Democratic Chief Says 'AWOL' Bush Will Be an Issue After a Nominee Emerges

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/02/politics/campaign/02CAMP.html?ex=1076302800&en=25aca4ec9537c6ba&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

ROSEVILLE, Mich., Feb. 1 — With the Democratic presidential candidates campaigning across the country on Sunday, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee accused President Bush of being AWOL during his Air National Guard service, a signal of the ferocious campaign ahead once the Democrats finish with one another.

Revisiting an issue that arose briefly at the end of the last presidential election, the chairman, Terry McAuliffe, said he expected Mr. Bush's record of military service in the 1970's to become an issue this fall, particularly if the Democrats nominate the front-runner, Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Mr. McAuliffe said he was staying neutral in the fight for his party's nomination. But, he said, if Mr. Kerry is the nominee, Mr. McAuliffe will relish comparing him with Mr. Bush.

"I look forward to that debate, when John Kerry, a war hero with a chest full of medals, is standing next to George Bush, a man who was AWOL" in the National Guard, Mr. McAuliffe said on the ABC program "This Week."

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[Rabrrrrrr]

1. It's four years too late,

but at least they're finally willing to make an issue of it.

[countmyvote4real]

2. Kerry doesn't suddenly make it an issue.

It should have been an issue all along. And it's an issue that any of our candidates can address.

Good grief. The more I read here, the more I'm pursuaded to suppport an "outsider" like Dean.

And that will probably lock this thread. Has anybody noticed that threads debating against Kerry get locked?

That's a clue for me. You guys are turning me green.

[Democat]

3. Michael Moore brought this to the public, all you Moore haters!

Just like with "Stupid White Men", Moore got out a message that others with his influence were afraid to speak about.

Clark gets a special thanks also for refusing to help hide the issue when it was brought up!

[lazarus]

4. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=341951