--2003-2004: THE KERRY ATTACKS--
Dick Cheney, Henry Hyde, Zell Miller, George Allen, Marc Racicot, Michael Crowley, Tom DeLay, Hugh Hewitt
Update [2004-10-6 11:55:9 by The Cunctator]: October 5, 2004
Vice Presidential Debate
CHENEY: We've never criticized his patriotism. What we've questioned is his judgment.
September 29, 2004
Cheney Questions Kerry's Judgment on Iraq
Associated Press
"I never challenged his patriotism," Cheney said. "I challenge his judgment."
September 29, 2004
At House Hearing, Quips, Insults and Some Official Business
David Stout, New York Times
That was too much for Representative Henry J. Hyde, the Illinois Republican who heads the committee. He said that "calling the commander in chief a liar by every hour on the hour" was simply wrong, and was helpful to "the other side," by which he appeared to mean America's terrorist enemies.
Moments later, Representative Gary Ackerman, Democrat of New York, said he and his colleagues were "sick and tired" of hearing their patriotism questioned whenever they exercised their responsibilities and rights, as citizens as well as members of Congress.
Mr. Hyde did not mollify Mr. Ackerman a bit. "Nobody questions your patriotism," Mr. Hyde said. "It's your judgment that's under question."
September 22, 2004
Cheney questions Kerry's ability to lead
He tells Michigan supporters country needs Bush at helm
Charlie Cain, Detroit News
"Based on John Kerry's record in the United States Senate, based on what he has said during the course of the campaign, I don't believe he would pursue a strategy as effective as the one the president has selected," Cheney said during a round-table discussions with a dozen hand-picked Republican supporters at a Lansing restaurant.
"I look at his record," Cheney added. "And it does not instill confidence ... I question his judgment."
September 20, 2004
Kerry Says Iraq War Raises Questions on Bush's Judgment
Maria Newman, The New York Times
Mr. Kerry also noted that Mr. Bush said recently that he had made "miscalculations" in Iraq.
"Miscalculations," Mr. Kerry said, with exaggerated surprise. "That is one of the greatest understatements in recent American history. His were not the equivalent of accounting errors. They were colossal failures of judgment and judgment is what we look for in a president."
September 8, 2004
In New Hampshire, Cheney questions Kerry's judgment
Rick Klein, Boston Globe (rklein@globe.com)
"He's gotten it wrong most of the time," Cheney said to about 150 supporters at the Radisson hotel in downtown Manchester, referring to Kerry's Senate record on national security and economic matters. "I don't question his patriotism. I question his judgment."
September 1, 2004
Zell Miller, Republican National Convention speech
"But don't waste your breath telling that to the leaders of my party today. In their warped way of thinking America is the problem, not the solution. They don't believe there is any real danger in the world except that which America brings upon itself through our clumsy and misguided foreign policy. It is not their patriotism -- it is their judgment that has been so sorely lacking."
August 17, 2004
MySanAntonio.Com Point 2 Point
John Kerry and his supporters cannot indefinitely hide behind the facade that every examination of his public record is an attack on Kerry's patriotism. John Kerry's patriotism and service to his country are not in question. His judgment and his honesty are.
May 17, 2004
David Callender, The Capital Times (Madison)
A top Republican lawmaker is defending Democratic U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold against charges he was unpatriotic for casting the lone vote in the Senate against the controversial Patriot Act.
U.S. Sen. George Allen, the head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, distanced himself from comments by Republican candidate Russ Darrow, who last month said Feingold's vote was "unpatriotic" and a publicity stunt.
"I would not use such a term," Allen, R-Va., said during a fund-raising visit on Wednesday to Madison and Milwaukee. "It's not the way I would characterize it. I would question his judgment, but not his patriotism."
April 17, 2004
Citing His Vietnam Service, Kerry Assails Cheney, Rove
Dan Balz, Washington Post
"I'm tired of these Republicans who spend so much time denigrating Democrats and other people's commitment to the defense of our nation," Kerry said at a rally on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh. "I'm tired of Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and a bunch of people who went out of their way to avoid their chance to serve when they had the chance. I went [to Vietnam]. I'm not going listen to them talk to me about patriotism." ...
Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt said Kerry's attacks were misguided and outrageous. "Nobody has ever questioned his patriotism," Schmidt said. "What's in question is John Kerry's judgment. Yesterday, Osama bin Laden again threatened America and John Kerry said the terrorist threat was exaggerated. John Kerry voted for the Iraq war but voted against money for American troops in harm's way. What's at issue is John Kerry's troubling record."
April 4, 2004
RNC Chairman Marc Racicot
Senator Kerry crossed a grave line when he dared to suggest the replacement of America's commander-in-chief at a time when America is at war. Critical analysis offered in the best interests of the country is part of a healthy democracy. But this use of self-serving rhetoric designed to further Senator Kerry's political ambitions at a time when the lives of America's sons and daughters are at stake reflects a complete lack of judgment.
April 2, 2004
Former Sen. Max Cleland: How the disabled war veteran became the Democrats' mascot
Michael Crowley, Slate
Most famously, Chambliss ran a vicious ad on Cleland's homeland security votes featuring images of Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. In the popular liberal mythology, the ad disgustingly questioned Cleland's patriotism. "To this day I am motivated by--and I will be throughout this campaign--the most craven moment I've ever seen in politics, when the Republican Party challenged this man's patriotism in the last campaign," John Kerry has said.
But that's not what happened. The ad, though sleazy in its use of Osama and Saddam, didn't question Cleland's patriotism. It questioned his political courage and judgment.
February 24, 2004
Editorial, Washington Times
Of course the president and his advocates are not questioning Mr. Kerry's patriotism or commitment to our national security. But they are questioning his judgment and wisdom as measured by his public words and votes over his public career.
February 24, 2004
Kerry's 19-year Senate record mixed on defense spending
Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press
"Every time we have brought to light his voting record, he has responded by saying we have attacked his patriotism," Bush campaign chairman Marc Racicot said in a conference call with reporters. "We have praised repeatedly his patriotism."
February 22, 2004
Bush campaign denies questioning Kerry's patriotism
Nedra Pickler, Associated Press
"Saxby Chambliss, on the part of the president and his henchmen, decided today to question my commitment to the defense of our nation," Kerry said while campaigning in Georgia, one of 10 states choosing electoral delegates on March 2.
Kerry told a news conference he voted for the largest defense and intelligence budgets in American history, although sometimes he "voted for common sense to make changes."
In his reply letter Sunday, Racicot said, "Our campaign does not condone any effort to impugn your patriotism. Your letter claims that supporters of our campaign questioned your service and patriotism. In fact, that simply wasn't the case."
"Our campaign is not questioning your patriotism or military service, but your votes and statements on issues now facing our country," said Racicot, former governor of Montana. "Senator Chambliss addressed your Senate record of voting against the weapons systems that are winning the war on terror."
February 13, 2004
Kerry faces fight on security: For war hero, GOP looks at Senate voting record
Susan Milligan, Boston Globe
House majority leader Tom DeLay, Republican of Texas, went out of his way in recent comments to reporters to cite a Kerry vote in the Senate against increased spending for intelligence gathering. "I'm not questioning his patriotism," DeLay said. "I'm questioning his judgment."
January 29, 2004
Judgement Call: John Kerry's patriotism isn't the issue--it's his judgement on the big decisions
Hugh Hewitt, The Daily Standard
The rhetorical harshness of a century ago wouldn't work in the United States of 2004, in part because
people have come to confuse a challenge to an opponent's judgement with a challenge to their patriotism. Anti-McCarthyism is deeply ingrained and reasonable people give such appeals a wide berth....
A vote for Kerry is thus a vote for American paralysis. No one is going to question the patriotism of a highly decorated combat veteran. But his judgement is fair game, and his judgement is deeply flawed.
--2002: THE SENATE RACES--
Merle Black, Saxby Chambliss, Jim Talent, John Thune, Norm Coleman, Lindsay Graham, Ginny Wolfe
October 24, 2003
Democrats fear nasty Georgia-style Senate fight
ELLYN FERGUSON; Gannett News Service
Merle Black, a political scientist at Emory University in Georgia, said money played a big role in the Georgia race, making it possible for Chambliss to run a number of radio and television spots.
Although the bin Laden-Hussein commercial got the most attention from outsiders, Black said Cleland lost because his opponent challenged his judgment not his patriotism.
July 28, 2003
Chambliss' charges, which Democrats said amounted to an attack on Cleland's patriotism, have been a bete noire for the Democratic Party ever since.
"I never questioned the patriotism of my opponent," Chambliss said. "I questioned his voting record and, as a response," the Georgia Republican continued, "he raised the issue of questioning patriotism."
October 24, 2002
Carnahan, Talent clash over patritism, support of president
David A Lieb, Associated Press
Mrs. Carnahan turned toward Talent, pointed at him and said: "I resent being told that I'm unpatriotic by my opponent."
Talent sat silently, reserving his response until he was questioned later about the most inaccurate statements made during the Senate campaign.
"The most inaccurate statement about me so far in the election is that I'm questioning somebody's patriotism, or even their motives, when I'm talking about their votes," Talent said.
He rattled off a list of seven votes on which he said Carnahan has opposed Bush's agenda, including drilling in Alaska, Bush's estate tax repeal and the confirmation of Republican former Sen. John Ashcroft as attorney general.
Carnahan insisted she has been 100 percent behind Bush's defense plan. Her campaign said her comments about patriotism also were prompted by images of Mrs. Carnahan and terrorists in the same television commercial.
October 15, 2002
Hussein's Long Shadow Over Electoral Politics
George F. Will, Washington Post
Because Democrats have deep divisions on national security issues, they are forced to say strange things, as Gephardt did last week when shown a television ad being used by the Republican Senate candidate in South Dakota, Rep. John Thune, against Sen. Tim Johnson.
Gephardt was asked to comment on this from the ad:
"Al Qaeda terrorists, Saddam Hussein -- enemies of America working to obtain nuclear weapons. Now, more than ever, our nation must have a missile defense system to shoot down missiles fired at America. Yet Tim Johnson's voted against a missile defense system 29 different times."
Gephardt, who is too intelligent to muster more than synthetic indignation about such things, worked himself up to say the ad is "immoral" because it says Johnson is "not patriotic."
But it doesn't. It questions Johnson's judgment, not his patriotism.
October 14, 2002
Battle For The Senate: Will the Republicans regain a majority in November? It may all depend on five critical races
Nancy Gibbs, Time Magazine
Candidates, like cat burglars, step more carefully when they are carrying a loaded gun. So when South Dakota's Republican Senate candidate John Thune challenges Tim Johnson for opposing missile defense, the TV ad shows an image of Saddam Hussein. "Is this a question of patriotism?" the ad asks. "No. It's a question of judgment." It's an artful but nervy charge to level at Johnson, who actually supports the use of force against Iraq and whose son Brooks is the only congressional son to serve in Afghanistan. Not one to waste a good sound bite, Minnesota Republican Norm Coleman attacks incumbent Paul Wellstone for proposals like a seven-year freeze in defense spending. "It's not about Paul's patriotism," Coleman says. "It's his judgment that's wrong."
October 4, 2002
Iraqi debate goes local in campaign spots
Jill Lawrence, USA Today
Rep. John Thune, R-S.D., uses an image of Saddam Hussein to underscore his criticism of votes cast by Sen. Tim Johnson...
* The spot for Thune, challenging Johnson in one of the tightest races in the country, calls al-Qaeda terrorists and Saddam Hussein "enemies of America" trying to obtain nuclear weapons. "Now more than ever, our nation must have a missile-defense system," the ad says. It goes on to say Johnson voted against such a system 29 times. "Is this a question of patriotism? No, it's a question of judgment."
September 29, 2002
Senate control likely hinges on Southern races
Tom Baxter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution tbaxter@ajc.com
In South Carolina, Republican Rep. Lindsey Graham is running an ad that calls attention to Democrat Alex Sanders' past opposition to making it a federal crime to burn the U.S. flag --- "the flag our soldiers carry into battle."
Stating nicely this campaign season's most well-used political nicety, the ad says: "Is this a question of patriotism? No, it's a question of judgment."
September 25, 2002
War looms over Minn. race, but no one can say how
Walter Shapiro, USA Today
Wellstone may still pay a price for political apostasy if he follows his current inclination to vote "no" on Iraq. Coleman framed the coming debate Monday by declaring: "This isn't a question of patriotism. It's a question of judgment."
September 1, 2002
REMEMBER 9/11: POLITICAL FALLOUT: There'll be no starting gun for fall's races
Tom Baxter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
But Chambliss' campaign hotly insisted that it was not questioning Cleland's patriotism when the Republican said he had not lived up to his oath of office on a vote to amend a chemical weapons treaty.
"No one in either party should ever insinuate the debate is over anything but judgment," Wolfe said. "Judgment is fair game. Patriotism is not."
--THE GREAT SILENCE OF 1992-2002--
--1992: THE CLINTON REBUFF--
George H. W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Chris Patten
October 13, 1992
Bush Hits Rival's Character
Chicago Sun-Times
President Bush today renewed his attacks on Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton's character as vice presidential hopefuls Dan Quayle, Al Gore and James Stockdale prepared for their evening debate in Atlanta. "I'm not questioning patriotism. I am questioning character and judgment," Bush said on NBC-TV's "Today" program.
October 12, 1992
Presidential Debate
Are there important issues of character separating you from these other two men?
BUSH: I think the American people should be the judge of that. I think character is a very important question.
I said something the other day where I was accused of being like Joe McCarthy because I questioned - I put it this way; I think it's wrong to demonstrate against your own country or organize demonstrations against your own country in foreign soil.
Maybe they say, "Well, it was a youthful indiscretion." I was 19 or 20, flying off an aircraft carrier and that shaped me to be Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces and I'm sorry, but demonstrating - it's not a question of patriotism. It's a question of character and judgment.
But he has made - not admitted - a mistake and I just find it impossible to understand how an American can demonstrate against his own country in a foreign land - organizing demonstrations against it when young men are held prisoner in Hanoi or kids out of the ghetto were drafted.
....
CLINTON To Bush: You have questioned my patriotism. You even brought some right-wing congressmen into the White House to plot how to attack me for going to Russia in 1969-1970, when over 50,000 other Americans did.
Now, I honor your service in World War II, I honor Mr. Perot's service in uniform and the service of every man and woman who ever served, including Admiral Crowe, who was your Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and who's supporting me.
But when Joe McCarthy went around this country attacking people's patriotism he was wrong. He was wrong. And a senator from Connecticut stood up to him named Prescott Bush. Your father was right to stand up to Joe McCarthy, you were wrong to attack my patriotism. I was opposed to the war but I loved my country and we need a president who will bring this country together, not divide it.
We've had enough division. I want to lead a unified country.
October 9, 1992
Clinton's candor is issue
Gerald R. Ford, USA Today
President Bush has not questioned Gov. Clinton's patriotism; he has questioned his judgment and candor. So do I.
from across the pond...
February 3, 1992
Dirtier Tricks Still To Come
Alan Travis and Keith Harper, The Guardian
The Conservative Party chairman, Chris Patten, was sweetness and light about future campaigning yesterday, after having back-handedly exploited the Sunday Times "disclosures". They did not raise questions about Neil Kinnock's patriotism but they did leave questions about the Labour leader's judgment, he said.
--1980-1988: REAGAN-BUSH I-
George H. W. Bush, Ronald Reagan
September 25, 1988
The First Bush-Dukakis Debate
BUSH: I'm not questioning his patriotism. He goes out and says the man is questioning my patriotism. And then all the liberal columnists join in. I am not. I am questioning his judgment on these matters, or where he's coming from. He has every right to do it. But I believe that's not what the American people want, and when he said, when he said at the convention, ideology doesn't matter, just competence, he was moving away from his own record, from what his passion has been over the years. And that's all I'm trying to do, is put it in focus. And I hope people don't think that I'm questioning his patriotism when I say he used his words to describe his participation in that organization.
September 25, 1988
CAMPAIGN 88: Bush's flag offensive: shades of Nixon campaigns
Curtis Wilkie, Boston Globe
On this level, the 1988 race is a throwback to the 1970 congressional contest, in which Bush was running against Lloyd Bentsen for a Senate seat in Texas. The nationwide struggle was one of the toughest campaigns in modern American history. In an attempt to oust a number of Democratic incumbents, Agnew served as Nixon's point man, barnstorming across a country already divided over the Vietnam War. Agnew blamed Democratic officeholders for disorders and suggested that they sided with criminals; there was an implication that they were un-American.
Republican candidates proudly wore American flag lapel pins like war decorations that year.
After Agnew was criticized for his approach, he worked a new line into his speeches. He said he did not question anyone's "patriotism," only the "judgment of the radical liberals."
Bush uses the same language this year. When he assails Dukakis on the Pledge of Allegiance, Bush adds, "I don't question his patriotism, I question his judgment."
In 1970, Edmund S. Muskie, then a senator from Maine, retaliated on behalf of the Democratic Party in a nationally televised address on an election eve where, he said, "something has gone wrong."
Democrats had "their motives questioned and their patriotism doubted," Muskie said. The Republican campaign was filled with "empty threat and malicious slander." He called the Nixon-Agnew effort "a lie."
"And the American people know it is a lie," he continued, adding, "How dare they tell us that this party is less devoted or less courageous in maintaining American principles and values than are they themselves."
September 10, 1988
Robin Tone, The New York Times
Dukakis Likens G.O.P. Attacks To McCarthy's
In his sharpest attack yet, Gov. Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts today compared the Republicans who are ''attacking my patriotism'' to those who cheered the tactics of Senator Joseph R. McCarthy and challenged the patriotism of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Before a cheering crowd of 5,000 at East Texas State University, Mr. Dukakis declared, ''Just as they did in the 1930's and the 1950's, the American people and the people of Texas can smell the garbage.''
Mr. Dukakis proceeded with a lacerating critique of Mr. Bush's record, repeating the refrain, "I don't question Mr. Bush's patriotism, but I do question his judgment."
The speech was a tough response to a Bush attack that has dogged and infuriated the Dukakis campaign. Mr. Bush has assailed Mr. Dukakis for vetoing a 1977 bill that would have required teachers to lead the Pledge of Allegiance in Massachusetts' public schools. Mr. Dukakis has defended his action on legal grounds, noting that he was advised by the state's highest court that the measure was unconstitutional.
Patriotism Issue Persists
But the issue has persisted, linked with Republican attempts to portray Mr. Dukakis as weak on national security issues, and that general theme has posed a serious problem for the Massachusetts Governor as he seeks the support of conservative Democrats.
In response, Mr. Bush, appearing at a rally in York, Pa., denied that he was questioning the Democratic nominee's patriotism and then echoed Mr. Dukakis's words.
''The liberal Governor of Massachusetts attacked me for questioning his patriotism,'' he said. ''I am not questioning his patriotism, I'm questioning his judgment.''
October 21, 1984
Foreign Policy Charges Fly; Mondale, Reagan Tune Rhetoric On Eve of Their Second Debate
David S. Broder, Washington Post
He said Mondale's voting record on defense issues is as one-sided as that of former South Dakota senator McGovern, the Democratic presidential nominee in 1972.
"What troubles me most is how little he seems to have learned about the dangers of weakness and naive thinking," Reagan said. "I don't question his patriotism. I do question his judgment."
--1970: AGNEW VS. AMERICA--
Spiro T. Agnew
August 18, 1970
Page 1, The New York Times
Agnew says he does not question patriotism of Hatfield and McGovern, but finds fault with 'their wisdom, their judgment and their logic'.
Comments are closed on this story.