Bush withdraws nomination after Swift Boat criticism

CNN/AP ^ | March 28, 2007 | AP

[crazedsocialist]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush on Wednesday withdrew the ambassadorial nomination of businessman Sam Fox after Democrats denounced Fox for giving money to a controversial conservative group that undermined Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign.

Kerry, D-Massachusetts, had criticized Fox because of a $50,000 contribution that Fox made in 2004 to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.

Many Democrats blame the group for sinking Kerry's presidential hopes that year after it aired a series of controversial ads that impugned Kerry's military record in the Vietnam War.

"Sam Fox had every opportunity to disavow the politics of personal destruction and to embrace the truth," Kerry said Wednesday. "He chose not to. The White House made the right decision to withdraw the nomination. I hope this signals a new day in political discourse."

But one of Fox's strongest backers, Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri, said it was "disappointing that a capable and qualified candidate with bipartisan support has become a victim of a political vendetta."

The White House announced the withdrawal in a press release distributed less than an hour before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee gathered to vote on his nomination to be ambassador to Belgium.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Bush believes Fox is qualified to serve as ambassador but withdrew the nomination "because of politics."

[Always Right]

With the rare exception of Gonzalez, Bush has not been willing to take on the Democrats.

[toddlintown]

Voted twice for him, but when it comes to taking on Democrats, Bush is worthless.

[mosaicwolf]

This is another example of the Republicans rolling over to the dems rather than explaining themselves. I've had it with these Republican wimps and the whole party!

[peekingfromabox]

"This is another example of the Republicans rolling over to the dems rather than explaining themselves. I've had it with these Republican wimps and the whole party!"

Give it just a few more minutes and this place will be lit up with Bushbot apologists who will explain why this was a good thing, or how Bush had to cave for some reason. But I'm with you, I'm tired of watching him roll over for the Demorats to avoid a fight. I guess he'd rather tell jokes about his incompetency than fight to change things.

[YOUGOTIT]

Kerry is a TRAITOR and the Swift Boat folks were true in everything they said. So again the anti-American left-wing pro terrorist US Senate is proving itself to be populated with a bunch of SCUM.

[Egon]

"politics of personal destruction" = calling a liar a liar.

[Fairview]

Some loyalty. This man was instrumental in getting Bush reelected (as was anyone who contributed to the Swifties). And Bush can't stand by him?

[Enduring Freedom]

bush is a pious, courteous, civil

in other words, useless

we need a warrior again

[NittanyLion]

The biggest problem is that every time the White House rolls over in this fashion people get the appearance that there's some substance to the allegations. If the White House refuses to call the Dems on their lies and distortions they will effectively cede the moral high ground.

[olezip]

President Bush on Wednesday withdrew the ambassadorial nomination of businessman Sam Fox after Democrats denounced Fox for giving money to a controversial conservative group that undermined Sen. John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign.

There is or should be nothing controversial about the truth. The book contained compelling and well-documented arguments that shined the light of truth on the fact that Kerry was and is unfit for command. It is a timid act to withdraw support from someone because he supports facts and reality. Perhaps President Bush failed to purge his executive branch of embedded liberals from the previous administration; many of his policies, like Clinton's, are clearly against the will of the people, and frankly, common sense.

[Truth29]

As I recall, President Bush is on record stating that he wanted to revise the campaign finance laws to prohibit groups like the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. This was after he was reelected with major help from the Swifties.

[R. Scott]

Yep.

[Kakaze]

Kerry grilled Fox about the Swift Boat contribution during the Feb. 27 hearing, asking him why he gave money to a group that was "smearing and spreading lies" and had been condemned by members of both political parties.

Fox replied that he considers Kerry a hero. But he refused to call the contribution a mistake

What the heck? He considers Kerry a hero.......This gets more surreal by the moment.

[mcshot]

Bush cuts those who feed him more then those who attack him. And his humor(?)shows he is aware and his actions deliberate. I've never misread anyone more and in that fold is my M-I-L, ex, and other backstabbing slimmers. Glad he didn't try nation building.

[reagan_fanatic]

I would have considered an association with the Swift Vets an honor, but I guess Bush thinks differently than I do.

I have grown sick and tired of Dubya's constant rolling over every time the dims bark. My only hope is that whoever the next Republican President will be, he has the guts to stand his ground in the face of criticism from the opposition.

[Grut]

The biggest problem is that every time the White House rolls over in this fashion people get the appearance that there's some substance to the allegations.

Yep. I guess it's official now that the Swiftboaters were just as despicable as the Democrats claimed.

[Non-Sequitur]

With the rare exception of Gonzalez, Bush has not been willing to take on the Democrats.

It's still early on Gonzalez.

[knarf]

"What the heck? He considers Kerry a hero.......This gets more surreal by the moment."

Maybe not ... unless reality is no longer recognizable ...

I wonder if Mr Fox doesn't know a few more things about Kerry than we.

[knarf]

P.S.

Or maybe even President Bush knows a few things about Kerry and the Dhims that we don't.

There was a list I've lost about all the mysterious deaths during the X42 administration.