E.J Dionne: Yes, Mr. President, there are questions to be answered

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{snip}

Oh, I can hear the groaning: "But why are we still talking about Vietnam?" A fair question that has several compelling answers.


. . . please, none of this nonsense about how Kerry "opened the door" to the assault on his Vietnam years by highlighting his service at the Democratic convention. Nothing any candidate does should ever be seen as "opening the door" to lies about his past. Besides, Vietnam veterans with Republican ties were going after Kerry's war years long before the Democratic convention.

But most importantly, there is only one reason the story about Bush's choices during the Vietnam years persists. It's because the president won't give detailed answers to the direct questions posed by the Times story and other responsible media organizations, including The Boston Globe. Their questions never depended on the discredited CBS documents.

Bush could end this story now so we can get to the real issues of 2004. It would require only that the president take an hour or so with reporters to make clear what he did and did not do in the guard. He may have had good reasons for ducking that physical exam. Surely he can explain the gaps in his service and tell us honestly whether any pull was used to get him into the guard.

But a guy who is supposed to be so frank and direct turns remarkably Clin-tonian where the guard issue is concerned. "I met my requirements and was honorably discharged" is Bush's stock answer that does old Bill proud. And am I the only person exasperated by a double standard that saw everything Bill Clinton ever did in his life ("I didn't inhale") as fair game, but now insists that we shouldn't sully ourselves with any inconvenient questions about Bush's past?

Dan Rather has answered his critics. Now it is Bush's turn.

Full article: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002041285_dionne21.html

[Redbear]

1. Mr. Bush has about 1,000 question he needs to answer.

Starting with:

What have you done to find out who leaked the Plame info to Novak?

[seabeyond]

2. so frank and direct turns remarkably Clin-tonian

isnt this refreshing. yes i agree. no this person is not the only one

am I the only person exasperated by a double standard that saw everything Bill Clinton ever did in his life ("I didn't inhale") as fair game, but now insists that we shouldn't sully ourselves with any inconvenient questions about Bush's past?


enough is enough. and you think i am going to let rove win, all the moves he made to have the damn "forge" documents be the issue. if i allowed that, and shut up because he told me it was time to shut up, i would merely be one of the millions of little sheep that go around and say bbaaaaaah.

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3. .

:kick:

[spooky3]

4. EJ Dionne is a regular columnist at WaPo...and about the only

decent one they have.

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5. This is why this article struck me

I started my writing experience submitting letters to the Post, E.J. included. Dionne is the most grounded writer in the biz. He is constantly working to bring the debate back to the center of relevancy. I am gratified by his attention and view on this issue.

[buycitgo]

6. thanks for redoing this one.......saw it earlier, but couldn't find it

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7. Welcome

These questions shouldn't be allowed to fade into the obscurity of the media's attack on CBS as the White House hopes it will.

Change the subject when it comes around to Bush's credibility? Forget it! They can kiss my ass! Answer the questions Bush!