Rice's speeches break mold by politicizing job, critics say

[seemslikeadream]

WHITE HOUSE: ACTIVITY NOT TIED TO CAMPAIGN

By Jim Puzzanghera

Mercury News Washington Bureau


WASHINGTON - As the first woman and second African-American to serve as White House national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice has become a celebrity. The former Stanford University provost has had a photo spread in Vogue magazine, been profiled on A&E television's ``Biography,'' and fielded more than 4,000 public-speaking requests since 2001.

But Democrats on Wednesday criticized Rice, one of President Bush's closet advisers, for the locations and frequency of recent speeches. They say she has politicized a job that traditionally has been apolitical with speeches in battleground states, such as Ohio last week and Florida next week, and suggest she is failing to attend to her duties at the White House.

``For all its fear-mongering on the war on terror, this White House has a greater commitment to its political security than to our national security,'' Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., said Wednesday, one of several statements issued by the campaign of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., after a Washington Post article about Rice's travels.

``The fact is the violence in Iraq is spiraling out of control, Osama bin Laden remains at large and North Korea and Iran have increased their nuclear capabilities,'' Edwards said. ``With all this going on, Condi Rice shouldn't take the time to go on a campaign trip for George Bush.''
more
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/9975221.htm?1c

[seemslikeadream]

1. Kerry-Edwards: Hughes Lies about Campaign Condi's Political Activities

10/20/2004 9:15:00 PM

To: National Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Chad Clanton or Phil Singer, 202-464-2800, both of Kerry-Edwards 2004

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a fact sheet from Kerry-Edwards 2004:

Karen Hughes on Inside Politics: Rice Goes Many Places President Does Not Go on Campaign Trail

"...and she's (Rice) been to a lot of states where the president is not campaigning, I know to make speeches about this war. Because we are a nation at war. ... I know how careful she is to stay away from political events."

Washington Post Today: Rice Is Only Going to Swing States in Final Weeks of Campaign... Gives Political Speeches

"In the weeks leading up to the Nov. 2 election, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice has traveled across the country making speeches in key battleground states, including Oregon, Washington, North Carolina and Ohio. In the next five days, she also plans speeches in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Florida. The frequency and location of her speeches differ sharply from those before this election year -- and appear to break with the long- standing precedent that the national security adviser try to avoid overt involvement in the presidential campaign. Her predecessors generally restricted themselves to an occasional speech, often in Washington, but counting next week's speeches, Rice will have made nine outside Washington since Labor Day." ...

"Although she does not mention Democratic challenger John F. Kerry and avoids answering overtly political questions, the target of her speeches is not lost on local audiences. The Seattle Times, reporting on a Sept. 7 speech to the University of Washington, said, "Rice sounded at times like a candidate" as she received "rousing ovations" in defending the administration's handling of the war on terrorism." (Washington Post, 10/20/04)

Rice Made Appearance at Republican Convention

"The presidential box at the GOP 2004 National Convention was filled with special guests Thursday to see George W. Bush accept his renomination for president. Convention officials said the guests included: White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and his wife, the Rev. Kathleene Card; Bush national security adviser Condoleezza Rice; U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R- Tenn., and his wife, Karyn Frist; and U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and his wife, Mrs. Jean Hastert." (UPI, 9/2/04)

Paid for by Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc.
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=38547

Rice stumping at odds

Records provided by the White House show Rice has given 68 speeches since the beginning of the administration four years ago and that most of them were in the Washington area.

Traditionally, the national security adviser does not become involved in politics in an overt way.
more
http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/ny-usrice214013646oct21,0,2130496.story?coll=ny-uspolitics-headlines

[Supersedeas]

3. maybe someone in the bowels of the RW spin room knows that Condi

is careful to stay away from political events...but anyone with a brain, doesn't need to see Condi's flight number and arrival time, to recognize a political event when we see it.

Actionable intelligence dismissed.

[dirtyduck]

2. Rice

It is scary that the entire administration is out on the campaign trail... Who's manning the store? I guess it's all the trolls who don't represent a needed voter segment. Althought I haven't heard Colin Powell doing a lot of stumping.

[sadiesworld]

4. I guess John "don't bother me about terrorism" Ashcroft is in charge.

Feel better?

And Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Ernesto]

5. Dr. Rice is not campaigning.

I'd like to quash this rumor right now!
She is simply out net-working for a new position. She is wise enough to know that she will be receiving a pink slip in late January, '05.

[chaumont58]

6. I think it is unprecidented and STUPID!

Who are they trying to reach with her speeches? Their own followers? Reporters?
I think the campaign idiot that thought up this trip is a WORLD CLASS IDIOT.