CNN/AP: Debate Fact Check missed obvious Bush lies

[SoCalDemocrat]

I've already contacted CNN Politics Editor with my feedback below.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/09/30/debate.fact.check.ap/index.html

The CNN/AP Article: "Iraq, terror record stretched two ways" purports to point out mistruths from the debate. However it hardly touches upon the Bush mis-truths in the coverage. I've identified two already and will write the editor to complain that they update their article. I suggest DU members analyze the article and provide their own coverage of other Bush lies that I have missed. Note watch for it in other publications, as AP articles get sold to multiple outlets.

DEBATE TRANSCRIPT:
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/09/30/debate.transcript.1/index.html

REPLY HERE WITH LIES YOU FIND IN THE BUSH DEBATE TRANSCRIPT:

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form6.html?1


INTELLIGENCE REPORT LIE

Lehrer to Kerry:
"Colossal misjudgments." What colossal misjudgments, in your opinion, has President Bush made in these areas?

BUSH: "My opponent looked at the same intelligence I looked at and declared in 2002 that Saddam Hussein was a grave threat."

FACT: Bush actually receives far more detailed and often classified reports. Bush received a classified Intelligence Report from the CIA which we now know was heavily altered by the Bush administration then released in declassified form to Congress and Senator Kerry in order to bolster the WMD claims and case for war against Iraq.


RAPID VICTORY LIE

LEHRER: New question, Mr. President, two minutes. You have said there was a "miscalculation" of what the conditions would be in postwar Iraq. What was the miscalculation, and how did it happen?

BUSH: No, what I said was that, because we achieved such a rapid victory, more of the Saddam loyalists were around. I mean, we thought we'd whip more of them going in.

But because Tommy Franks did such a great job in planning the operation, we moved rapidly, and a lot of the Baathists and Saddam loyalists laid down their arms and disappeared. I thought they would stay and fight, but they didn't.

And now we're fighting them now. And it's hard work. I understand how hard it is. I get the casualty reports every day. I see on the TV screens how hard it is. But it's necessary work.

FACT:

Bush lied about Baathist Loyalists being being behind recent attacks in Iraq. This was an excuse given early in the post "Mission Accomplished" Iraq as a reason for the resistance. Since Saddam's capture the administration has dropped this excuse, until tonight. We know that a lot of attacks are attributed to Zarqawi, part of Ansar al Islam, and also to Al Sadr and his Shiite movement. Few attacks in past months, if any at all, are attributed to former Saddam Baathist Loyalists (who are part of the Suuni minority).

[gottaB]

1. Also the 100,000 Iraqi troops have recieved training

"Though Bush's claim is factually true, it has drawn strong criticism as an overstatement by Democrats in Congress and independent military experts. Deputy Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage acknowledged last Friday to Congress that some of the forces were 'shake-and-bake' trainees, with three weeks of training or less."

Candidates call facts as they see them

[SoCalDemocrat]

3. Good point

Someone needs to mail this to CNN as an editorial rebuttal.

[ScreamingMeemie]

21. And MSNBC reported that some 40,000 are "being fired for incompetence

and untrustworthiness." :hi:

[funnymanpants]

2. CNN breathtakingly dishonest

"Kerry stretched in accusing Bush of spending too little on homeland security and too much in giving tax cuts to the rich...."

"Bush's tax cuts were across the board, not just for rich people like Kerry and himself."

While techncially CNN is correct, the lion's share--something like 90%--went to the rich. (I don't have an exact figure but this fact would be easy to find.)

CNN is deliberately spinning here, trying to find ways in which both candidates lied. Kerry did not lie in this instance.



"There has been no definitive conclusion bin Laden was in the caves of Tora Bora in December 2001, when U.S. and Afghan troops surrounded the complex and U.S. warplanes blanketed the area with bombs.

"But U.S. military and intelligence officials believe he probably was. And U.S. forces did largely rely on Afghan forces on the ground to go after him."

Once again, CNN overreaches in criticizing Kerry. There was no *definitive* evidence--and then CNN goes on to admit that it was still believed Osama was there.

Watch out. The press spread lies about Gore in 2000. Don't let it happend again.

[SoCalDemocrat]

4. Yes I thought the same thing

That's a fair write up. I suggest you submit it with minor edits as an editorial to the link I provided.

Others should feel free to comment on the same points already covered.

We now have FOUR BUSH LIES from the debate not covered in the CNN article. Do I hear a fifth?

[enki23]

6. one: kerry didn't say "tax cuts ONLY for the rich."

he's on the record for wanting to keep the tax cuts for most everyone. except the very richest few percent.

[SoCalDemocrat]

13. good catch

Keep those emails flowing into CNN!

[SoCalDemocrat]

18. CNN is using the Republican tax sound bite!

OMG great catch there!

""Bush's tax cuts were across the board, not just for rich people like Kerry and himself."

That's the Republican sound bite on taxes almost to the word. Of course the Bush tax cuts were not only for the rich, but as we all know the vast majority of the money went to the wealthiest few.

Go get them DUers!

[nyhuskyfan]

20. Not only that...

But some of the programs that have been proposed in congress have been to roll back the tax cut on ONLY the top 2 percent to pay for homeland security initiatives (and -- in another vote -- for the 87 billion supplemental bill).

So it wasn't just as issue of who first got the cuts. It was an issue of how to pay for NEW spending programs. Bush and the Republicans DID decide to keep the tax cuts for the top 2 percent rather than pay for homeland security.

There isn't even a smidgen of inaccuracy or anything misleading at all in what Kerry said.

[MsMagnificent]

5. Mr. "Lover" President

Can comfort the bereaved at his rallies
-- well that is the ONLY way, as he has YET to attend ONE single funeral from the war he declared, and declared us victorious.

[SoCalDemocrat]

7. Yes that comment angered the audience

I watched with about 50 of the faithful at our DNC HQ. When Bush made that remark there were alot of jeers and angry tones rising in the room. Bush in fact has not attended a funeral for any of our fallen soldiers, but his comments seemed to imply otherwise.

I'm not sure if this point was clear enough to call CNN/AP over. Bush implied it, he didn't come out and explicitly state something that was a lie.

[Elidor]

15. Makes you wonder how she got close to him

Either she slipped in under the radar and scared him silly, or Rove told him to go out and find a widow to talk to, just so he could say he had comforted someone.

He certainly comforted me - 'cause that POS is going DOWN!

[MsMagnificent]

19. In any event

I'll bet $20- she had to sign a loyalty oath before she got to talk to Fubya

[The Magistrate]

8. This, Sir, Is My Favorite Bit Of Unintended Comedy From This Reptile

"I thought they would stay and fight, but they didn't. And now we're fighting them now." That is a statement that bears endless pondering, and repays every moment of regard given it....

"My god, man, slap yourself and think!"

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[SoCalDemocrat]

9. Shrub still doesn't get it

He still does not realize that the Iraqi people, the civilian populace, is taking up arms against him. U.S. forces estimated 10% of Sadr city are "hostile" to the U.S., meaning they will pick up a gun and shoot at you if they get the chance.

The city has a population I believe of 2 million people. That is 200,000 pissed off people and growing.

These are not leftover Baathists or Zarqawi extremists we are talking about. This is an INSURGENCY.

[gottaB]

14. file under parapraxis

He actually said, "I thought we would--they would stay and fight...."

[jmowreader]

10. Fact: Congress receives classified information too

They did hit the nail on the thumb: the Bushies edited the report to make Iraq appear far different than it was before they sent it to Congress.

I was going to say worse, but apparently this report said Saddam was going to Destroy America With Heinous Weapons In 45 Minutes So We Gotta Go To War Against Him Now, Goddam It Now! and that he'd be such a pushover we could turn Iraq into the 51st state for less than it cost to send Chimpy to Pennsylvania in 2002.

[George_S]

11. Done

Thanks for the links.

[SoCalDemocrat]

12. Thank you. Please pass it on to more DU members

We need to get everyone to send in an email, even if it's just a few sentences.

[Francine Frensky]

16. Done. Thank you very much for the research.

[SoCalDemocrat]

17. thanks for your letter

Keep writing DU members!