Miller Emerges as New Voice for Bush Re-Election

Reuters ^ | June 28, 2003

[nwrep]

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - A new voice has emerged in the re-election campaign of President Bush (news - web sites), that of Dennis Miller (news), who is gaining a reputation as a conservative comic by attacking Democrats with biting humor.

Reuters Photo

Miller flew on Air Force One from San Francisco to Los Angeles with the president on Friday, and later gave a stand-up routine at a Bush fund-raiser in Los Angeles.

"I spent an amazing couple of hours with Dennis Miller," Bush said during his Los Angeles speech after Miller's routine. "He keeps you on your toes."

He added: "I was also honored to meet his wife, Carolyn. Like me, he married above himself. It may not be all that hard, in his case. But I'm proud to have his help."

Miller, who was an analyst on ABC's "Monday Night Football, had an HBO comedy show and does commentary for Fox News, adds a celebrity touch to Bush's re-election campaign, much like actor Bruce Willis (news) did in 1992 when Bush's father ran for re-election.

Bush remained offstage until after Miller's often caustic comic performance during the fund-raiser that drew in $3.5 million, most of it in $2,000 checks from 1,600 people.

For instance, he took aim at West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd, a Democratic elder statesmen who has questioned the Iraq (news - web sites) war and its chaotic aftermath.

Even some in the crowd of Republican loyalists booed when Miller said of Byrd: "I think he must be burning the cross at both ends."

Responding to the boos, Miller said: "Well, he was in the (Ku Klux) Klan. Boo me, but he was in the Klan."

He likened the nine Democratic presidential candidates running to unseat Bush in 2004 to the 1962 New York Mets, perennial losers, and called them an "empty-headed scrum."

He had a special barb for one candidate, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who has questioned the Iraq war, comparing him to Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister who followed a policy of appeasement of Nazi Germany in the years before World War II.

"He can roll up his sleeves all he wants at public events, but as long as we see that heart tattoo with Neville Chamberlain's name on his right forearms, he's never going anywhere," Miller said.

[stimpyone]

and he's the guy that beat out Limbaugh for the MNF slot.

[onyx]

W-O-W! Miller has literally climbed aboard! Air Force One!

[alloysteel]

How long until Dennis Miller starts getting bashed by the lockstep "correctness" crowd?

He must surely be on their blacklist already. They keep a tight union, and no matter how unfocused they are on anything else, here their calculus is sure and extremely exact.

[onyx]

FYI

[fml]

cool!!

[Numbers Guy]

Even some in the crowd of Republican loyalists booed when Miller said of Byrd: "I think he must be burning the cross at both ends."

What kind of Republican would boo a totally appropriate joke about ex-KKK Robert Byrd? It's not like Byrd is "good on other issues" the way a Pat Moynihan was from time to time, Byrd is just an odious partisan pork barrel politician who's made some despicable verbal attacks on President Bush. Implying that Byrd likes to burn crosses is more than fair, and the entire crowd should have stood and applauded Miller for mocking a tool like Byrd.

[FryingPan101]

I hope Rush gets his share of private audiences with Dubya since he literally turned precious minutes of his on-air time over to Dick Cheney several times. Dennis is arrivin' at the party as I'm turnin' out the lights..... for now, anyway. Rush was a gentleman during their competition for Monday Night Football. (Yes I'm ready, already.) The better candidate did not win when Dennis was chosen....IMHO.

[dixiechick2000]

Bump!

Here's a little more Miller for ya', annyokie.

[onyx]

What kind of Republican would boo a totally appropriate joke about ex-KKK Robert Byrd?

The country-club set of moderates.... the PC RINO'S who wouldn't say sh!t if they were neck deep in it.

[demkicker]

What kind of Republican would boo a totally appropriate joke about ex-KKK Robert Byrd?

That's what I want to know! Of course, keep in mind this is Kalifornia and their brand of Republicans are far more liberal. Still, Miller's jokes about Byrd were dead on accurate and funny as hell and he shouldn't have been booed. I heard Miller on a Fox News segment that ran yesterday saying that if Byrd were at a family gathering and he walked out of the room after droning on and on like he does on the Senate floor, the family would all ask each other what they were going to do about grandpa!

[The Mayor]

Bump

[dufekin]

Perhaps they were booing BYRD, not the joke about Byrd.

Speaking of which, isn't it time for him to expire, if you know what I mean?

[Cobra64]

It's good to see someone in the entertainment business that's not afraid to show that they are conservative and have enough guts to back the Right for once. W ought to put Dennis on his campaign committee.

[onyx]

Perhaps they were booing BYRD, not the joke about Byrd.

Ding, ding, ding! We have the winner! YES! I think you're right! It IS a Reuters article and Rueters would have to find something negative to report!

[onyx]

Since you know Miller's opinion of the road map, doncha think President Bush is also cognizant?

[LS]

You know, I bet you anything they were booing BYRD, not Miller's joke about Byrd. I can't believe any Republican would say anything nice about this old coot.

[LS]

Is the comedian (a fairly dirty one, too) Jackie Martin, the same comedian who co-authors a column for National Review? He also is listed as a comedian.

[Rockitz]

Maybe we can get him to run for Cali guv after Davis is booted out?