Did Bush Threaten to Veto $87 Billion if His Base were taxed?

[NAO]

Did George Bush threaten to veto one of the bills providing $87 billion for our troops if would have meant raising taxes on his base? If he did, is this a documented matter of public record?

If this is true, and a matter of public record, this would seem like a very devastating indictment of Bush engaging in "political pandering" - the latest accusation he has leveled against Kerry.

Bush leveled this accusation against Kerry in the debates, and his new stump includes it also. Bush charges that Kerry voted against the $87 billion "to shore up his base against anti-war Democrat Howard Dean". I am aware of the factors in Kerry's vote, but I am now wondering if Bush did not do exactly what he has accused Kerry of doing.

Did Bush threaten to veto the bill to support our troops while they were in harms way if it would have involved a tax increase? If he did, why has this not been reported by the media or utilized by Kerry on the stump? This would make a fantastic ad.

[NMDemDist2]

1. yes

that is all

[NAO]

7. If that is true, why is Kerry letting Bush get away...

...with accusing him of political pandering? Bush has this horrific new stump that is getting played every 15min on CNN Headline, where Bush says something like,

"Kerry voted against funding our troops for political pandering, even while our troops were in harm's way!!" Crowd yells, BOOOOOOO.

From a perception standpoint, it's an EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE piece. But if Bush is actually guilty of this, it should be in EVERY KERRY and EVERY EDWARDS stump speech from now until election day, and it should be detailed in press releases, and email and fax blasted...

[w13rd0]

2. Ok...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54597-2004Sep1.html

Kerry voted for an alternative version of the bill that would have funded some of the spending by raising taxes on incomes greater than $312,000. For his part, Bush had vowed to veto a version of the bill that passed that would have converted half of the Iraq rebuilding plan into a loan.

[KellyPaDem]

3. he also threatened to veto it if ....

they raised benefits for reservist.

[JohnnyCougar]

4. Yes, he did, and...

Why Kerry hasn't made an issue out of this is beyond me. :shrug: I suppose it's a moot point by now though.

[noahmijo]

5. Bush did far worse than what he accuses Kerry of doing

Kerry voted FOR a bill in which the $87 billion would've been a loan and the tax cut on those making over $400k would be repealed to pay for it.

Bush threatened to veto this bill.

So yes President Fuckwad put his base before our troops just like he always does.

The American Taliban controlled-congress voted down this bill I believe 51-47.

It was then that Kerry voted against the $87 billion in protest of the president's policies also knowing full well (and correctly) that not a cent would reach the troops.

[Amich]

6. so glad the *(^$^%*&( supports the troops

I think Kerry also need to hit home the amount * has cut from veterans. When over 16% coming back just from Iraq are filing claims. This doesn't include Afghanistan. Claims take up to a year now and with the * cuts to VA for 2005 they will take up to 2yrs.