CBS Uses Phony Documents to Promote Draft Hoax

Daniel Irvin Rather must be a masochist. You'd think that in the midst of the terrible publicity he is currently getting for working closely with a partisan Democrat bent on bringing down President Bush that Dan Rather would have the good sense to lay off the liberal bias for a while. But common sense seems to be in short supply at CBS News these days.

Three weeks after he denounced the internet as being "filled with rumors," the embattled CBS anchor ran a story on his Tuesday "Evening News" program hoping to stir up fear of an impending military draft.

In a story that was a textbook example of slipshod reporting, CBS reporter Richard Schlesinger used debunked internet hoax emails and an unlabeled interest group member to scare elderly "Evening" viewers into believing that the U.S. government is poised to resume the draft.

At the center of Schlesinger's piece was a woman named Beverly Cocco, a Philadelphia woman who is "sick to my stomach" that her two sons might be drafted. In his report, Schlesinger claimed that Cocco was a Republican and portrayed her as an apolitical (even Republican) mom worried about the future.

Schlesinger did not disclose that Cocco is a chapter president of an advocacy group called People Against the Draft (PAD) which, in addition to opposing any federal proscription, seeks to establish a "peaceful, rational foreign policy" by bringing all U.S. troops out of Iraq. Like Schlesinger's Cocco, the group portrays itself as "nonpartisan"although its leadership seems to be entirely bereft of any Republicans.

The group's domain is registered to a man named Jacob Levich, a left-wing activist who in a 2001 essay compared the Bush Administration to the totalitarian government portrayed in George Orwell's 1984.

PAD also lists Anita Dutt, a Green Party activist who is also a member of an anti-war group called Bronx Action for Justice and Peace. In a March 3, 2003 New York Times profile of the group reprinted on the organization's web site, Heidi Hynes, one of its leaders, said of her fellow members that "none of us are Republicans."

Also left out of the CBS story was the fact that while there are two bills in Congress that are seeking to reestablish the draft, both of them (S-89 and HR-163) are sponsored exclusively by Democrats and have been pronounced DOA by the Republican leadership.

Much more on this to come but in the mean time, click read more to see the transcript or watch the clip by clicking on the picture to the right.

DAN RATHER: It's no secret: The all- volunteer U.S. Military, especially the Army, Marines and many reserve units, are stretched thin in Iraq and Afghanistan. So what about bringing back the draft? A lot of Americans are worried about that. Where do the presidential candidates stand? CBS's Richard Schlesinger tells you in the "Eye on America" election series, "What does it mean to you?"

SCHLESINGER: Beverly Cocco has spent most of her life protecting children in Philadelphia.

SCHLESINGER: But as Election Day approaches, it's her own two grown sons who Beverly is most worried about.

BEVERLY COCCO ("Pennsylvania Voter"): I go to bed every night and I pray, and I actually get sick to my stomach. I'm very worried. I'm scared. I'm absolutely scared. I'm petrified.

SCHLESINGER: Beverly is petrified about a military draft, and she's not alone. Mass e-mails are circulating among worried parents. But neither president bush nor john kerry has said he will re- institute the draft. In fact, they both say they will not.

Sen. JOHN KERRY (Democratic presidential candidate): I will give us a foreign policy that absolutely makes it unnecessary to have a draft for this country.

SCHLESINGER: Kerry says he'll try to get allies of the U.S. to send troops that could relieve American soldiers in Iraq. The Bush Administration says that is pure fantasy. The president wants to train more Iraqi troops to take over for the Americans.

Pres. GEORGE W. BUSH: The war on terror will continue. It's going to take a while and no, we don't need a draft.

SCHLESINGER (voiceover): But Beverly's not buying it. She's a Republican, but she's also a single issue voter.

COCCO: Absolutely. I would vote for Howdie Doody if I thought it would keep my boys home and safe.

SCHLESINGER (voiceover): In fact, there are at least three votes in this house riding on the draft: Beverly's and her sons,' Carmen [sic] and Nick.

NICK COCCO (College senior): Yeah. It's the talk. The talk's there. Though people aren't actually coming out and saying it, it's, it's there.

SCHLESINGER: The machinery for a draft is already in place and the acting director of Selective Service believes he could start drafting people quickly.

JACK MARTIN (Selective Service System): I think we could do it in less than six months if we got the call.

SCHLESINGER: This time there would be no long deferments for college students and a lot more people could be eligible for the draft than ever before. Men and women aged 18 to 26 could be called up.

Of course, there hasn't been a draft since 1973. But that's not much comfort to Beverly Cocco. So she is keeping a sharp eye on the political traffic. She's a Bush supporter today, but if she doesn't like what she hears between now and November, Beverly could easily cross over. In Philadelphia, I'm Richard Schlesinger for Eye on America.

The Dems introduced and sponsored the draft in 2003 HR 163 & SB 89

http://www.politicalgateway.com/main/columns/read.html?col=54&id=9

Bud Beck, of the Bud Beck Show, Mountain Laurel Review, and Political
Gateway, perpetrated an act of political misinformation and bigotry
in his June 9, 2004 column, "Graduation Presents."

He writes about his nephew who just graduated high school with
honors, who comes from a "privileged" background, and identifies
himself as Republican. Beck writes:

"I mentioned to him, causally of course as not to ruin his day or the
festive atmosphere, about the possibility of him winding up in the
army before he graduates from Ohio State. I received a blank stare.
What was I talking about?
"I explained the Republican heroes in the White House, the Congress,
and the Senate have introduced pending bills mandating the nation
bring back the draft. "Right now there is pending draft legislation
that is targeted to go into effect in the spring of 2005. "That's
right, the hated Draft will start once more in June 2005 - June 15 to
be exact."

In the typical liberal fashion, Beck was trying to spew his liberal
propaganda unto the impressionable ears of his Republican nephew,
perhaps in an attempt to dissuade him from identifying with the
Republican party.

Why do I suggest Bud Beck was "spewing liberal propaganda?" Beck
continues to misinform:

"I went on to tell him the pending legislation in the Senate and the
House (they are twin bills: Senate Bill 89 and HR 163) is timed so
the program's initiation (a new draft) can begin at early as Spring
2005 – just after the 2004 presidential election. "Steve didn't know
about these bills and neither did his father, my brother. Did you?
And if you didn't, why don't you? Think about it!"

Liberals think all Republicans are stupid… even their own family. In
the age of Al Gore's Internet, simple research will trounce on Beck's
alleged facts.

Looking first at Senate Bill 89, one can quickly and easily note that
this bill was introduced on January 7, 2003 by Senator Fritz Hollings
(D-South Carolina).

Now, looking at HR 163, one will note the names on the bill
introduced the same day that Senator Hollings introduced SB 89:

Representatives Charles Rangel (D-New York), Jim McDermott (D-
Washington), John Conyers (D-Michigan), John Lewis (D-Georgia), Pete
Stark (D-California) and Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii).

My Gosh! Look at all those Republicans. Are all Republican schemes
perpetrated by Democrats? The hate and lies continue:

"George Bush needs the draft and George Bush wants the draft. George
Bush will tell us the draft is necessary for us to maintain our
national security. On the surface most people would be inclined to
believe him, too."

A simple news search on your portal of choice, or even the George W.
Bush website, yields no such substance to that claim. Beck placated
himself by reminding his readers of the falsehood that President Bush
avoided the draft:

"George Bush, like my nephew Steven, was a son of privilege. He saw
no reason to 'squander' his life so he didn't. Instead his father
used certain political favors and had George quietly moved over
150,000 applicants and accepted into the Texas Air National Guard.
Back then, aside from going to Canada, the Guard and the Reserves
were havens for draft dodgers. "Right now the same man who avoided
his draft along with officials in his administration that also
avoided their military obligation, are all quietly trying to get
these bills passed. Do you see a certain irony here?"

Beck obviously has motives to propagate the belief that President
Bush is quietly advocating the draft, when, in fact, there are seven
Democrats in Congress who are not shy to admit their desire to
reinstate the draft.

To further prove Beck's misinformation, I looked up some of the
things that the sponsors of the twin bills had to say about the man
Beck assumes is conspiring with them:

Senator Hollings has vehemently trashed Bush's Middle East policies.

Representative Rangel has called on Congress to impeach Bush's
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and has rallied with President
Bush's opponent John Kerry.

Representative McDermott has insisted that Bush lied to gain favor
for the war in Iraq and that Saddam Hussein's capture was staged. He
has also marched with anti-war protesters while accusing Bush of
trying to be Emperor.

Representative Conyers hosted a meeting of anti-Bush advocates to
discuss impeaching the President.

Representative Lewis endorses Senator John Kerry's run for president
and says he "cannot trust the Bush Administration to do the right
thing."

Representative Stark, on the eve of the initial bombing of Baghdad,
called the plan to bomb Baghdad "an act of terrorism."

Representative Abercrombie, while at a Howard Dean rally, described
Bush as a "right-wing, Fascist, reactionary."

These don't sound like the words of Congressmen who are working at
the behest of the President–these are the words of men who despise
President Bush–they are Bush Haters. They despise him so much, that
they are the ones pushing legislation to reinstate a politically
damaging military draft in an attempt to purport the notion that
President Bush is the one who supports and needs this legislation.
Liberal opportunists like Bud Beck continuing to profess this liberal
propaganda to the like-minded, as well attempt to derail some right-
minded young republicans by wrongfully suggesting the way it is being
done.

If we need a draft-–which I don't think we do-–than it should be the
honor and privilege of any and all citizens to serve this great
nation. It is not something to shy away from, shun, or belittle. This
country gives its citizens all the opportunities and privileges the
world has to offer, and many risk their lives to achieve the same
freedom. Freedom is not free, and sometimes you need to risk your
life to protect it. After witnessing over 3,000 lives lost in a
single day on 9/11, how could anyone reject the defense of the United
States of America?

Mr. Beck, tell your nephew he has nothing to fear–the draft is not
some Republican scheme, and at this point in time, the President you
so strongly dislike has not supported the reinstatement of the draft.
Just because you hate Republicans doesn't give you the right to tell
vicious lies to propagate your hate. I invite you to tell your nephew
the following truths:

1) HR 163 & SB 89 were introduced and sponsored by Democrats–-not
Republicans. (You can then apologize to your nephew for scaring him
with your lies and bigotry.)

2) The draft is not a death sentence, it should be perceived as an
invitation to honor and dignity. To look at military service as
anything less is spitting on all men and women, past and present, who
have served our country.

3) We all owe our country a debt of gratitude for the rights and
privileges we've come to take for granted–and there is no better way
to repay that debt than to serve your country, especially when asked.
The military has produced some of the finest examples of Americans.

While conservatives have repeatedly debunked this, and many other
liberal "revisionisms," never have I heard of a liberal apologizing
for his or her fouled escapades. I hope Mr. Beck forwards the truth
to his young Republican nephew, and apologizes for his blatant hatred
of Republicans. I hope to hear that the apology and admission of
guilt will occur as soon as possible, not only to your nephew, but to
all your readers.

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