Is this why Bush wants Dean???

[Taeger]

I like Howard Dean, but there is something in his record that makes me think that he wouldn't be a great opponent for Bush.

Denver Post on Dean's skiing days

Yes, I know this article is written from a biased point of view. They are Dean bashing. But the basic facts are hard to digest.

We all know that Dean cruised the slopes as a youth. But he got a military deferment for lower back pain. I don't think that would hinder someone from skiing. But it also says that he poured concrete on the side.

If you've ever poured concrete, you know it's one of the most back-breaking things you can do. You could do a small pad without straining your back. But anything more than that, and you are really getting a lower back workout.

So here is a serious question. Is this true??? If so, did Dean just drive the truck? If they're saying that he actually WORKED regular concrete pours (driveways, etc...) than I find this hard to stomach.

If this is true, than Dean has a draft dodging problem just like the president. If he does, he could not POSSIBLY be on the ticket. It's the perfect tool for the Republicans to diffuse Bush's AWOL issue.

I believe that Dean needs to answer the issue to go any further. We all appreciate Dean's contributions. He was out railing against President Bush shortly after he was elected. He has helped the other candidates IMMENSELY. But if this is true, he cannot be on the ticket.

[LuminousX]

1. Yeah, Geez... three hundredth time this has been raised?

Between this and Kerry's S&B...

[Cuban_Liberal]

2. He's repeatedly answered the question.

This is a huge non-issue. As a former serviceman myself, I wouldn't want to put my life in the hands of someone who the draft board didn't classify 1-A. Would anyone want to be in the middle of a firefight with a guy whose lumbago just kicked in? It's that simple, really.

[deutsey]

3. From what I understand

Dean got a medical deferral from the Army. From what I also understand, lots of guys were hoping for such a deferral, some even going so far to increase their blood pressure.

[King of New Orleans]

4. article wasn't bad

It's pretty clear that it was the army approved physician that clasified him 1Y, no special strings we're pulled. I would expect it wuld make it harder to attack Bush's service record (although his evasiveness and probable outright lying are an issue too)

As for the rest of the article, if I had been employeeing ski bums as dishwashers or concrete pourers I reckon I would have been shocked to see them 25 years later running for President of the U.S.A.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

19. no special strings, except for the fact Dean produced his own X-Rays

from his family doctor. But that's a minor point of this story which, on its face, makes Dean look questionable.

[JaneQPublic]

5. That same year, Kerry was publicly protesting the war

According to the article: "That same year, Kerry, already a war hero, testified in Congress on behalf of veterans against the Vietnam War."

So by staying out of the service, Dean was simply heeding Kerry's testimony about the Vietnam War.

[HFishbine]

6. Let's see

A medical deferment vs. an unaccounted for year in the Reserves, and that's going to be enough to take the AWOL issue off the table? Okee dokie.

Let's not forget what else will be off the table should Edwards or Kerry win the nomination:

- No Child Left Behind (Kerry and Edwards voted for it)
- USA Patriot Act (Kerry and Edwards voted for it)
- Invasion of Iraq (Kerry and Edwards voted for it)
- Deficit spending (Kerry and Edwards voted for it)

I get the picture now. We'll mitigate any of the important Bush failings so that we can pursue the spurious.

[HereSince1628]

7. Joe Namath...deferred for bad knees...but played NFL football

I guess the Army didn't want to brace and tape him up before every patrol...

There are literally tens of thousands of examples of these sorts of things...

[jansu]

8. How about flat feet?

There are many reasons that the draft boards gave deferments from the draft. Flat feet, deafness in one ear, look all the "things" which keep you out. Does this keep you from doing other things in life? My husband has a bad back, which came about from his military service. He has worked every single day in concrete. There are days when it is very sore, but most days it is okay. He goes skiing and plays all sports.

This is such a non-issue!

That is NOT a draft dodging problem! Even if he sought it, that was what many young men did. Either through medical, or college, or marrying and having children.

Bush did dodge the draft, by using his families political ties to get himself into the Texas Air National Guard ahead of hundreds of others. That happened with many "rich" boys. But, after swearing an oath, he broke that oath, by being AWOL and a DESERTER!

AWOL is without leave for up to 30 days, after that you are a deserter. But, you can be a deserter after one day, if you leave without any intention to return to your duty.

[TexasSissy]

9. I'm not Dean supporter, but this is REALLY old news. Clark brought it up.

[MercutioATC]

10. I just want it realized that if he was skiing or working and his back

problem became an issue, he'd just stop. If it happened in war, he (and many others) could die. THAT'S why the military has rules about medical conditions.

Dean told the truth about his medical condition and was granted a medical deferrment (NOT medically disqualified). Had he lied and had a back issue in the field that resulted in the deaths of other soldiers, would that have been better?

This is STILL an issue that, if they attempt to raise it, we could easily counter. Besides, do you think Bush wants attention drawn to Vietnam-era service records?

[NNN0LHI]

12. "do you think Bush wants attention drawn to Vietnam-era service records?"

Kind of like if you don't talk about this we won't talk about you being AWOL? I am not sure if this is an issue I want to give Bush a break on as he is landing on aircraft carriers?

Don

[joshcryer]

13. Heh, Dean is a doctor... you'd think he'd know a thing or two...

...about medicine. He could quite easily counter Bush AWOL vs. Dean back problem.

[NNN0LHI]

14. Then why has he never said a word about Bush's service record? n/t

[MercutioATC]

16. As far as I've seen, it's not a definite AWOL case. It's smart to know

the facts before making accusations. How "tinfoil hat" would it look to accuse Bush of AWOL and have the TANG say that it wasn't AWOL at all.

Even suggesting that he "dodged" by applying to the TANG is an insult to National Guard members. This is dangerous territory and I think Dean's been smart about it.

[MercutioATC]

15. Better than giving him a break on the war, education and civil liberties.

IWR

NCLB

Patriot Act

...I can just see Bush thanking the Dem candidate for "all his support during this time of difficult decisions". YOU give me a way to combat that.

Dean, Clark, Kucinich and Sharpton are the only candidates immune from this issue and I think it's a HUGE one.

[NNN0LHI]

17. Most voters don't even know what IWR, NCLB, and the Patriot Act are

They do on the other hand know what landing on aircraft carriers is.

Don

[MercutioATC]

18. Well, most know we're losing a soldier a day...

most know their schools have been asking for a lot of levies lately...

The candidates who supported the legislation that made all this happen will have a hard time taking Bush to task on these issues when all he has to say is "You voted for it".

[CWebster]

11. As well As the rest of his generation who protested an unjust war

causing unneccessary human suffering and bloodshed--unlike Kerry who volunteered to participate.

That war was wrong. This war on Iraq is wrong, yet Kerry is out there swaggering around around like it is a good and honorable thing. He may be fishing for a Republican vote who puts such stock in things like Reagan's Hollywood version of war starring the Duke, but not me, he isn't fooling me.