Ask Jim Bunning if h'e ever heard of Saddam. Time to put the old warhorse out to pasture.
"Bunning unaware of Iraq story
Soldiers balked at order, cited armor
By Tom Loftus
tloftus@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
By Keith Williams, The Courier-Journal
Sen. Jim Bunning answered reporters' questions. He said his opponent was spreading inaccurate rumors about his health.
U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning said yesterday that he was unaware of reports that a unit of Army Reserve soldiers in Iraq had refused an order to deliver fuel for reasons including that their trucks were lightly armored.
"I don't know anything about that," Bunning said during a news conference after a speech he gave to the Rotary Club of Louisville.
Bunning added that Congress had approved money to upgrade body and vehicle armor. "And I believe that has all been accomplished. And I don't know about your reservists," he said. "Unfortunately, we've had some reports, but I don't know the one you're specifically talking about."
When reporters told him that the unit's refusal was a national news story and involved a soldier from Louisville, Bunning said, "Let me explain something: I don't watch the national news, and I don't read the paper. I haven't done that for the last six weeks. I watch Fox News to get my information."
Told that Fox News broadcast the report, Bunning said, "Not the times I watched it. So the fact that somebody was from Louisville, I know about that."
Bunning's opponent in the Nov. 2 election, Democratic state Sen. Daniel Mongiardo, said Bunning's comment was "another indication of how he's just simply out of touch."
Asked what he knew about the reservist report, Mongiardo said, "I don't have all of the information, but I do know that that route was a very dangerous route, that that route was attacked 75 percent of the time and that they felt they were at risk of being attacked without the equipment they need."
At least 17 platoon members refused to transport supplies. Some of their families said commanders did not heed complaints that the unit was hauling contaminated fuel and that vehicles were in poor working order and not sufficiently armored, The Associated Press reported.
Bunning's remarks to reporters came after he spoke to the Rotary Club at the Galt House. He ended his speech trying to dispel rumors about his fitness for a second term and his intention to remain in office if elected.
"Well, take a look," he said. "I'm here. I'm functioning. I have no mental reservations about what I've said. My health is good. And I fully intend to run through the finish line on Nov. 2."
No second debate
In his speech, Bunning talked about Congress' accomplishments, including his support of the war and passage of the buyout for tobacco growers and Medicare prescription benefit.
Bunning said, "I have been to Iraq, and I can tell you first hand that our troops are doing a spectacular job over there under the harshest, harshest conditions you could imagine."
Three questions from the audience dealt with his decision to debate Mongiardo only once — a debate Bunning took part in via satellite because he was in Washington for Senate votes.
Bunning said that former U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford, a Democrat, declined to debate opponents in his re-election campaigns. "I don't have any time to debate Sen. Mongiardo. I have a campaign to run, and I'm trying to do that to the best of my ability."
Later yesterday at a news conference at Coleridge-Taylor Elementary School in Louisville, Mongiardo said both candidates were invited to debate on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday.
Mongiardo said he agreed, but Bunning refused. Betsy Fischer, executive producer of "Meet the Press," confirmed Bunning declined the invitation.
Mongiardo said Bunning's decision to not appear shows "he wants to hide from his record."
Mongiardo was in Louisville to release his plan to expand health care for children.
Late yesterday, Bunning's campaign manager, David Young, released a statement explaining Bunning's decision.
"The race is in Kentucky, not Washington, D.C. Instead, Sen. Bunning will be going to church with his family and he's also ramping up for his statewide victory 2004 bus tour next week of 25 counties," the statement said.
Dirty campaign alleged
Bunning told reporters after his speech that Mongiardo and Democrats are spreading inaccurate rumors about his health by using a "push poll."
In a push poll, voters are asked to take part in a poll, but the actual reason for the call is to plant an idea in their minds.
Bunning said 35 to 40 Kentuckians told his campaign they were contacted in the push poll, which he said asked, "Did you hear that Jim Bunning is mentally incompetent to run for the U.S. Senate?"
Bunning said this shows Mongiardo is running "about as dirty a campaign that I've ever been in. Unbelievably low."
Bunning's campaign did not return calls seeking further details about his allegation.
Mongiardo said his campaign is not doing such a poll, and he's unaware of any group that is.
"It very well may the dirtiest campaign he's been involved in," Mongiardo said. "But these allegations are yet another in a long list of false allegations."
Bunning was introduced to the Rotarians yesterday by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell. He said he agreed to introduce his fellow Republican, a former major league pitcher, to testify to his fitness for another six-year term.
McConnell said not to believe suggestions "that the tall right-hander is somehow not up to a full nine innings or is losing his stuff."
McConnell said, "I'm here today to tell you that the last thing you want to do is to turn this job over to some lefty who's been playing over in the minor leagues over in Frankfort." |
