Miller #7 and Swift Boats Again
Reported by Eleanor - September 2, 2004 -
On Special Report with Brit Hume (Sept. 2, 6:00 p.m.), the discussion continued about the angry man's night at the convention. According to Carl Cameron, Kerry does not plan to offer up a point by point rebuttal. Edwards suggested that Kerry would not respond in kind. "He'll fight for us, not against a politician." They plan to campaign aggressively, and with an ad calling Bush a failure.
Hume said a request has been placed with the military leadership by Judicial Watch to investigate Kerry's medals, specifically the Silver Star with the Combat V.
George Bush, Sr. said there was nothing wrong with the swift boat ads questioning Kerry's testimony, and Kerry owes America and the swift boat vets an apology. On a scale of 1-10, Bush Sr. gave Zell Miller a 10. According to Bush, Miller said what he felt, and it was an outstanding speech. There is credible doubt about Kerry's ability to lead. When Hume said the swift boat vets are being criticized for not being truthful, Bush Sr. said the ad of his testimony is devastating. These guys are not "wackos," and there are a 100 or so of them.
Hume stated that the "media" is describing Miller's speech as going over badly. They describe it as obnoxious, hate filled, caustic, vicious and passionate - like when Miller was a racist.
Fred Barnes indicated that since Miller is a democrat, people will listen to him, and that the power came from running down Kerry's 20 years of service. Kondracke thought Miller was passionate, and the spit-ball remark was great. Over the top was the "occupier" remark and questioning Iraq as making us weaker on the War on Terror. Mara Liasson was taken aback by the ferocity, and both sides are trying to paint the other side as negative.
Liasson concluded that Bush Sr.'s swift boat comments are based on the Bush campaign feeling they're on safer ground to criticize the anti-war testimony than the war service. Kondracke said the polling data doesn't show that the media has discredited the swift boat vets. Bush has been influenced by 9/11, and Kerry by his Viet Nam experience in their approach to war. Kerry thinks we shouldn't do it without a coalition. Barnes called Kerry's record "McGovernite," adding that John McCain called it legitimate to discuss his post-Viet Nam record, and Kerry will have to address the issue. Liasson said that Kerry had said he wished he hadn't used those words, and this is an attack on his character. Kondracke stated (the republican position) that Kerry thinks he's qualified because he served in Viet Nam, and it affects his attitude toward foreign policy.
Comment: I find the Fox All Stars panel a classic Fox approach to being unbalanced, while pretending to be otherwise. Liasson is the democrat on this panel, and she is generally out maneuvered. Hume interjects if the discussion needs more conservative reinforcement. So it's three strong republican advocates for one not-so-strong democrat to discuss the issues of the day.
