CBS DOES IT AGAIN

WHIPPING UP A FRENZY AGAINST AN IMAGINARY DRAFT

I rarely, if ever, watch mainstream network news. But, as it happens, I was erroneously told that our gubernatorial debate was going to be on the local CBS station last night immediately after the news (it was actually on the PBS station.) So I happened to catch the tail-end of the CBS Evening News (Currently) with Dan Rather last night.

The "What Does It Mean to You" segment featured a woman and her children ("and they are not alone," according to Richard Schlesinger) who are so stupid that they are basing their vote on the rumor that Bush might re-instate the draft if re-elected. Actually, that's my interpretation. CBS seemed to consider them alert, rather than stupid, but what do you expect from a network that can't tell the difference between a 2004 Word document and a 1971 memo?

This is another low blow from the network that's becoming synonymous with political dirty trickery. It is irresponsible, as CBS made no effort to disabuse this deluded woman and her kids of the notion that Bush has a secret plan. No one told her that the bills to re-instate the draft in Congress are not only going nowhere, but every one of them is sponsored by a Democrat. No one told her that the President, Vice President, and everyone associated with the Administration have stated categorically that they have NO intention of doing any such thing.

Last week, Don Rumsfeld was on the Hill, and that very question came to him. He dismissed the whole idea as nonsense. There is "NO" truth to that rumor. We have plenty of people already in the military, are happy with our retention and recruitment rates, and don't want an army full of people put in there by compulsion.

Of course, that would play right into the hands of the Democrats--an unwilling army is one more easily pulled out of an unpopular war. So maybe this mom and her kids had better vote for Bush.

Because a vote for Kerry or for Democratic domination in the Congress is far more likely to achieve a draft than a vote for Bush.

Look at it this way, President Bush says he's not interested in doing this, and if there's one thing we know about President Bush, it's that he means what he says, no matter what anybody else wants him to do. And as for Kerry?

Well, Senator Kerry has already said he won't re-institute the draft--but as we well know, he can ALWAYS change HIS mind.