Edward I. Koch: Dems, media are making an unforgivable mistake

Jewish World Review ^ | July 16, 2003 | Edward I. Koch

[SJackson]

The Democratic candidates for President -- and many in the media -- are trying to make President Bush seem like a liar. In so doing, they are making an unforgivable mistake. In his State of the Union Address to Congress on January 28, 2003, President Bush said, "The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa." Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair, defending himself before the House of Commons for making a similar representation, said last week that the representation was true and comes from a different source than the one that was recently discredited by the CIA.

For me, it comes down to this: If Bush actually did lie to the American public -- intentionally stating as the truth that which he knew to be false -- then he should be impeached and removed as President. However, if Bush did not lie, and I do not believe that he did, then Americans of all political persuasions should defend our country's reputation for fair play by displaying their indignation at those who bear false witness.

They can do this by rejecting those candidates and political leaders who have perpetuated that charge and by turning to other TV and radio channels when the unfair and venomous attacks against the President are being aired.

I am a proud Democrat who generally supports Democratic candidates for office. I have never voted for anyone other than a Democrat for President.

Although I am a Democrat, I am no ideologue. In some local and state elections, I have proudly crossed party lines for candidates I thought were appreciably better. I believe that the most important issue facing the world is international terrorism, and it is my current intention to vote for George W. Bush for reelection. I do not agree with him on many domestic issues, ranging from privatizing Social Security to tax reductions favoring the wealthy. However, because of his leadership and successes in the war against international terrorism, he is my current choice in 2004.

Whether intelligence reports about Iraq were accurate or not, the President had a right to rely on information from Blair, America's most steadfast ally, and his government. If either Bush or Blair knew the reports were false and either is now engaging in a cover-up, that individual should be removed from office.

I believe Democrats and their media allies will fail to bring Bush down because taking on Saddam Hussein was the right course of action for America. National Security Advisor, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, on Face the Nation over the weekend cleaned the clocks of her two media interrogators and critics, CBS' Bob Schieffer and Los Angeles Times Washington Bureau Chief, Doyle McManus with her brilliant responses to their questions. I quote her in part:

Bob Schieffer: The question I have for you this morning, who put it into the speech?
Dr. Rice: Well, let's start at the very beginning, as they say. And the president of the United States -- the notion that the president of the United States took the country to war because he was concerned with one sentence about whether Saddam Hussein sought uranium in Africa is purely ludicrous. And this has gotten to that proportion, that people are saying this statement is why the president took the nation to war.

The president took the nation to war to depose a bloody tyrant who had defied the world for 12 years, who was building a weapons of mass destruction program and had weapons of mass destruction, which he had used in the past, who was a threat to American interest in the Middle East and who, now that he is removed, is giving us an opportunity for Middle East that might finally be at peace and that will not create an atmosphere in which you have ideologies of hatred spawning people who slam airplanes into the World Trade Center. So we do have to put this in perspective.

The president's State of the Union said something that was accurate: This is what the British government said in its reporting. The British, I might note, still stand by that statement. It was not based, they say, on a single source, but on other sources."

Continued....

[SJackson]

Continued....

The lines have been drawn. Let's find out the truth. Congress should hold public hearings on this issue. I also am in favor of public hearings conducted by an independent commission on the performance of the FBI, CIA and all other national security agencies pre- and post-9-11.

Let the chips fall where they may, and hold accountable those who were negligent in failing to prevent the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

[Support Free Republic]

Remember that a donation doesn't have to be large to be significant.

There are tens of thousands of FReepers. If everyone would donate just $1.00 a month, we would never have to have another of these FReepathons.

Are you doing your share?

Donate Here By Secure Server

[onyx]

Admittedly, I have only read the text posted above, but on that basis alone, I'd say the former NYC mayor has penned a rather thoughtful opinion piece!

[ReaganRevolution]

Although I am a Democrat, I am no ideologue. In some local and state elections, I have proudly crossed party lines for candidates I thought were appreciably better. I believe that the most important issue facing the world is international terrorism, and it is my current intention to vote for George W. Bush for reelection

Wow!

[txzman]

Bump for the truth and common sense.

[onyx]

WOW! is right!

Speaks volumes about his opinion of the 9 democrats vying his party's nomination!

[CIB-173RDABN]

For me, it comes down to this: If Bush actually did lie to the American public -- intentionally stating as the truth that which he knew to be false -- then he should be impeached and removed as President.

---

Please help me, I don't remember, did Koch call for the impeachment of President Clinton after lying under oath to a grand jury?

Impeachment is a political tool, not a legal tool, but I doubt outside of the hard left, will they find any support for it.

The left are beginning to remind me of that group that for years put up signs "Impeach Earl Warren". They may have been right, they may have been sincere, but all they became was a joke.

Politics is about luck and skill, and the Democrats had a long string of success based on the luck of the times, and their skill to manipulate. What they fell to understand is that the times have changed. What worked in the past is not working now, and yet they just intensify their efforts. At some point the far left will become a parody of themselves, will no longer be taken serious by the main street America.

[1stFreedom]

Although I disagree with Koch on many things, he is a very likeable man. He has a better sense of balance then most Democratic politicians.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[TomB]

What all the fuss over this sentence in the SOTU address tells me is that it has become apparent to the dem presidential candidates that there are WMDs in Iraq and Bush is sitting on the evidence. That is the only possible reason they would hitch their wagon to this weak point.

As Koch points out, since Blair and his government still stand behind what they said, Bush's statement is completely true even now.

[nwrep]

GOD BLESS ED KOCH

[soozla]

HERITAGE FOUNDATION LETTER TO SEN. CARL LEVIN (D)MI

[Happy2BMe]

Politics - as usual.

The meida (DNC) will accept nothing less than an impeachment.

The Dems will bury themselves once again, but they have to have *something* to throw at Bush over Iraq.

This whole thing is pukingly characteristic of the weak-kneed ba$tard$ who so conveniently have already forgotten 9/11.

I'm mad at Bush though - he can't even stand up for family values anymore.

The pickings are slim on both sides.

[Alex Murphy]

Koch used to do a talk show on WABC radio. It was a lot of fun counting the number of UHs and AHs it took him to complete a simple sentence. If this were Koch spoken, here's how it would sound:

"Although I..UM..am a Democrat..AH..I am no..UM..ideologue. In..UM..some local and..UM..state elections, I have..UM..proudly crossed party..UM..lines for..AH..candidates I thought were..UM..appreciably better. I..UH..believe that..UH..the most..AH..important issue facing the..UH..world is..AH..international terrorism, and ..UH..it is my current..UH..intention to vote for..AH..George W. Bush for..UH..reelection.

[Molly Pitcher]

Here you go...

[Constitution Day]

That is truly amazing.
I wonder if he will be ostracized for daring to think independently?

[carton253]

How did he not stand up for family values?

[MrConfettiMan]

Article II, Section. 4. The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

If Clinton wasn't impeached for lying to a grand jury...

[OldFriend]

Rather than defending our country's reputation, we have the entire democrat party and their cohorts in the media doing all in their power to harm our national security in their effort to raise the dems anti war cabal.

[aardvark1]

Wait!! Did you hear that noise?......I think it was Dick Gephart changing his position AGAIN

[EllaMinnow]

Rare common-sense from a dem ping.

[Ann Archy]

If you changed all the "um's" and "Ah's to "You know", and took out the last sentence.....it could be Hillary!

[kellynla]

Koch is stating the obvious. There was no lie and there was no mistake. At worst, Brit Intelligence made a mistake. Period.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

which is usualy missing in NYC.

[Grampa Dave]

"I am a proud Democrat who generally supports Democratic candidates for office. I have never voted for anyone other than a Democrat for President.

Although I am a Democrat, I am no ideologue. In some local and state elections, I have proudly crossed party lines for candidates I thought were appreciably better. I believe that the most important issue facing the world is international terrorism, and it is my current intention to vote for George W. Bush for reelection. I do not agree with him on many domestic issues, ranging from privatizing Social Security to tax reductions favoring the wealthy. However, because of his leadership and successes in the war against international terrorism, he is my current choice in 2004.

[GraniteStateConservative]

My mother-in-law thought Bush lied until I explained that the WH only said they wouldn't have included it if they had it to do over again because items in the SOU speech have to be independently confirmed and we couldn't do that.

[cyncooper]

Americans of all political persuasions should defend our country's reputation for fair play by displaying their indignation at those who bear false witness.

They can do this by rejecting those candidates and political leaders who have perpetuated that charge and by turning to other TV and radio channels when the unfair and venomous attacks against the President are being aired.

Ping for Ed Koch's call to defend President Bush!

[princess leah]

Is Koch getting ready to run for some office in New York? Perhaps Schumer had better start worrying about making it past new year's primary?

[cyncooper]

I could hear the death knell of this trumped up story yesterday and Ed Koch is helping drive the final blows, going so far as to endorse Bush for re-election in 2004:

it is my current intention to vote for George W. Bush for reelection.

[jmaroneps37]

Now, let's see how much face time Ed gets from CNN to say these things.

[Question_Assumptions]

Koch is more honest than most Democrat politicians in saying what he really things. He got himself in a lot of trouble during a trip to Ireland with some other Americans when the UK police had a talk with him and he said, in the open, that he thought they had some legitimate points. That's not what his Irish supporters wanted to hear.

[Howlin]

Bumping this for all to read!

[Howlin]

I swear, I'd send money to Koch!

[cyncooper]

How refreshing after these last few dreadful days to see somebody do the right thing.

This was the first thing I read this morning and it was a sight for sore eyes.

[Howlin]

Here as well.

[Southack]

Former New York mayor Koch is right, but will the New York Times print him or even quote him now?!

[Howlin]

I'm not going to wait to see, are you?

[mountaineer]

thanks for posting this. I heard Glenn Beck talk about Koch this a.m. on his radio show, and was wondering if Koch's remarks were online.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Koch was the last decent mayor NYC had before Giuliani. I'd vote for Democrat Koch over "Republican" Bloomberg in a nano-second.

[rintense]

Gotta respect a Dem that can acknowledge the wrong-doings of his own party.

[rintense]

Non-ideologue Dems may follow suit Koch- the first time they've ever voted for a Republican for President.

[justshe]

Thanks for the bump!

Ed Koch can be a stand-up guy.....when he wants to be.

AND......one more vote for President George W. Bush!

[McGavin999]

This is nice. Some democrats have better political instincts than others. Koch sees the handwriting on the walls and apparently he can read that handwriting, which is more than can be said for McAwful and his minions.

[onyx]

He'll need God's blessing after the democrats get through with him. Color them MAD!

[Amelia]

Quite refreshing to see someone - especially a Dem - state the obvious!

[iceskater]

Ed Koch can be a stand-up guy.....when he wants to be.

He was a very stand-up guy on 9/11. I distinctly remember that ABC radio reporter make a lot of insinuations during the time when the President was moving from place to place that he didn't know where he was going or what he was doing. After she had to get off the air because the planes were taking off, Ed Koch was on the air saying that the reporterette was way off base, that it wasn't her place to know what the President's plans were, etc. I was really impressed that he said on-air that the reporter was way out of line.

[Deb]

Apparently you haven't been watching the investigating hearings into 9/11. Total travesties.

[muleskinner]

The British, I might note, still stand by that statement. It was not based, they say, on a single source, but on other sources."

The "other sources" is the French Secret Service. The French run the uranium mines in Niger - a former French colony.

The rules of cooperation between the MI6 and the French S.S. are that one must give permission to the other if the other agency passes intell. to a third party, in this case, the CIA.

IMO, the French won't do it 'cuz they are enjoying the spectacle of G.W. having to fight off the media ankle biters.

[muleskinner]

The British, I might note, still stand by that statement. It was not based, they say, on a single source, but on other sources."

The "other sources" is the French Secret Service. The French run the uranium mines in Niger - a former French colony.

The rules of cooperation between the MI6 and the French S.S. are that one must give permission to the other if the other agency passes intell. to a third party, in this case, the CIA.

IMO, the French won't do it 'cuz they are enjoying the spectacle of G.W. having to fight off the media ankle biters.

[Deb]

Too bad this piece didn't run in todays LALA Times where Arianna Huffington and Michael Kinsley trashed Bush in dueling op-eds.

I'm hoping someone other than the admirable Jewish paper ran Koch's piece.