IJ Reilly
Feb 11, 2004, 01:29 PM
It looks like the spin control machine is gearing up. I especially like McClelland's "don't call us, we'll call you" approach. The media is probably also impressed.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House, stung by election-year charges that President Bush (news - web sites) shirked Vietnam War-era military duties, accused critics on Wednesday of "trolling for trash" and ruled out the blanket release of medical or disciplinary records.
Bush said on Sunday he would make public records on his service, but critics said a release on Tuesday of pay and service records fell short of full disclosure.
"If there's new information that comes to light, that's relevant to the issue, we will let you know," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. He said Bush's comments on Sunday referred to the release of pay stubs or other records that could document his attendance and service.
McClellan said National Guard personnel were sending the president's entire file to the Pentagon (news - web sites), at the Defense Department's request, and the White House would also obtain the file. He gave no further information on the request.
But he bristled when asked whether Bush would release medical and disciplinary records of his service for the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, as some critics have urged.
"I think what you are seeing is gutter politics. Some are simply trolling for trash for political gain," McClellan said.
The White House had hoped its release on Tuesday of pay and service records would demonstrate that Bush had met his service obligations.
But those records also showed long absences during his final two years of service -- a period in which Bush worked for some time on a political campaign in Alabama. Democrats and other critics said the records were inadequate.
[...]
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=1&u=/nm/20040211/pl_nm/campaign_bush_dc
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House, stung by election-year charges that President Bush (news - web sites) shirked Vietnam War-era military duties, accused critics on Wednesday of "trolling for trash" and ruled out the blanket release of medical or disciplinary records.
Bush said on Sunday he would make public records on his service, but critics said a release on Tuesday of pay and service records fell short of full disclosure.
"If there's new information that comes to light, that's relevant to the issue, we will let you know," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. He said Bush's comments on Sunday referred to the release of pay stubs or other records that could document his attendance and service.
McClellan said National Guard personnel were sending the president's entire file to the Pentagon (news - web sites), at the Defense Department's request, and the White House would also obtain the file. He gave no further information on the request.
But he bristled when asked whether Bush would release medical and disciplinary records of his service for the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, as some critics have urged.
"I think what you are seeing is gutter politics. Some are simply trolling for trash for political gain," McClellan said.
The White House had hoped its release on Tuesday of pay and service records would demonstrate that Bush had met his service obligations.
But those records also showed long absences during his final two years of service -- a period in which Bush worked for some time on a political campaign in Alabama. Democrats and other critics said the records were inadequate.
[...]
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=1&u=/nm/20040211/pl_nm/campaign_bush_dc
