FAIR Action Alert! Bush's Kerry Comments Go Unchecked

[G_j]

Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting
Media analysis, critiques and activism

http://www.fair.org/activism/bush-kerry-afghanistan.html

ACTION ALERT:
Bush's Kerry Comments Go Unchecked

October 26, 2004

George W. Bush's new claims about Kerry "flip-flopping" on the war in
Afghanistan quickly moved yesterday from the campaign trail to the nightly
news. But some journalists who repeated Bush's charges made no effort to
examine the truth behind Bush's claims-- claims which turn out, like many
other Bush lines of attack, to be deceptive.

Bush charged that while Kerry now criticizes how the administration
managed the search for Osama bin Laden in Tora Bora, Kerry made comments
at the time that were much different. "In the fall of 2001," Bush
charged, "on national TV, he said this about Tora Bora: 'I think we've
been doing this pretty effectively and we should continue to do it that
way.' At the time, the senator said about Tora Bora, 'I think we've been
smart. I think the administration leadership has done it well, and we are
on the right track.'"

But Bush is taking Kerry's words grossly out of context. Both comments he
cited came from an appearance on CNN's Larry King Live (12/14/01). When a
viewer asked "why they don't use napalm or flamethrowers on those tunnels
and caves up there in Afghanistan," Kerry replied:

"Well, I think it depends on where you are tactically. They may well be
doing that at some point in time. But for the moment, what we are doing,
I think, is having its impact and it is the best way to protect our troops
and sort of minimalize the proximity, if you will. I think we have been
doing this pretty effectively and we should continue to do it that way."

In other words, Kerry was suggesting that napalm and flamethrowers might
be ill-suited for the mission to find Osama bin Laden.

Bush is incorrect in saying that the other quote was "about Tora Bora";
in fact, that comment came in response to this question from host Larry
King: "Senator Kerry-- and this is for all of you-- how goes it so far in
Afghanistan, in your opinion?" A moment's thought reveals the absurdity
of comparing one assessment of the situation in Afghanistan-- made shortly
after the capture of Kabul, when it was believed that bin Laden was
surrounded and would soon be captured-- with an assessment made later,
after bin Laden had slipped away to parts unknown.

Unfortunately, some journalists covering the Bush campaign appearance
passed along his allegations, but failed to inform viewers about their
accuracy. CNN's John King (10/25/04) talked up the Bush campaign
strategy, noting that "another part of their strategy to keep voters
moving from Bush to Kerry is to make the case that Senator Kerry has been
inconsistent on Iraq." As evidence, King explained that "as part of that
message today, one of Senator Kerry's arguments on the campaign trail has
been that the United States military let Osama bin Laden away at Tora Bora
-- let him escape from Tora Bora, Afghanistan. Senator Kerry says that is
proof that Mr. Bush has mismanaged the war on terrorism. President Bush
today in his speech is quoting something very different Senator Kerry said
back in the fall of 2001." He then quoted from Bush's speech, but failed
to provide the context of Kerry's statements, made on his own network.

NBC Nightly News correspondent David Gregory (10/25/04) also failed to
challenge Bush's claims, opting instead to explain Bush's strategy to NBC
viewers: "The president also took aim today at one of Kerry's main
attacks, that the administration let Osama bin Laden get away during the
war in Afghanistan. Today, the Bush campaign tracked down an interview
Kerry gave at the time, praising the effort to find bin Laden at Tora
Bora. The president quoted Kerry's words." Unfortunately, Gregory did not
compare Bush's description of Kerry's words with Kerry's actual remarks.


ACTION: Please contact CNN and NBC News and remind them how critical it is
to check the accuracy of charges made in the closing days of the
presidential campaign.

CONTACT:

CNN, Wolf Blitzer Reports
mailto:[e-mail]

NBC Nightly News
mailto:[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]

As always, please remember that your comments have more impact if you
maintain a polite tone. Please send a copy of your correspondence to
[e-mail].

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[bubbismith]

1. Got it, done!

[DeepModem Mom]

4. Hi, bubbismith -- thanks, and welcome to DU!

[clydefrand]

2. I have done it!

[G_j]

3. kick

[Dem2theMax]

5. If you read this, please kick it for the day crew. Thanks!

:kick:

[LittleClarkie]

6. Done and done

Sent two off, actually. One for the munitions, and one for this. Hope it helps.

[Hello_Kitty]

7. Emails sent. n/t