McLaughlin Group on The Clark-Moore-DeserterBush episode

[cryofan]

Almost everyone on the show felt very strongly that Bush was not a deserter and that Moore had slandered Bush, and by association, that Clark had also done so. I guess they are all Repubs, except for Eleanor Clift, who really did not say too much about it.

This campaign is quickly turning into the Media's Gotcha Campaign against the Dem candidates. They smell blood in the water with respect to Clark. THey are gonna try to knock him out in NH. Of course, part of it is just what plays best to the public. But I think part of it is Clark's progressive tax policies.

[Frances]

1. Does anyone doubt that if Bush were a Dem

the media would be hounding him with questions about his military service? They would assume he was guilty and insist that he prove his innocence.

-

[alcuno]

2. But it helps that they keep repeating it.

Makes people wonder when they hear it enough times.

[bvar22]

3. Have ANY of the.....

...pundits, journalists, spokespersons, or commentators offered ANY evidence to contradict Michael Moore or Clark, or even suggested that someone should perhaps examine the records????

[salin]

6. They can't do that... because the Boston Globe did do this back in 2000

and found that there was no record of Bush showing up for more than a year. They know this - and thus can't push that angle. Instead they have to disparage the message and messanger. But notice that while Moore and others have said this before... the media only picks it up now... when it can be used to disparage (by innuendo) a popular democratic candidate.

[salin]

4. I hear ya.. but dispute that this is a recent development

the were playing blast the democratic front leader from the time Al Gore first spoke before the Florida Democratic convention in the summer of 2002. Disparaging comments about his looks, his demeanor, and playing up comments of Lieberman suggesting that the reason Al Gore lost was that he played up populism too much. This is an on-going pattern.

Some only notice it when it occurs to their favorite candidate - but if one has been objectively watching ... they have been doing this constantly for well over a year.

[KG]

5. you can bet none of the member of that nightly circle-jerk

could be bothered to actually research the story.

'journalists' my fat white butt.

[leetrisck]

7. Would it occur to any of these people

to ask the phony in the belt buckle where he was? Ask very specific questions? No, he won't answer, but ask them anyway. Why ask someone else to research it - that's crazy. Moore laid it out there (with research) Wouldn't you think bush could just put it out there or at least someone, somewhere would just ask bush and let him lie about it.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

8. Bush answering questions? LOL, that'd be the day.

Reporter: "Mr. Bush, could you settle the debate once and for all...please elaborate on the specifics of your past service history, and whether or not you were AWOL as many Democrats are saying".

Bush: "It's just politics...just politics...I'm not gonna play politics.. this is not a time for politics.."

Reporter: "Please, just answer the goddamn question, Mr. Bush!"

Bush: "Things in Iraq are getting better..the murderers have been murdered..the rape rooms have been raped...we are victorious...anyone that denies this is crazy...Saddam gassed his own people...gang of thugs, tyrants and killers...botulism.."

[Moderator]

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