If Tom Harkin calls Dick Cheney a coward, and the media ignores it...

[Cocoa]

Does that make Cheney a brave man?

What's the excuse for not covering this? A senior senator who is not known for using inflammatory language calls the vice president a "coward" and it's not newsworthy?

[unfrigginreal]

1. It's unfrigginbelievable ain't it?

I have yet to hear one mention of it.

[Bluzmann57]

2. Prefer to think that it makes Cheyney

Persona non Grata. Hopefully our hometown paper will cover Senator Harkin's visit to West Liberty tonight. If Harkin calls Cheyney a coward tonight, I think they will mention it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Details please?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Harkin calls Cheney a 'coward' and criticizes 'backdoor draft'

Sen. Tom Harkin called Vice President Dick Cheney a "coward" for avoiding service in Vietnam and called on President Bush to end the "backdoor draft." The Iowa Democrat was responding Friday to the call-up of a Des Moines police officer who has already completed his eight-year military commitment.

<snip>

Harkin, who served as a jet pilot in the Navy, said the exemption wasn't intended for situations like the war in Iraq. He said first responders like Nydam are needed to protect the community.

"The part of the U.S. code that provides for this anticipates major wars, major national emergencies," Harkin said. "That is not what we're confronting right now. You think about using this law only in (extreme cases), only when we're really in dire, dire need." Harkin also shot back at Cheney, who said in a visit to Iowa on Tuesday that presidential candidate John Kerry lacks a basic understanding of the war on terrorism and cannot make America safer. He noted that Cheney had several student deferments that allowed him to skip serving in Vietnam.

"When I hear this coming from Dick Cheney, who was a coward, who would not serve during the Vietnam War, it makes my blood boil," Harkin said. "Those of us who served and those of us who went in the military don't like it when someone like a Dick Cheney comes out and he wants to be tough. Yeah, he'll be tough. He'll be tough with somebody else's blood, somebody else's kids. But not when it was his turn to go."
http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2004/08/14/news/breaking_news/0dff4c5470efba8a86256ef00074d537.txt

[democrat_patriot]

13. I saw this on my local news in Phoenix

I think it was the ABC affiliate. He was speaking outside.

[neoSattva]

4. Dems should turn the heat up on Cheney

And Tom Harkin started it for them. In the better late than never category, I'd love to hear Kerry come back on the sensitivity thing with something like ~
In spite of what Mr. Cheney says, it is absolutely essential that we be sensitive about how we wage war. The sensitive application of US power has been called for by every president in recent history, including Regan and Bush 41. The current president called for sensitivity in the war on terror just last week. Everyone understands that to go into Iraq and bomb mosques would be catastrophic to the mission, and would undermine our own homeland security. For anyone, especially vice president Cheney, to try to turn this into some sort of joke shows the shallowness of the thinking that goes on in the Bush administration. It is time for them to stop making snide remarks and start a real dialog about how to best deal with the situation we are in.

[NewJeffCT]

10. Agreed - Cheney is a weak point

This is a guy who has absolutely no respect for the military - "had other priorities" when it came to Vietnam, dissed them big time at his 2000 nomination acceptance speech (From Franken's "Lying Liars" book regarding the crosses at Arlington...that is insulting!)

[Demoiselle]

5. I was just about to post on the same topic...

If DUers want the details they can go to the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier online site (www.wcfcourier.com) and type three words into their archive search engine: coward - backdoor - draft. The comments came after a 26 year old Des Moine cop, already done with his eight-year Guard commitment was ordered back to serve in Iraq. Not only did Harken go on the attack.. but the Des Moines Police Chief called the military's treatment of the officer "EVIL!!"
We need to get some kind of echo chamber going, people. Even if Harkin is attacked for the words...the words, the IDEA , will be out there.

[peacetalksforall]

7. Something weird just happened...I scrolled down from the above

posting and saw the photo of DC and I had an immediate reaction of looking at the face behind the bush and fence at Dealey Plaza. It must be because of the greenery?

[goclark]

12. Huum,,where was Uncle Dick that Day?

Didn't I read a thread that talked about Poppy being on the knoll that day? I have read that Popppy is the only person alive that day that can't remember where he was when JFK was killed.

I bet they were in that crowd together!

I know that Babs took little Chimp to the event. Wonder why? They were Republicans coming to see a Democratic King come to town.

Something doesn't seem right.

Remember that Poppy and Cheney met in the WH the evening before 911.
What was the purpose of that meeting? Huuum

[Surf Cowboy]

15. Nah, 'ol Dick had

OTHER PRIORITIES!

[307 MMS]

8. Cheney

It'simple folks; Dick Cheney before he "dicks" you!

[newyawker99]

14. Hi 307 MMS!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[wndycty]

9. FOX32 in Chicago just teased it during their noon news.

:kick:

[wndycty]

11. They just played the footage of Harkin calling out Cheney. . .

. . .said Harken was responding to comments Cheney made. Very good. . .it got some coverage, not a lot but some.