Did John King say what I thought he said?

[ewagner]

Left the telephone and ran by the TV and John King on CNN was reporting that Dubya has been:

1. Sending private, handwritten notes to family members of military personnel killed in Iraq.

2. Meeting privately with family members of slain military personnel when he visits military bases.

He also said that "White House sources" point to this as an example of how the pResident doesn't want to expose families to publicity (or doesn't want the spotlight to be on him.)

Does anybody really believe this?

Did anybody else see it?

[Walt Starr]

1. Until I see confirmation, I consider it more of the same old propoganda

I discount everything I hear on U.S. news until I see it for myself or get some good confirmation from international sources.

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. I don't believe it.

It's not part of his character to be compassionate.

[Brotherjohn]

3. If this is true, it's a recent invention to counter the impression that...

... Bush doesn't care about the troops.

After all, if it's so "private" and he doesn't want "the spotlight to be on him", then why have "White House sources" revealed it?

[gasperc]

4. shall we contact some of the family members

this can be easily proved or dis-proved

[ewagner]

Don't know how to go about it

but I sure would like to know if this is more BS coming from the WH or if its something they are going to "sucker punch" the Dem candidates with.

[NNN0LHI]

14. I would highly suggest against it n/t

[Skittles]

16. correct

if anyone has the right to be outraged it would be those families. Let them speak; do not ask them.

[July]

5. The family of a D.C. soldier killed in Iraq didn't get a note

This was in an article I read here at D.U. (anyone know where it came from). Apparently, they were upset that their soldier didn't get recognition from Bush, even though he was from D.C., and someone in the family said they hadn't even received a message from Bush.

Anybody able to provide a link?

[IndianaGreen]

7. They didn't get a visit either

but they were African-Americans.

[GainesT1958]

6. I think that Dub actually did this just once...

When he visited Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C., earlier this year. But that's the ONLY time I've heard of his doing so. Funny, now that he's come under fire for blithely, regularly ignoring returning war dead and their memorial services, and for not even chosing to ACKNOWLEDGE them publicly, he starts to say this on Veterans' Day. What a hypocrite--and typcial of "Mr. AWOL", too!:mad:

B-)

[Orangepeel]

8. why wouldn't he?

I don't find this unbelievable or surprising. He's callous and insensitive, but these actions seem like a no-brainer politically.

He probably uses a secretary to do the actual writing, but even he he doesn't, it isn't like he has much else to do except let Rove run the country and show up at photo ops.

[maha]

9. It's possible

... the White House probably sends a boilerplate letter with Dubya's scanned in signature on it to the families of slain soldiers. I don't believe for a minute that Dubya bothers to even read these little missives, however.

[Donna Zen]

11. Ah_Maha writes my thoughts

Yes, someone probably has done some of this. But personal? Well, let's start by assuming that one would have to a person, not some creepy lizard king.

So why doesn't junior have an upper lip?

[blm]

10. Unfortunately, I believe it.

I think he has done this to a certain extent, at a minimal requirement level.

They have shaped another image more quietly to hit the Dem nominee with in 2004. They intend to make that nominee appear as crass they can in his criticisms.

Did anyone REALLY believe that the media was going to be on our side?

[eleny]

13. The sad thing is...

that the families of slain and wounded soldiers know the real truth of how much or how little effort * put forth. I doubt they would speak out in great numbers. Remember that dad who early on spoke out on the news showing his sons pic and speaking to Bush as he held up the photo? He said that * killed his son. I wonder if he ever got a visit or a phone call?

[blm]

23. exactly...but the media will focus on those who met with Bush.

No doubt Bush prayed with them and it was a rapturous moment.

I can hear it now.

[Donna Zen]

20. From the blog

At Clark Headquarters we were watching the Veteran's Day festivities at Arlington National Cemetery on television. The camera gets a shot of George W. Bush. He's got his hand over his heart and is chatting with the guy next to him through the whole thing. It was same kind of whisper you use in church. It was unbelievable. This while the Old Guard that guards the tomb of the unknown soldier is being deployed for the first time since Vietnam.

John King...calling John King...

I would think the only way to counter bunny pants is to nominate someone with national security credentials. Too simple?

[blm]

24. I agree. Anyone who thinks the military image WON'T be a big issue

is in a dreamworld. Bush can have an image CREATED for him. A Democrat has to have one he EARNED all by himself.

[Lindacooks]

12. Oh please

that chimp never does ANYTHING in private that would make him look good to the sheeple. If he's meeting with any bereaved family members, it would only be if they signed waivers allowing their image to be broadcast around the country.

[Guaranteed]

15. Hit him with the benefit cuts.

He can't spin that.

[Kahuna]

17. I don't believe it.

Knowing bush, he may have done it ONCE, just so he could say he's been doing it. King just never learns. Seems he would have learned after the Jessica Lynch debacle.

[Minstrel Boy]

18. He did it SO it could be leaked

to score political points and silence critics.

[DancingBear]

19. Absolutely

The son of a bitch leaks a "compassion" story on Veterans Day. Do we have any footage of * at funerals? Hell, no. If this was SOP for * it would be all over Hannity et al. - there would probably be a red, white and blue "Funeral Accomplished" banner up as well, which the White House would later say the dead soldiers mother wanted put up.

[Neecy]

21. actions speak louder than words

Whatever Rove leaks about the chimp's alleged 'compassion', the American public knows exactly what the true picture is. They see this 'compassionate' American pResident flying around attending fatcat fundraisers and golfing while their sons and daughters are under fire and being slaughtered in Iraq. They know that the only 'sacrifice' is coming from the middle and working classes while the rich hang on to their massive tax cuts. They see that this war will drag on without end, but was started on the basis of outright lies.

Nobody is fooled by these crocodile tears.

[grasswire]

22. How hard can it be...

....to sign one or two letters a day? (If he signs them at all -- the autopen could be generating these.)

And it is true that he did visit with some family members privately.

When he spends as much time on veterans as he does on his jogging time, I'll be impressed.

He looks like hell today, btw.

[Drifter]

25. And if you ask every family of ...

a fallen soldier, they will assume that AWOL has visited other families.

You can bet if AWOL visited anyone (and did not get a 6 figure donation), he is going to make sure it leads the 6 O'clock news.

Cheers
Drifter