The Bush Campaign Spin
Spin: The Bush campaign says a dental exam on the base proves he was there.
Truth: The dental record, which places Bush in Alabama in early 1973, completely contradicts statements from Bush's aides, particularly during the 2000 campaign, that immediately following the completion of the Blount campaign in November 1972, Bush returned to Houston. Moreover, the dental exam still does not prove Bush ever performed any paid duties while in Alabama, only that he went in for free dental care on one day. (Salon.com, Bushs service records: The score card, By Eric Boehlert, Feb. 13, 2004)
Spin: The Bush campaign says John B. Calhoun, an Atlanta resident who served in the Alabama Guard can verify his service.
Truth: Calhoun claims he clearly remembers Bush reporting for duty on weekends starting in the summer of 1972, apparently before Bush officially requested reassignment there. Calhoun explained that Bush signed into his office and mainly read training manuals and safety magazines, signing out at the end of each drilling day. Bush kept a low profile, Calhoun said, and sometimes ate lunch with Calhoun in the snack bar.
But there are some discrepancies in Calhoun's account: he claimed Bush turned up more often than was indicated in Bush's official pay records for the period. And many other veterans of the 187th do not recall seeing Bush on base. Paul Bishop, a retired Air Force colonel who says he never missed a weekend drill in 27 years with the 187th, told TIME the physical layout of the unit's hangar made it "virtually impossible" for Bush to have met with Calhoun and for none of the unit's 800 other reservists to have seen him.
(Time Magazine, How Well Did He Serve?: Bush said he reported for duty in Alabama, but even with the new documents, the evidence is thin February 23, 2004)
Spin: The Bush campaign points to then girlfriend Emily Marks Curtis hearing him say he was back in Montgomery to do his guard duty.
Truth: But Ms. Curtis also told reporters that she never actually saw Bush at Dannelly, neither did Joe Holcombe, who worked on the Senate campaign with Mr. Bush. (The New York Times, Seeking Memories of Bush At an Alabama Air Base, David Barstow, Feb. 13, 2004)
Spin: The Bush campaign says there are records that show service.
Truth: The documents are not signed by Bush's commanders or anyone else, but are simply a computer-generated overview of points earned. Once again, there's no paperwork from Alabama corresponding to the dates listed. (Salon.com, Bushs service records: The score card, By Eric Boehlert, Feb. 13, 2004)
Spin: The Bush campaign says one guards statement that he served with Bush proves his service.
Truth: Bad news: He served with Bush in 1970 and 1971. Nobody questions Bush's duty during those years. It's 1972 and 1973 that stand at the center of the controversy. (Salon.com, Bushs service records: The score card, By Eric Boehlert, Feb. 13, 2004)
