Posted on 08/25/2004 12:27:20 PM PDT by ambrose
Cleland to Bush: 'Put Up or Shut Up'
By Melanie Hunter
CNSNews.com Deputy Managing Editor August 25, 2004
(CNSNews.com) - Former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland tried, but failed to personally deliver a letter to President George Bush at his Crawford, Texas ranch Wednesday, asking Bush to denounce TV ads run by the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth that criticizes Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's military record.
At a news conference following the incident, Cleland called on Bush to "put up or shut up" and denounce the ads.
"These scurrilous attacks on John Kerry's credibility in war, his courage, his valor are false, and George Bush is behind it. That's why I tried to deliver a letter at the president's home, hand it to either him or one of his aides, but that was unsuccessful," said Cleland.
"And I'm sorry it was, because the letter is signed by some nine distinguished members of the United States Senate, all of whom have worn a uniform," he said.
The former senator called Bush's honor into question by accusing him of attacking "a fellow veteran who has distinguished himself" in combat, "regardless of the political combat involved." Cleland called it "disgraceful."
"For those of us in the Vietnam era, we're having to go through Vietnam again," Cleland said. "We're having to go through the divisive aspect of politics ... That is not what we ought to be doing in America."
"Republicans like Sen. John McCain, who have been the subject of scurrilous attacks like this before, say this is dishonest and dishonorable," he added.
Cleland said the president has criticized the military records of three Vietnam veterans in four years.
"[Bush] went after John McCain when [Bush] got behind [in the 2000 Republican presidential race], when McCain won the New Hampshire primary and came south to South Carolina. The slime machine got cranked up. The smear campaign started and McCain actually went on television and asked the president to stop it. He did not," Cleland said.
"And then when the president came after me in Georgia in 2002, [Nebraska Sen.] Chuck Hagel asked them to stop putting me up there with Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, and they did not," he said.
"And now, nine members of the Senate and millions of Americans around the country are asking George Bush to make one phone call to his friends here in Texas and say 'stop this insanity," Cleland added.
The former senator concluded by accusing Bush of "trying to cover up the fact that we have a mess in Iraq, which he created." Cleland added, "He's trying to cover up for the terrible presidency that he's given this country."
The pathetic Democrats and Cleland especially - don't have a leg to stand on.......
Semper Fi
So, someone who has committed murder is not a murderer until they are tried and found guilty?
And he can't use his stoic, brave reactions to 9/11 because he'd be politicizing that tragedy.
B/S. It's treason.
Would it be just plain wrong for Bush to respond with "You first"?
"...someone who has committed murder is not a murderer until they are tried and found guilty?"
Right!!! Did you ever hear of 'innocent until proven guilty', which is very legalese for me. I just try to keep things simple, simplicity soothes the simple mind.
But he often comes off as being their Republican.
Max Cleland must need the money. Why else be a sock puppet for John Kerry? Cleland shows he is not the brightest bulb (hey, he picked up a live grenade) around by doing Kerry's grunt work. Cleland is just another butler for John Kerry. Hired help. Punk on the payroll.
Cleland didn't even get the chance to ring Bushes doorbell and run away! LOL! Bush is a hoot!
What all this means is that Kerry has a lot more pain coming his way. And he knows it. That's a good thing because of all the pain he caused these people for the last 30+ years. I wonder what it is? Other people know what it is. That's obvious.
Kerry isn't too politically bright. I bet my 7 year old could likely beat him at chess. Kerry used one of the worse topics he could to run on. Vietnam. Was that his own idea? Or did his helpers that worked for the Klintons in the past push the Vietnam idea?
The Lord does work His ways. All those people who were lied about for so long now get the chance to clear their names. Something they never thought they'd get a chance to do. At least those still alive. Some of who have been haunted by what Kerry did to them 30+ years ago.
There is such irony. O'Neill debated Kerry years ago and nobody listened to him but today everyone is. Cleland was seriously injured in Vietnam but not on the battlefield and Kerry was on the "battlefield" but not seriously injured. Kerry spit on the Vietnam Vets and built a political career off Vietnam Vets only to see that political career die because of those same Vietnam Vets (that will happen).
Call it Karma or whatever but when you do bad things to good people eventually "God'll getcha"...
What next, is he going to ask for a UN observer? A french mediator?
And the dems are a gift that keeps on giving.....to the republicans.
Clinton taking campaign cash from Communist China in exchange for military technology was also treasonous and he was never charged. Apparently, popular traitors get away with a lot of crap in this liberal infested country. The irony of this is if either of these yahoos had done this under one of the communist regimes that they seem to love so much they probably would have paid dearly and immediately for their treason.
AmishDude to Cleland: "Shove it!"
You're really way off base here. "Innocent until proven guilty" has absolutely nothing to do with it. It is an element of our judicial system which requires the state to prove an individual has committed a crime rather than require the individual to prove he didn't commit the crime.
OJ either murdered Nicole or he didn't. And if he did, he is a murderer, pure and simple. Similarly, someone can be locked up in jail having been convicted of murder. That doesn't mean they have murdered anyone, however.
I honestly can not imagine the intense hatred people like Cleland, Harkin and Kerry must have for this country. To actually say something so incredibly disrespectful to ANY President like "put up or shut up" is beyond belief.
What a brazen hypocrite. Even as Kerry's own site still contains an attack on Bush's Guard record. Cleland, you are a disgrace.
"OJ either murdered Nicole or he didn't."
I personally think he did, but that doesn't make him a murderer, and that's a crime. I just have a little bitty problem with accusations being made when probably charges should be filed to settle an issue once and for all. The fact that I can't 'prove' OJ a murderer is really galling and no matter how much I say he is - it won't change the facts (legally) as they stand.
The same holds true for those accused of treason or being a traitor - I don't use the terms personally until it is 'proven' in court. It's just a personal hangup, no big deal.
"and George Bush is behind it."
This is the lie they are repeating and hoping to do so with enough frequency that it becomes recognized as the truth.
Even a "simple-minded" person, such as yourself, must have heard or read the Kerry statements admitting his Vietnam "atrocities". Isn't it okay to judge him if he admits his crimes?
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