New TV AD Demands Bush Release All Military Records Before First Presidential Debate
Bush has One Week to Honor the Promise Made on "Meet the Press" September 23, 2004
(AUSTIN, TEXAS) -- Texans for Truth will release a new TV ad Thursday calling on President Bush to immediately release all of his military records to the public before the first campaign debate with Democratic candidate John Kerry on September 30, 2004. As questions continue to linger over President George W. Bushs service record during the Vietnam War and the President dodges media requests for his full military records, the ad also connects Bushs behavior in the National Guard during Vietnam with the current deaths of National Guardsmen and women in Iraq today.
"Seven months ago, President Bush promised to release his service records, and hes yet to honor that commitment," said Glenn Smith of Texans for Truth. "The White House needs to stop delaying. The questions are simple: why did he fail to take his pilot's physical and did he fulfill his commitment to the guard? These are questions he can and should answer simply, directly and immediately. It only takes seven minutes to fill out the military records release form. Were giving him seven days."
On February 8, 2004, George W. Bush appeared on "Meet the Press" and told Tim Russert and the American people that he would, "Yes, absolutely," release his military records. Bush has yet to sign the legal consent form to release of his records and White House spokespeople continue to dodge reporter questions regarding Bushs service history.
"National Guard soldiers are fighting and dying honorably in Iraq today," continued Smith. "But George Bush walked away from the National Guard and the nation during the height of the Vietnam War."
The ad goes on to say, "His father got him into the guard and out of the guard. Mr. President, you owe our troops an explanation. You pledged to release all of your military records. But youve not signed the papers to do so. Sign them now. Keep your word. Choose honor."
Starting Monday, September 27 and ending Thursday, September 30, the day of the Presidential debate, the $100,000 ad buy will go up in the same markets as the first Texans for Truth, in cities that have sustained the highest losses in Iraq:
- Harrisburg, PN. 52 soldiers from Pennsylvania have lost their lives in Iraq.
- Columbus, OH. 33 soldiers from Ohio have lost their lives in Iraq.
- Detroit, MI. 30 soldiers from Michigan have lost their lives in Iraq.
- Portland, OR. 22 soldiers from Oregon have lost their lives in Iraq.
- Phoenix, AZ. 21 soldiers from Arizona have lost their lives in Iraq.
"President Bushs handling of his record in the Guard speaks volumes about his current leadership of this country," said Smith. "He asks our troops to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country: to fight and die in battle. Yet he will not even take the time to sign the document that will show America whether or not he fulfilled his duty to our military and our country."
On September 8, Texans for Truth released a television advertisement featuring former lieutenant colonel Bob Mintz saying he never saw Bush during the time the President says he served on a Montgomery, Alabama base for the Alabama Air National Guard, despite the fact that he was looking for Bush. The advertisement begins running Monday, September 13, 2004 in swing states that have sustained the highest losses of lives in Iraq. Following that ad, the group announced a $50,000 reward to anyone who can prove Bush fulfilled his drills and duties at the Montgomery, AL where he was assigned to serve between 1972-1973. No legitimate witnesses have come forward, just days before the offer is set to expire on September 30, 2004.
