Changes

In September, 2004, the presidential campaign between George W. Bush and [[John Kerry]] was in its final months.  Part of American politics was to issue what is called an "October surprise", in effect a last-minute effort by the opposition aimed at discrediting the leading candidate to the point that he loses the election.  On September 8, 2004, CBS News broadcast ''60 Minutes Wednesday'', with a lead-in segment by Dan Rather on newly disclosed documents which indicated Bush may have shirked his duties while in service with the Texas Air National Guard:

In September, 2004, the presidential campaign between George W. Bush and [[John Kerry]] was in its final months.  Part of American politics was to issue what is called an "October surprise", in effect a last-minute effort by the opposition aimed at discrediting the leading candidate to the point that he loses the election.  On September 8, 2004, CBS News broadcast ''60 Minutes Wednesday'', with a lead-in segment by Dan Rather on newly disclosed documents which indicated Bush may have shirked his duties while in service with the Texas Air National Guard:

:''"The military records of the two men running for president have become part of the political arsenal in this campaign – a tool for building up, or blowing up, each candidate’s credibility as America's next commander-in-chief."''

:''"The military records of the two men running for president have become part of the political arsenal in this campaign – a tool for building up, or blowing up, each candidate’s credibility as America's next commander-in-chief."''

:''"While Sen. Kerry has been targeted for what he did in Vietnam, President Bush has been criticized for avoiding Vietnam by landing a spot in the Texas Air National Guard - and then failing to meet some of his obligations."''  

 

:''"While Sen. Kerry has been targeted for what he did in Vietnam, President Bush has been criticized for avoiding Vietnam by landing a spot in the Texas Air National Guard - and then failing to meet some of his obligations."''

 

:''"Did then-Lt. Bush fulfill all of his military obligations? And just how did he land that spot in the National Guard in the first place? Correspondent Dan Rather has new information on the president’s military service – and the first-ever interview with the man who says he pulled strings to get young George W. Bush into the Texas Air National Guard."'' <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040909014043/https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/08/60II/main641984.shtml New Questions On Bush Guard Duty], [[CBS News]], Original report</ref>

:''"Did then-Lt. Bush fulfill all of his military obligations? And just how did he land that spot in the National Guard in the first place? Correspondent Dan Rather has new information on the president’s military service – and the first-ever interview with the man who says he pulled strings to get young George W. Bush into the Texas Air National Guard."'' <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040909014043/https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/08/60II/main641984.shtml New Questions On Bush Guard Duty], [[CBS News]], Original report</ref>