Posted on 09/22/2004 6:14:49 AM PDT by WestTexasWend
Wednesday, September 22, 2004 Brother concerned for welfare of key figure in scandal
PORTALES, N.M. (AP) —The brother of retired Texas National Guard officer Bill Burkett says he hopes Burkett isn't "hammered" over the documents he provided to CBS News for a story questioning President Bush's National Guard service.
"I don't want him hammered about things we're not sure of," said Jerry Burkett, a Republican farmer who lives near Portales.
Burkett, who hasn't spoken to his brother since the scandal broke, said he can't fault his brother if he didn't know documents were likely forged.
(snip)
"We're pretty concerned about what's going on. This is pretty serious," Jerry Burkett said. "I just hope everything was on the up and up. I have no reason to believe it isn't, but I don't know. This is an election year and a lot of things get put out of proportion."
Jerry Burkett described his brother, a graduate of Portales High School and former student-body president at Eastern New Mexico University, as a "strong Democrat."
Bill Burkett spent 20-plus years in the New Mexico and Texas National Guard units and now lives in Baird and works in the cattle business, his brother said.
Bill Burkett had been a Republican during part of the Reagan years. While Jerry Burkett said he doesn't know what triggered his brother to switch parties, he noted that his political views have grown stronger over the years.
He described Bill Burkett as direct and having strong beliefs, and said the two have had heated discussions about politics.
"The Democratic people there in Taylor County (Texas), they think a lot of him," the brother said. "He not considered a kook at all."
Mental illness perhaps?
No, by Democrat party standards he's not a kook, it's just us normal people that can see he is a dumb-assed, hate filled, partisan, bigot.
I don't have any sympathy for Burkett -- this is what he gets for being blinded by rage and hate AND for playing with the vile creatures - Carvile, Begala, Lockhart, Clinton, etc.
Thanks for the post. I like to see various perspectives on any issue - in this case, a family perspective. I don't have much sympathy for Mr. Burkett, but I also think that he was set up to be the fall guy from the very beginning.
I think Burkett knew and cBS also knew the documents were fake and I don't think there is a Lucy Ramirez connection.
Thanks for the post. My family has lived in Porales, N.Mex. for almost 100 years. I was so embarrassed to be acsociated with this idoit (Bill Burkett) I am really relived to know that the other members of his family are still sane. I will say that I have 2 members of my family that hate George Bush almost as much as Burkett. I am really saddened, as they were Southern Baptist Missionaries for 40 years and now reside in N. Mexico again.
sorry about the spelling. I got in a big hurry.
I hope his crop of Republicans hasn't been damaged by all the rain.
No sympathy from me, either. I hope he gets what he deserves. What is that saying -- "When you play with snakes (Carville comes to mind), expect to get bit!"
"I have 2 members of my family that hate George Bush almost as much as Burkett. I am really saddened..."
Take heart. What's the old saying? "You can pick your nose, but you can't pick your relatives...even though some relatives turn out to be real boogers." Somethin' like that.
Either Arkancide, or he will do a General Boorda (Tom Lantos would be so proud.)
What rain? Burkett'problem is probably that his mother did not know how to put wet sheets up at the windows to keep the sand from blowing in and it all went through Bill's ears into his brain.
That's Admiral Boorda.
Ok. Change it to "I hope his crop of Republicans hasn't been damaged by the drought."
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