| | |
|
|  |
| Avery's
Campaign Journal In response to the harsh reaction from across the political spectrum to Sen. "Give 'Em Hell Zell" Miller's keynote address at the Republican National Convention, the Bush campaign backed away from Miller's attack on John Kerry, insisting that the "Duel Challenging" and "Anger Management Challenged" Democrat was a complete and total nut-job. And in the spirit of getting rid of bad rubbish, Zell and his wife were removed from the list of dignitaries who would be sitting in the First Family's box during the President's acceptance speech later in the evening. Scott Stanzel, a spokesman for the Bush campaign, said Miller was not in the box because "We don't need the guy anymore and frankly, he scares the children." The change was made only a few hours after Laura Bush said in an interview with NBC News "I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Zell Miller lays eggs and breathes fire. He even freaked George out -- and that's saying something." Miller was too busy hatching eggs to reply. It was in the same hall 12 years ago that Miller, then the respected conservative Democratic governor of Georgia, enthusiastically supported Bill Clinton and belittled President Bush's father as "a timid man who hears only the voices of caution and the status quo" and a "commander-in-chief [who] talks like Dirty Harry but acts like Barney Fife." Wednesday night, Miller wielded his own brand of flip flopping and delivered a fervent pro-Bush sermon that infuriated Democrats and left lots of Republicans unsettled but still happy to have used him. "You would figure a guy who's been around politics as long as the 'Creature from Zell' has would have figured that this was going to backfire and bite him in the ass. But that's the Democrats for you, even when they try and use hatchet job politics they fail miserably," said more than one giggling Republican. The Bush campaign stepped backed from Miller's comments after they were received with almost immediate criticism, including complaints from prominent Republicans like Sen. John McCain of Arizona. A senior White House official, speaking to reporters before Bush's address Thursday night, said, "Senator Miller was speaking on behalf of his whacked out self... But the main thing is that we got we wanted out of that Hela Monster and now we're throwing him back!" Sept 2 / 2004 |
|
|
