(NYT) Kerry hits back at Ed Gillespie and White House

[DJcairo]

Republicans say Mr. Wilson is a partisan Democrat with ties to the presidential campaign of Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts and a desire to drive Mr. Bush from office. Mr. Wilson contributed $2,000 to Mr. Kerry's campaign and has said he might endorse him.

Mr. Wilson also contributed to both Mr. Bush and Al Gore in the 2000 election cycle. He has given money in the past to a variety of other candidates from both parties.

"Joe Wilson is not an apolitical person himself," said Ed Gillespie, the chairman of the Republican National Committee. "He's someone who feels passionately about politics, is a supporter of John Kerry's campaign, a maxed-out contributor, and wants to endorse him given the opportunity. He has spoken to a Win Without War rally, one of the most radical anti-Bush groups out there."

Mr. Kerry accused the White House of engaging in a pattern of "dissembling and dirty tricks" reminiscent of the Nixon administration. He said that efforts by Republicans to suggest that there was some link between Mr. Wilson's donation to the Kerry campaign and "the fact that someone in the White House chose to break the law, someone in the White House put at risk a C.I.A. agent, someone in the White House broke national security rules" amounted to "the most extraordinary reach I've ever seen in my life."

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/02/national/02LEAK.html?pagewanted=2

[helleborient]

1. Seeing how Kerry works through this...

Will be good vetting for what could happen further down the road.

Keep the screws on tight!

[chookie]

2. I need a Kerry person to help me with this

I recall a few months ago, that someone in a position like Wilson, who was having serious questions about the actions of the Bush administration in regards to Iraq, had publically declared his support of Kerry. I believe this person is in fact Wilson.

Not sure what the timing is though. Gee, I wonder if he stopped being a Bush supporter when he found out the yellowcake story was bogus, and yet was used by the Bush administration to lend credence to their call to war, or when he found out the adminstration tried to have his wife whacked. Gee, stuff like that can have you switching party affiliation pretty fast -- and I believe Wilson is not the only one of his kind, that decent traditional conservatives will turn their backs on Bush, who will be left with the supprt of only the 35% certifiable rightwing crazies in our country.

Kerry should be proud to have a man of this caliber support him.

Also -- when did Kerry start taking a harder line against the smirkistas and start questioning the war himself? Anyone have a timeline on that?

I speculate that Kerry knows who the leaker is, that Wilson told him, and that this has a LOT to do with the anger he expresses in public against Bush*

[DJcairo]

3. Wilson supports Kerry/Kerry spoke out when Bush abandoned UN process

Wilson has indeed said he would endorse Kerry and has donated to his campaign.

On your second question: October, IRW passes. Bush goes to UN and get a unanimous vote for inspections. Saddam agree, inspectors return in late November. In January, with the military build-up continuing, Bush asks for a second resolution to authorize force. The problem is the inspectors have found no smoking gun and the Iraqi's appear to be mostly coopoerating. January 23rd Kerry speaks and Georgetown University, "I say to the President, show respect for the process of international diplomacy because it is not only right, it can make America stronger - and show the world some appropriate patience in building a genuine coalition. Mr. President, do not rush to war."

Kerry also made this far-sighted comment that day, "The Bush Administration has a plan for waging war but no plan for winning the peace. It has invested mightily in the tools of destruction but meagerly in the tools of peaceful construction. It offers the peoples in the greater Middle East retribution and war but little hope for liberty and prosperity."

[sandnsea]

4. Rand Beers

He was Bush's counter-terrorism adviser, resigned in March 2003. He officially joined Kerry's team in June, I say officially because I have no idea whether there were communications before that. The Niger story came out shortly after that, if memory serves. Since I heard Wilson gave money to the Kerry campaign, I've kind of wondered whether this was all a 'co-incidence'.

[DJcairo]

5. Wilson is not an official of the Kerry campaign

but has advised Kerry from time to time. Rand Beers has been Kerry's main adviser on security issues. I believe this is alla coincidence however because it was the fact that the White House leaked the name of Wilson's wife that sparked the controversy. And, according to the WP, the fact that they were told by someone in the White House that the name was leaked to discredit Wilson. Kerry could not have engineered that if he tried.

[sandnsea]

6. Not what I said

Referring to how the Niger story got out in the first place. What the White House did with it after it got out is their problem. Kind of a 'bonus'. The Niger story came out and AFTERWARDS, Wilson said he was the Ambassador in question. How'd the Niger story get out in the first place? Maybe it was all Wilson, maybe not. That's all I'm saying.

[blm]

8. Kerry's been on smirk's case since he screwed up in Afghanistan

and the only Dem to back him up publically on that criticism was Al Gore. That was early 2002.

[blm]

7. oops...I missed this story.

Glad to see Gillespie got hit back.