My theory on why Gore didn't go after Bush's hazy military record

[NNN0LHI]

I don't think he could. Gore was a Vietnam vet. He was a journalist in Vietnam. I am not sure how one became a journalist in Vietnam, but I suspect having a father who is a long time DC politician didn't hurt his chances of getting the job, if you know what I mean? That is why I think Gore never pushed the discrepancies in Bush's military record of service. That is what I think anyway.

Don

[BeatleBoot]

1. You Could be Right

I think the Gore campaign didn't bring it up because (perhaps) it wasn't a huge negative for Bush in their polling.

If it was a huge negative for Bush and the Gore camp refused to use it, then the Gore camp made a mistake.

[izzie]

2. Oh just face it, the records are gone.

Not that I would be shocked to find out that the CIA had a copy of them in case they ever needed them.Look back to his 'hero' father. That was cleaned up also. A man died in that crash or ditched plane and their was talk on that.

[NNN0LHI]

4. If someone had forced the subject, the lack of records would be...

...as damaging as the actual records themselves.

Don

[CatWoman]

3. How one becomes a journalist in the Army

you sign up for it as you MOS (Military Occupational Speciality).

[NNN0LHI]

7. I think one can sign up for just about any MOS there is?

Whether one gets the MOS they signed for is a completely different matter as friends have told me who joined up. I may be wrong on this?

Don

[HawkerHurricane]

9. It helps to have been

a journalism major in college.

[CatWoman]

10. I was an Army Journalist

I initally signed up as an Admin Clerk, and switched upon reenlistment.

[LTR]

5. Gore volunteered

Even after his father insisted on using his influence to keep his son out.

Gore did see quite a bit of front line action, but not in as much of a fighting capacity

Why he didn't take on Bush over this? I dunno. Maybe taking the high road?

[CatWoman]

6. Dan Quayle was a military journalist too

but look at where he served his guard time: playing golf in Indiana.

[LTR]

15. Dan Quayle a journalist?

He can't even spell his own name!

[CatWoman]

18. He also earned a law degree

go figure :shrug:

[kskiska]

22. Even Marilyn Quayle dissed Smirk

As Marilyn Quayle bitterly told The Arizona Republic, “the caricature they made of Dan in ‘88 is George W. It’s him. It wasn’t true about Dan. But it is him. ... A guy that never accomplished anything. ... Everything he got, Daddy took care of.”

(Then again: Marilyn Quayle once defended her fit and handsome husband from scandalous allegations by noting that "anyone who knows Dan knows that he would much rather play golf than have sex.")
:hi:

[K8-EEE]

33. I Say Potato, Quayle Says Potatoe

Let's call the whole thing off!

[buycitgo]

8. I'll bet that there was MORE coverage of Gore's VN service than AWOL

AND that it was vastly negative, leading Gore's pollsters/handlers to avoid the issue altogether.

what aspect of Gore's character/career was NOT treated negatively?

not blowing smoke here......I remember distinctly the Pew research on media coverage of Bush/Gore. It was on the order of 75% favorable coverage toward Bush and less than 50% favorable to Gore, IIRC

even Tucker Carlson admitted the other day that even the liberal medial "hated" Gore, so that explains the coverage, even though he claims they voted for him. sure, you lying sac.

never underestimate the power of the media.

look what they've done to Dean over the last few weeks

an astute caller to CSPAN thinks there may be a connection between Dean's remarks about rolling back media concentration and the flood of ever-more negative stories about him.

[Valjean]

35. Friendly Gore

Gore was too much of a wimp. He went after Bush in the first debate and was told that this was a turn off. This was all pretty foolish in my opinion.

Gore had Bush on the ropes and let him off. He should have went for the jugular. This may be one reason why they think Dean is so "angry". Dean needs to stay angry and reflect the anger in America against Bush.

[CatWoman]

38. Valjean

I like the cut of your jib!!

Welcome to DU :hi:

[Dr.Phool]

11. Family owned a newspaper

I believe the Gore family owned a newspaper, and he had journalistic experience prior to joining the service.

[CatWoman]

12. see my response above

Quayle's family owns/owned a newspaper, yet he golfed during his Guard time.

[Jackson4Gore]

27. No, Gore's family did not own a paper

Gore took a job at the Tennessean after Vietnam, but took journalism classes in college.

[ampster]

13. My theory on why Gore didn't go after Bush's hazy military record"

I worked for Senator Max Cleland in GA during the 2000 campaign. At a press conference with the Senator - Veterans for Gore - a reporter asked the Senator what did the VP do in the military to earn the veterans vote. The Senator simply replied "...he was an enlisted man and served 5 months on the ground in Vietnam and thats good enough for me."

Remember, Gore joined the military even though his father was against it. Also, Repubs only mouth a fond sentiment of veterans. Look at how the Vets campaigned against Senator's Robb, Cleland and McCain in favor of three non-service individuals (Allen,Chambliss,Bush).

They will do the same to Kerry, however, they would fail against Clark. He is too credentialed!

PS: I was a military journalist as well. Served 3 years in Italy doing public affairs for the Department of the Army. It was a tremendous experience.

[LTR]

14. Welcome aboard, Amptser

Thanks for the input. Look forward to hearing more from you.

[ampster]

16. Thanks for the welcome!

I am a big DU fan! I am excited about the potential for re-electing a Dem to the WH and DU gives me much needed inspiration in a state where I am surrounded by turn-coats and arch-conservatives!

[CatWoman]

19. ampster

do you still live in Georgia?

I live in Stone Mountain.

:hi:

[ampster]

20. Yes, I live in Acworth Ga.

Perhaps the most conservative area in the state. My kids attend a school where there was a mock election in 2000. 35 for Gore compared to 1200 for Bush.

[mitchum]

25. Welcome to DU, ampster!

greetings from mitchum in Athens

[slor]

17. Actually, the MEDIA...

is the one that should have gone after this story. And they would have if it was Gore's past militery record. He went and was "in country", and no matter how anyone spins it, that was FAR more dangerous than staying in Texas!

[ampster]

21. Agreed

The media attributed the "cushy" military job Gore landed to his father's position. From that pitiful perspective, why tout a guy whose dad positions benefits him as opposed to another guy whose dad's position benefited him.

They didn't see the difference between serving in the war zone and working on a congressional campaign. Sad, but true.

[TomNickell]

23. Progressive Activists, too?

In 2000 the Repubs had shock troops that could make just about anything into an issue. With the willing help of the Elite Media, of course.

The Left Activists were campaigning for Nader and claiming there was not difference between the two major parties. The damage done by the Nader campaign can't be measured just by votes that went to Nader rather than Gore; you have to think of the energy and enthusiasm drained away.

Hopefully, this time will be different. The Dem nominee should not be charging Bush with desertion. There ought to be activists holding up AWOL signs at every Bush campaign rally.

[GURUving]

24. I think no one knew at the time

the extent to which this group of people with "Nazi-istic tendencies" (didn't call'em Nazi's. Nope. Didn't do it) would go in order to bring about the destruction of democracy. Gore played by the old rules. They are no longer in effect.

[Nashyra]

26. The media could have, should have

but they chose not to. This issue could have derailed the *'s campaign before it got off the ground if corporate America wanted it to. That is why a Clark nominee will put it front and center because of the stark contrasts and there is nothing the media can do about it. They were able to compare a journalist to a "fighter pilot" in the ANG and most people are to lazy to investigate.

[Toots]

28. One thing that isn't hazy ~ Bush* was given a commission

faster than any other person in American History that wasn't given a battlefield commission. What did he do to warrant such an honor. It seems they would hail this as a great accomplishment and use it at every opportunity.

[buycitgo]

30. that's a good one.......great sound bite material?

something that needs corrob, tho.

I'd LOVE to have that to shove the face of wingnut friends (old, former rads, who have suffered enough brain damage to short circuit their logical processes)

they ALWAYS demand citations for my assertions, yet, HA, NEVER have any for theirs: "oh, that's COMMON knowledge; EVerybody knows that" (Love Canal, for example)

[Lefty48197]

29. What a cushy job that must have been

Running around in the jungle, living off of bugs and snakes. Getting shot at with only a pencil to protect yourself. Yeah, somebody must have pulled some strings.
Actually, Gore lost because he was a wimp. He didn't stand up and fight. He followed the Dukakis model, and proved it's validity.

[buycitgo]

31. lighten up, pal

EVERY time he stood up for himself he was INSTANTLY accused by the media, not to mention the fascists, of being MEAN-spirited, NEGATIVE, making PERSONAL attacks, not fun to HANG with.

Remember?


granted, he could have done a somewhat better job, but he didn't have a CHANCE!

check the Pew research poll on favorable press coverage, vis a vis Bush/Gore

it's happening right now

howard kurtz just cited very similar statistics re: Dean's negative press coverage. saw it this morning

[Toots]

32. Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Gore get more votes than any

other Democrat in history?

[Samantha]

34. Gore volunteered to serve without telling his father

Walked into a recruiting station in the North and signed up. At that particular time, if a person enlisted, he or she could request a certain type of job. IF THERE WERE OPENINGS IN THAT PARTICULAR FIELD, the enlistee could have one of the jobs. There were no guarantees. There was an opening for journalists. I remember this distinctly because my former husband, who had a low lottery number, thought about whether he should enlist so he could pick the type of job he wanted.

I think Gore did not focus on Bush*s AWOL record for two reasons: he had pledged publicly to run a clean campaign; Bush*s file had been purged prior to the start of the campaign (no evidence). The charges would have been vehemently denied and Gore would have had no evidence to back up his assertion.

He did the next best thing though. Gore deployed Bob Kerrey (not to be confused with John) in October to challenge Bush's service record. Kerrey reviewed Gore's record, and publicly challenged Bush to reveal his. Bob Kerrey's press conference fell like a lead balloon. His implications were stunning; the resulting silence was deafening. Explain that, can you?

Bob Kerrey said George Bush* owed the American public an explanation -- we are still waiting.

[demgrrrll]

36. I thought that Kerrey was gaining traction with the story and the Boston

papers, I think had a good article too. All of a sudden
there was this DUI story that seemed to push the AWOL story off the radar screen. The DUI story was written off as dirty politics and
something that happened a long time ago but all these things transpired so close to the date of the election that the DUI story seemed to eclipse the story that really could have taken Bush down.

[mlawson]

37. I think it was a practical (but misquided) political decision,

in two parts:
--- The Gore advisors knew how hostile the media were to Gore, and if they went 'negative' on bush personally, Gore would be labelled "mean" and worse by the punditry. It happened to Carter when he pointed out the TRUTH about Ronnie's extremism in 1980. The voters didn't want to hear anything negative on GWB or Ronnie, whether true or not.
--- Second, I suspect the Gore people always underestimated GWB's popularity with the apolitical voters. They probably didn't think it necessary to bring the AWOL issue up, as 'voters would surely come to their senses before it's too late'...

[MasonJar]

39. Gore is a patrician; Bush is an inarticulate sociopath.

[Eloriel]

40. I think it's a lot less sinister than that

IIRC, the "evidence" wasn't nearly as substantial as we have now.