Soldiers are TOLD to cheer Bush and wave flags at Fort Campbell

[glarius]

I just saw a report on CBC from Neil MacDonald their Washington corespondent, (he's an excellent journalist, by the way).....He showed video clips of Bush at Fort Campbell today thanking troops....The difference in what I saw there and what was shown on CNN was rather striking.....What CNN didn't show was that before Bush came out an officer stood at the microphone and loudly instructed them to cheer Bush loudly and wave their American flags.....When I saw this on CNN the comment from CNN was "today President Bush was enthusiastically greeted by the troops at Fort Campbell....One would think it would be unnecessary to admonish soldiers to cheer their president???.....Methinks Bush is not as popular with the troops as they let on....

P.S. Another thing in this news report which I haven't seen on CNN...The leader of Poland (one of the coalition of the whatever) was at a microphone saying he was uncomfortable having his troops in Iraq, now that he knows they were mislead about WMDs...

[Droopy]

1. Well that's the Cowboy News Network for you

Say, why don't you send some of them Canadian journalists down this way and have them show us how it's done?

[glarius]

2. I think your guys know how they just seem to be intimidated into not

reporting negatively against the little emperor....

[Droopy]

4. Your probably right

It's more than likely editors and the big wigs at the studio (those higher up on the food chain) that keep the reporters in line. There are probably a lot of frustrated journalists here in the states. It's either keep your mouth shut and put food on the table or taking a chance at getting black listed and permanently joining the unemployment line.

[PaDUer]

26. check these out...hmm...which is the truth?

President Bush Meets with Military Personnel at Fort Campbell
Remarks by the President to Military Personnel
Fort Campbell, Kentucky
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/03/20040318-3.html

Fort Campbell Troops Say Bush Visit Gives Hope, Inspiration
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2004/n03182004_200403187.html

[Bromd]

3. Look forward to seeing it

I live in Colorado but I can probably watch the report on the CBC at 9:30 thanks to the miracle of News World International. I'm tempted to even record this one.

Ironically - Clinton knew he wasn't too big with the troops and just let it slide as being part of the way life was and nobody really was bothered... except the republicans.

[Art_from_Ark]

34. Meanwhile, Ru$h was on military radio blasting Clinton

every freakin' day. Pigboy was a major reason why Clinton wasn't so hot with the troops.

[Tripper11]

5. I just saw this story here in the west coast

via CBC Vancouver...unbelievable!!! Actually, let me take that back...this has to be played on every US channel possible. It's a frightening show of forced favortism for the Shrub. This has to be turned against him.

[PaDUer]

6. This isn't anything new...

it's been like this from day one. I hope this isn't the first time that you've heard this. Every place he attends to speak is by invitation only. Him and his phony gang have gotten away with it from day one without any problems, why should they stop now.

[Tripper11]

7. I know...but have you seen footage?

I mean an actual commander telling his soldiers to do this on video.
I think what could have made this only slightly more repulsive was if they were threatened with some type of consequence if they didn't do what they were told. But then again, maybe that's already happened as well.

[PaDUer]

14. Does anyone know anyone

in the military who might've been present at this staged event or any other staged event? Might be interesting to ask that question and find out the truth and do what needs to be done.

[Endangered Specie]

8. heh, Ill bet they said the same thing when Il Duce or Der Fuhrer...

took the stage.

[9215]

9. This is important stuff. Thanks for bringing this up

You know if you had a few witnesses who could verify what you saw this would make a good newsstory. This is deliberate manipulation of public perceptions. This is propoganda and Bush is getting away with it.

We know its happened before, but we should shout out our anger whenever we see it.

[Jade Fox]

10. Gosh, how surprising...

Not!

Wouldn't it be wonderful to see a crowd of Americans, any Americans,
actually responding spontaneously to a Bush speech? On TV?

[x-g.o.p.er]

11. Ummmm...I hate to be the bearer of bad news....

But when I was in Bosnia and Clinton came down to visit, some colonel got up and said the exact same thing before he came on. Whenever any dignitary is about to speak before some troops, the troops get the same instructioins: don't boo, cheer, and by God, if anyone heckles the speaker, your ass WILL be court-martialed. Same when Hillary and Chelsea came to visit. I'm still on active duty, so you won't get me to say anything derogatory about the Commander in Chief in this forum, but let's just say my DU user name says it all.

It's been done by hundreds of caommanders before dozens of presidents came to speak to them. It's the commander's way of covering his rear end, so if any of his troops do get out of line, he can be busted for violating a direct order.

Seems weird if you're not in the military, but if you are in, it makes perfect sense. Thank God I can retire in three years.

[glarius]

12. But the thing is it wasn't just reported by CNN as Bush going to Fort

Campbell....They made a point of saying he was "greeted enthusiastically"....as if it was a spontaneous thing...Don't you think that makes a difference? :shrug:

[x-g.o.p.er]

16. I see your point...

and yes, saying he was "greeted enthusiastically" after the soldiers were told to "greet him enthusiastically" smacks of dubious reporting, at best.

[9215]

13. Agreed. It is propoganda in any case to not show the whole picture

But I don't think Clinton was considered a "man of the military" anyway.

[glarius]

15. Not only did they not consider Clinton a "man of the military" they have

always said Bush is admired and respected by the military....If this is so the soldiers shouldn't need prompting!

[9215]

21. Good point. What was that about the military facing

Bush but not Clinton? I remember this going around here at DU. The military turned their heads to face Bush, but this was not done for Clinton.

[kskiska]

31. urban legend

debunked at snopes.com. The military guards must follow orders as to what type to salute to give. The Bushistas must have instructed the guards to face the Chimp.

[mike1963]

24. Well, I was in the USAF, quite a different animal from the Army, but

I never heard any kinds of "orders" like that...and in any case, I don't think such a 'blanket order' carries enough weight to warrant a court-martial...I cannot imagine a panel supporting such a charge.

[DemBones DemBones]

25. You know what bugs me? I did 19 years for Uncle Sam ( Navy

brat -- talk about being drafted against your will, LOL! ) and I know it's verboten for military personnel to salute in the half-assed way Bush often does, even holding his dog under one arm while executing a less- than-snappy salute. Yet no one ever brings this up. . . .Doesn't this concern any active duty folks or veterans?

He also signed his name on flags at at least one "rally" yet the good puppy press said nothing. He should have been prosecuted for deliberate desecration of the flag. I learned flag etiquette in Girl Scouts; it's not an esoteric legal concept.

This man, who was appointed to be Commander in Chief to begin with, has no right to re-write all the rules for himself.

He was in the Texas Air National Guard, after all, where he should have learned proper etiquette for the military.

Of course he also should have learned to loosen the straps on his flight suit when he got out of a plane and spared us all the spectacle of him grinningly presenting his package for inspection. It was a thrill for Tweety, interestingly enough, but I don't know that any normal people were impressed by the little display.

[tjwash]

33. It was like that when I was in the navy...

...back in the early 80's when Reagan came to address the troops / photo-op right after Grenada.

[diamond14]

17. Photos...clearly a lack of enthusiasm....

poor salute for AWOL....



only xanax-drugged-laura smiling here....



as ordered, waving USA flags, but ignoring AWOL, not even returning AWOL salute...


slouching for the boring repetitive shrub speech...


won't even stand up to greet AWOL...rather eat lunch

[kittykitty]

27. I think this has always been par for the course

Years and years ago, my mother received a phone call asking her to go to the Cleveland airport and be part of a crowd welcoming Richard Nixon. She demurred. They said all she would have to do is stand there and cheer and applaud him. They would even send a car to pick her up and transport her there and home. She was rather shocked by the whole scenario and refused to participate. They sure must have been hard up to go through all that trouble just to get a person to be part of a crowd.

[HydroAddict]

18. Also, to be fair (well, almost)...

When I went to see Kerry speak a couple weeks ago, we were sitting on the bleachers and a campaign worker told all of us to stand and cheer when he arrived.

But I say "well, almost" because everybody there would have stood and cheered like mad anyway! This even after Kerry was three hours late!

[glarius]

20. But that is different than the picture they try to portay of Bush as being

beloved by the troops as the "war president."....Kerry is a candidate, trying to get to be presedent...Bush is the president....there's quite a difference, in my opinion...I could be wrong...

[9215]

22. There is a big difference between civilians cheering and

soldiers cheering upon "orders" and the newsmedia selecting that moment to cover.

[Art_from_Ark]

36. When Clinton came for a visit to my home town in 1993

there was no need for anyone to prompt us to cheer him when he stepped out of the plane. It was spontaneous. And Clinton came right over to the crowd and started shaking as many hands as he possibly could, in the hot August sun.

[Festivito]

19. So close to using gov emps for campaign purposes.

The only trouble could be proving the obvious.

[9215]

23. Another very good point.

:thumbsup:

It is a problem when the military or employees in any other government being coached to cheer an official. But then the whole photo op thing is on the government dole too.

[Undercover Agent]

28. That's sad.

Who would want to cheer Bush? I wouldn't even fake it!!!

[diamond14]

29. hi Undercover Agent....welcome to DU....glad to have you here !

:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:


:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

:hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi: :hi:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Mari333]

30. Bush ISNT popular with the troops they hate him

they call the Iraq occupation bogus and know perfectly well hes so full of shite his eyes have turned brown.
Hes cut their pay , sent them in inadequate Humvees, killed over 500 of them, wounded thousands of them for Nothing and any photo ops he does with soldiers is because the families of the soldiers and the soldiers themselves are speaking out in FORCE against that little POS in the white house..
BUSH HASNT SEEN ANYTHING YET..we are screaming now , you little turd! You will go down as the most hated president in the History of the United States!
http://www.mfso.org
http://www.bringthemhomenow.com

[jansu]

32. This is just a little different than the FREE SPEECH ZONES

that they force all people who show even a modest anti-Bush sign wherever he goes. I have many Republican friends and they are always sending me articles about how no one is against the war, against Bush etc. I always send them a couple of links, which tell the truth. Many of them are rethinking their support of Bush because of this. Truth to power!

What we need to do, is carry signs which on the top layer are Pro Bush, which we can rip off that bullshit and have the truth underneath and display them. Get all the old, gray haired people you can to do this. The American people will not stand for the police to keep arresting and harassing these people! Video and still camera's everywhere!

Dictator's always have the people cheering them! Well, he told us that he would like to be one.........guess wishes do come true!

[radfringe]

35. prior to a visit to another base

the powers that be were not impressed by the level of enthusiasm displayed by the troops

the troops were then led through "cheering drills" until a sufficient level of enthusiasm was reached