Important stuff at John Kerry’s Rapid Response Center (via LiberalOasis) :

BUSH THREATENED TO VETO $87 BILLION SUPPLEMENTAL OVER ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR RESERVISTS AND VETERANS. As part of the $87 billion emergency supplemental appropriations for security and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003, the senate passed an amendment that provided an additional $1.3 billion for improved medical benefits for reservists and veterans. OMB Director Josh Bolten wrote to the Congressional Appropriations’ Committees, stating, “The Administration strongly opposes these provisions, including senate provisions that would allocate an additional $1.3 billion for VA medical care and the provision that would expand benefits under the TRICARE Program. …If this provision is not removed, the President’s senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.” [Foxnews.com, 10/21/03, BVA legislative bulletin, 10/20/03]

BUSH THREATENED TO VETO $87 BILLION PACKAGE ON ISSUE OF ALLOCATING GRANTS OR LOANS TO IRAQIS. “Key senators reversed course yesterday and voted to make an $18.4 billion reconstruction package for Iraq entirely in the form of grants rather than loans, as House-senate negotiators worked their way through President Bush’s $87 billion request for military and rebuilding operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The 16 to 13 vote represented a significant victory for Bush, who had threatened to veto the bill if Congress insisted on making Iraq repay some of the money.” [Wash Post, 10/30/03]

I wonder if any of the media whores will ask Bush why he opposed funding our troops while we were at war?

So lemme get this straight. It’s okay for Bush to oppose the $87 billion based on some ideological differences he has over the details, but when John Kerry appeared on the senate floor to carefully explain his stance on the war funding issue and offer his own amendment that would pay for the appropriation rather than tack it onto the budget deficit, he’s tarred as a flip-flopper who hates the troops??? Too bad we don’t have a sound clip of Bush saying “I twice threatened to veto the $87 billion before I trumpeted it”. Maybe then we’d get the press’s attention.