Ben Barnes to go Public On Sixty Minutes About Pulling Strings for GWB...

[Infohawk]

Salon.com

This is the guy that said he was ashamed to help a privileged guy get into the national guard... Have fun neocons.

 

[Infohawk]

Throughout his political career Bush has adamantly denied that he got a Guard pilot spot through preferential treatment. That, despite the fact Bush was jumped ahead of a nationwide waiting list of 100,000 Guard applicants, while achieving the lowest possible passing grade on his pilot aptitude test for would-be fliers, and listing "none" as his background qualifications.

Barnes, once a rising star in Texas politics, insists strings were pulled on Bush's behalf, and he helped pull them. Speaking to Kerry supporters in Austin, Texas, in May, he said, "I got a young man named George W. Bush into the Texas National Guard ... I got a lot of other people in the National Guard because I thought that was what people should do when you're in office, and you help a lot of rich people." Recalling a recent visit to the Vietnam Memorial, Barnes added, "I looked at the names of the people that died in Vietnam, and I became more ashamed of myself than I have ever been, because it was the worst thing I ever did, was help a lot of wealthy supporters and a lot of people who had family names of importance get into the National Guard. And I'm very sorry about that, and I'm very ashamed."

 

[Todd33]

Doh!

 

[conjur]

Rattling those skeletons in the Bush closet may be healthy for him "at this juncture".

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Awwww - poor Barnes - Seems Bush Sr. never helped. linky

CsG

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Awwww - poor Barnes - Seems Bush Sr. never helped. linky

CsG

And exactly how does that prove Barnes didn't help? Because Bush, Sr. said so?

 

[Infohawk]

CkG, so you don't believe this guy WHY?

Barnes is a Kerry supporter, and the White House last week tried to depict him as a longtime partisan. But the fact is, Barnes for years resisted any attempt to get dragged into a political debate about Bush's war record. It was only under threat of legal action back in 1999 -- and only after efforts to assert "executive privilege" failed -- that Barnes came forward with his statement about helping Bush. (And even then, Barnes issued it through his attorney, refusing to answer press questions.) The lawsuit was brought by a disgruntled Texas lottery executive who charged that his former company, which Barnes lobbied for, was able to keep a lucrative Texas state contract in exchange for Barnes' remaining silent about helping Bush get into the Guard. The case was later settled out of court, with the executive receiving $300,000.

Why don't I believe Bush Sr? He's trying to cover for his dead-beat AWOL son.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: conjur

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY
Awwww - poor Barnes - Seems Bush Sr. never helped. linky

CsG

And exactly how does that prove Barnes didn't help? Because Bush, Sr. said so?

I never said it did prove Barnes didn't help, but Barnes isn't the whole story. Bush Sr. says he didn't help - so why would Barnes help? Seems to me like Barnes isn't going to get much traction with this without concrete proof.

I'm sure conjur thinks this Barnes guy is just trying to "smear" Bush though

CsG

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

I never said it did prove Barnes didn't help, but Barnes isn't the whole story. Bush Sr. says he didn't help - so why would Barnes help? Seems to me like Barnes isn't going to get much traction with this without concrete proof.

I'm sure conjur thinks this Barnes guy is just trying to "smear" Bush though

CsG

You taking Bush Sr. at face value when he's obviously biased in this situation is odd. What else is Bush Sr. gonna' say?

Are you so naive you don't think something like this happened?

Yes or no: do you think privileged people got out of serving in Vietnam because of their power?

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

I never said it did prove Barnes didn't help, but Barnes isn't the whole story. Bush Sr. says he didn't help - so why would Barnes help? Seems to me like Barnes isn't going to get much traction with this without concrete proof.

I'm sure conjur thinks this Barnes guy is just trying to "smear" Bush though

CsG

You taking Bush Sr. at face value when he's obviously biased in this situation is odd. What else is Bush Sr. gonna' say?

Are you so naive you don't think something like this happened?

Yes or no: do you think privileged people got out of serving in Vietnam because of their power?

I assume you have some sort of proof to show everyone? Thought so... ...next "smear"

CsG

 

[arsbanned]

We'll have to see what he has for proof, if anything. Don't be too quick to dismiss it, Chen, er, Cad.

 

[Infohawk]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

CsG

You taking Bush Sr. at face value when he's obviously biased in this situation is odd. What else is Bush Sr. gonna' say?

Are you so naive you don't think something like this happened?

Yes or no: do you think privileged people got out of serving in Vietnam because of their power?
[/quote]

I assume you have some sort of proof to show everyone? Thought so... ...next "smear"

CsG[/quote]

:roll: The evidence in this case is Barnes's word. We don't have any compelling reason to question it. Again, it makes sense because this type of thing was done all the time. And I'm sure they didn't keep records of the hand greasing and patronage.

On the other hand we have Sr. who's word we can easily question because he would have been the culprit! If you want to challenge Barnes get someone who was objective, not the spoiled brat's daddy.

I gotta give it to the Repugs though. THey got out early and challenged this stuff. Kerry's gotta follow suit. He should also take a lesson and keep driving this point into the ground until it's accepted as fact-- just like the neocons do.

 

[1EZduzit]

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

I never said it did prove Barnes didn't help, but Barnes isn't the whole story. Bush Sr. says he didn't help - so why would Barnes help? Seems to me like Barnes isn't going to get much traction with this without concrete proof.

I'm sure conjur thinks this Barnes guy is just trying to "smear" Bush though

CsG

You taking Bush Sr. at face value when he's obviously biased in this situation is odd. What else is Bush Sr. gonna' say?

Are you so naive you don't think something like this happened?

Yes or no: do you think privileged people got out of serving in Vietnam because of their power?

I assume you have some sort of proof to show everyone? Thought so... ...next "smear"

CsG

So to you Bush Sr.'s word is better then the next guys? Figures. NeoCon logic at it's best.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Well unless this guy has some sort of concrete proof, I will dismiss him as another smear. That doesn't mean what he says won't have an effect though on the American public.

 

[Infohawk]

Sudheer Anne, I think there is corrobative evidence that is concrete. How did the chimp cut ahead of so many people? How did he become a pilot with such a low test score? Is it just a fluke that the sqaudron was called the Champagne squadron?

Again, why is it so hard to believe this sort of thing happened in Vietnam?

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

Originally posted by: Infohawk

Originally posted by: CADsortaGUY

I never said it did prove Barnes didn't help, but Barnes isn't the whole story. Bush Sr. says he didn't help - so why would Barnes help? Seems to me like Barnes isn't going to get much traction with this without concrete proof.

I'm sure conjur thinks this Barnes guy is just trying to "smear" Bush though

CsG

You taking Bush Sr. at face value when he's obviously biased in this situation is odd. What else is Bush Sr. gonna' say?

Are you so naive you don't think something like this happened?

Yes or no: do you think privileged people got out of serving in Vietnam because of their power?

I assume you have some sort of proof to show everyone? Thought so... ...next "smear"

CsG

So to you Bush Sr.'s word is better then the next guys? Figures. NeoCon logic at it's best.

:roll: Or maybe I said..."I assume you have some sort of proof to show everyone"
Yep - you sure provided that alright.
I thought this kinds of stuff is a "smear" according to leftist logic

CsG

 

[Jhhnn]

Any young man alive during the Vietnam draft and seeking alternative service to cannon fodder quickly learned that the Guard, particularly the Air Guard, had a reservation system for guys like GWB. It wasn't like the Guard of today, not at all. Guard commanders had a great deal of discretion, some using it to advance their own ambitions. Just the way it was. Utterly unfair and preferential- too bad, you're screwed, unless there's something I figure you can do for me...

I'm amazed at how many vets from that era somehow don't remember that they couldn't even enlist in the Marine corps, for a time, let alone the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard or Merchant Marine, and that the only avalable Army MOS's were combat infantry and K9, but somehow GWB jumps to the front of the line for the Air Guard... Just lucky, right?

If you believe that, you probably believe in the tooth fairy, too.

 

[Infohawk]

Jhhnn, thank you for that explanation.

It makes sense some sheltered, naive, blind people might believe the system was perfectly fair back then, but I hope older people and vets will question Bush's placement and see it for what it was. Dispicable.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Like I've said about the SBVFT ads, regardless of the accuracy of Barnes' statements, I think they will still produce an affect on the American people. The idea of Bush as a draft-dodger certainly doesn't play well, although i don't think it will be as damaging as what the SBVTF vets said about Kerry.

 

[burnedout]

Let's see here. . . .

CBS News reports that Ben Barnes is one of eight "bundlers" who have raised more that $500,000 for John Kerry's campaign. He's also listed as a Vice Chair of the Kerry campaign on the John Kerry website. According to the Dallas Ft. Worth Star Telegram, Barnes is one of the "gatekeepers and endorsers for Texas appointees and job-seekers" in a potential Kerry administration.

Barnes' elected political career ended because of the Sharpstown Stock-Fraud scandal.

A Texas Observer editorial, dated 10/15/1999 indicates that Barnes has made this accusation before.

CNN reported in July 1999 that the Los Angeles Times had already investigated the claims, reporting that the "Los Angeles Times said it found no evidence that either Bush or his father, former President George Bush, had personally tried to influence or pressure anyone to get the younger Bush a place in the Texas Guard. Bush's father was a congressman from Houston at the time."

In 1968, the former Texas Lt. Governor wasn't even elected yet. He was the UN Rep to Geneva. In 1968, there were only 8 Republicans elected to the TX State Legislature out of 150 seats. At the time, Bush's father was one of the Republicans elected in a state that was primarily Democrat.

 

[conjur]

Originally posted by: burnedout
Let's see here. . . .

CBS News reports that Ben Barnes is one of eight "bundlers" who have raised more that $500,000 for John Kerry's campaign. He's also listed as a Vice Chair of the Kerry campaign on the John Kerry website. According to the Dallas Ft. Worth Star Telegram, Barnes is one of the "gatekeepers and endorsers for Texas appointees and job-seekers" in a potential Kerry administration.

Barnes' elected political career ended because of the Sharpstown Stock-Fraud scandal.

A Texas Observer editorial, dated 10/15/1999 indicates that Barnes has made this accusation before.

CNN reported in July 1999 that the Los Angeles Times had already investigated the claims, reporting that the "Los Angeles Times said it found no evidence that either Bush or his father, former President George Bush, had personally tried to influence or pressure anyone to get the younger Bush a place in the Texas Guard. Bush's father was a congressman from Houston at the time."

In 1968, the former Texas Lt. Governor wasn't even elected yet. He was the UN Rep to Geneva. In 1968, there were only 8 Republicans elected to the TX State Legislature out of 150 seats. At the time, Bush's father was one of the Republicans elected in a state that was primarily Democrat.

Barnes is a Kerry supporter, and the White House last week tried to depict him as a longtime partisan. But the fact is, Barnes for years resisted any attempt to get dragged into a political debate about Bush's war record. It was only under threat of legal action back in 1999 -- and only after efforts to assert "executive privilege" failed -- that Barnes came forward with his statement about helping Bush. (And even then, Barnes issued it through his attorney, refusing to answer press questions.) The lawsuit was brought by a disgruntled Texas lottery executive who charged that his former company, which Barnes lobbied for, was able to keep a lucrative Texas state contract in exchange for Barnes' remaining silent about helping Bush get into the Guard. The case was later settled out of court, with the executive receiving $300,000.

 

[Infohawk]

"Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Greyhawk

And who are those "rough men" protecting us from? Other "rough men". Sounds like these "rough men" are the problem... What BS.

 

[Todd33]

[CNN reported in July 1999 that the Los Angeles Times had already investigated the claims, reporting that the "Los Angeles Times said it found no evidence that either Bush or his father, former President George Bush, had personally tried to influence or pressure anyone to get the younger Bush a place in the Texas Guard. Bush's father was a congressman from Houston at the time."

Your own link does not prove much, your croping of the words is suspect.

In its report, the Los Angeles Times said it found no evidence that either Bush or his father, former President George Bush, had personally tried to influence or pressure anyone to get the younger Bush a place in the Texas Guard. Bush's father was a congressman from Houston at the time.

But the Times also found that despite a long waiting list nationwide, Bush easily got in the Guard and received a commission as a second lieutenant, despite lacking the credentials many other candidates had, such as ROTC experience. He also had no previous aviation experience.

If this guy is just anti-Bush and has no proof, people will ignore him.

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: Infohawk

"Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - Greyhawk

And who are those "rough men" protecting us from? Other "rough men". Sounds like these "rough men" are the problem... What BS.

Firstly, how applicable is your dumbass question about my sig's content pertinent to this discussion? How dare you introduce another cognitively dissonant strawman into the debate. For one who attempts to exemplify reason in numerous bullshit posts, you certainly chose one dickedup topic to touch on.

Secondly, have you ever been in the military? If not, then kindly keep your irrelevant, stupidassed comments to yourself.

Finally, I'm not here to provide you with a history of the volunteer military and those who have served.

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: Todd33

Your own link does not prove much, your croping of the words is suspect.

Which was why I provided the entire link.

Since you are into bolding parts of the report, I'll follow suit:

However, the Dallas Morning News, which also looked into Bush's military record, reported that while Bush's unit in Texas had a waiting list for many spots, he was accepted because he was one of a handful of applicants willing and qualified to spend more than a year in active training flying F-102 jets.

If this guy is just anti-Bush and has no proof, people will ignore him.

Exactly.