Home > Bush Declines to Condemn Attack Ads on Kerry
President Bush praised John Kerry’s military service as honorable on Thursday but declined to condemn ads from Vietnam veterans who questioned the Massachusetts senator’s military record.
"Senator Kerry is justifiably proud of his record in Vietnam and he should be," Bush said on the CNN television talk show, "Larry King Live." He referred to Kerry’s Vietnam tour as "noble service."
A group calling itself Swift Boat Veterans for Truth has accused Kerry of misrepresenting his Vietnam War record. The group has released an ad and a book attacking the Democratic presidential candidate.
Their accusations are at odds with the glowing portrait of Kerry painted by the veterans who served with him when he was a Navy swift boat commander. Kerry was decorated with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a Republican who also served in Vietnam, has urged the White House to denounce the ads. Although McCain and Kerry are friends, McCain is supporting Bush’s re-election and campaigned with him this week.
While declining to condemn the ads, Bush said the broader issue was independent groups known as "527s" that fall outside the boundaries of campaign finance laws and can spend unlimited amounts of money on attack ads.
"They’ve said some bad things about me. I guess they’re saying bad things about him. And what I think we ought to do is not have them on the air," Bush said.
The Bush campaign has been upset by attack ads from liberal groups such as Moveon.org.
Also in the interview, the president defended his lengthy pause in a Florida classroom when he was first told of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
"Well, I had just been told by (White House Chief of Staff) Andrew Card that America was under attack. And I was collecting my thoughts," Bush said. "I think what’s important is how I reacted when I realized America was under attack. It didn’t take me long to figure out we were at war." (Reuters)