh, and Josh sure has caught Gillespie in a good one. Check it out.
