ABC's John Berman Suggests Palin Politicizing Son's Iraq Service

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John Berman, ABC, On Thursday's "Good Morning America," reporter John Berman raised the issue of whether Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was politicizing her son's military service. Observing that Governor Palin will be giving a speech on September 11 at a deployment ceremony to send her son off to Iraq, Berman critiqued, "And it [the speech] will be open to television cameras. It's such a drastic difference from the way her own running mate John McCain handled his own son's deployment."

A few seconds later, Berman again referenced the deviations between McCain's son Jimmy, also in the military, and Palin's child. "Jimmy's six-month deployment came and went with hardly any public notice. Why? Because John McCain never mentioned it on the stump." He added, "That stands in stark contrast to what Governor Sarah Palin told more than 40 million viewers about her son during the Republican convention last week."

Berman continued to make his point clear by citing John Nagl, a senior fellow at the Center for New America Security. He asserted that the Alaska governor's frequent references to her son's deployment date "impose, conceivably, some risks on the soldier and the unit." The ABC journalist went on to draw contrasts between Beau Biden, son of Democratic vice presidential candidate, and the Palins. (The younger Biden is also being sent to Iraq in the fall.)

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Berman insisted, "But many candidates say they don't want to politicize service and have held back on specifics like deployment dates because of safety concerns." Of course, a simple Google search finds many references to Beau Biden's deployment date: October 3, 2008. It seems a bit odd to suggest that speeches by a politician would encourage terrorists to take extra initiative.

A transcript of the segment, which aired at 7:05am on September 11, follows:

ROBIN ROBERTS: And Governor Palin is there in Alaska to attend a deployment ceremony for her son, Private First Class Track Palin, whose army unit is heading to Iraq. In this election, the issue of the Iraq War, a deeply personal one for both the Republican and the Democratic tickets. And our John Berman has more on that now. Good morning.

JOHN BERMAN: Good morning, Robin. You know, Sarah Palin won't just be attending that, she'll be giving a speech. And it will be open to television cameras. It's such a drastic difference from the way her own running mate John McCain handled his own son's deployment. And it's part of what makes this campaign so fascinating. Three out of the four candidates have sons headed to Iraq or have been there already. Private first class Track Palin. Captain Beau Biden. Both headed to Iraq in the next few weeks.

SENATOR JOE BIDEN [talking to troops]: If any of you get shipped back over, keep an eye out for my son, will you?

BERMAN: Marine Lance Corporal Jimmy McCain has been there already. Jimmy's six-month deployment came and went with hardly any public notice. Why? Because John McCain never mentioned it on the stump. Literally never. That stands in stark contrast to what Governor Sarah Palin told more than 40 million viewers about her son during the Republican convention last week.

GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN: One week from tomorrow, September 11th, he'll deploy to Iraq with the Army infantry in the service of his country.

JOHN NAGL (Senior fellow, Center for New American Security): It is the mark of an enthusiastic mother, I think, and a very proud mother. But it does impose, conceivably, some risks on the soldier and the unit.

BERMAN: There are no military restrictions about what family members can say about their kids. But many candidates say they don't want to politicize service and have held back on specifics like deployment dates because of safety concerns.

NAGL: There's always a risk when you talk about troop movements. There's a risk that terrorists could try to take advantage of the fact that they know when flights are leaving.

BERMAN: As for the children themselves, there are some rules. They're not supposed to discuss the details of their missions, which explains Beau Biden's coded speech at the Democratic convention.

BEAU BIDEN: But, because of other duties, it won't be possible for me to be here this fall, to stand by him, the way he stood by me. So, I have something to ask of you. Be there for my dad, like he was for me.

BERMAN: Military officials and analysts tell us the Palin and Biden kids will not get special treatment while overseas. But the one thing that will almost definitely change that is when someone wins the election. They say in this day and age, the military would almost definitely have to take into account the child of a president or vice president in service. Robin?

ROBERTS: Well, of course, we appreciate all of the young men and women who are going over and serving for us. All right, John. Thanks so much.

—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.


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Don't be a political papparazzi

JOHN NAGL . . . But it does impose, conceivably, some risks on the soldier and the unit.

Well, do your best not to have his whereabouts in Iraq printed in bold face above the fold on the front page of the NY Times, o-k?

risks and duty

well, let's see .. since Sarah Palin is gov. of Alaska and commander of the Alaskan national guard ... and Track Palin is in the Alaskan national guard .. so when the Alaskan national guard deploys to Iraq don't you think it is the gov.'s duty to be there ????????

never look a gift skunk in the tail ..

New Jersey Gov Corzone

New Jersey Gov Corzone speaks to National Guard before their deployment, June 2008: "It was great with the governor speaking and spending time with our families,"

Utah Lieutenant Governor Herbert spends time with members of the Utah National Guard before their deployment to Kuwait, Feb 2008.

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said it best at a deployment ceremony in Auburn, 28 Aug 2008. "We'll be there every day, praying for you. And we're going to be here to welcome each and every one of you home, safe and secure."

But, you can't do this if you're Sarah Palin, Gov of Alaska, right?

___________________________________ 

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber

TnT... Excellent points

TnT...

Excellent points you make...

No bias or hypocrisy in the msm now is there...

Good job, I sure thank you for these examples.

...of course we all know the msm will intentionally ignore this...without a backward glance.

It makes me furious, this has to be bitter-sweet for her in the first place, not an easy thing to do...as a mother with a son...I would find it a difficult job...msnbc just showed a few seconds of her speech...they don't want to go to far now do they. 

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

ROBERTS: Well, of course,

ROBERTS: Well, of course, we appreciate all of the young men and women who are going over and serving for us.

'nuff said.

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

Okay, so we don't know enough about her...

... but in her "introductory" speech she gave out TMI.

Gotcha.

As an aside, I heard a report on the radio this AM about a new "secret" anti-terrorism tactic. Don't remember the specifics, but I do remember thinking, "well, it's not a secret anymore!"

Good old MSM... they can always be counted on to talk out of both sides of their mouth... both sides being "left" and "lefter."

 

"... smells like... victory." - Robert Duvall

Only one problem here, Scott...

Only one problem here, Scott... you noted:  

On Thursday's "Good Morning America," reporter John Berman raised the issue ..

Obviously, instead of "reporter," you meant, "pundit, or perhaps "analyst", or perhaps "Democrat strategist". "Reporter" would imply that he is one who reports the news - not creates his own view of the news  - if there actually was any news here. (;~> gary

-- remembering how the MSM previoulsy politicized that certain supporters of the war in Iraq did not have children serving duty --

Big difference here!

There's another big difference here as well.  Sarah's son is going there as a regular young "grunt", into the fray........Biden's little boy is going as an attorney!!!!!  Probably the biggest threat l'il Beau will face is a paper cut!!   God Bless all that serve, but some face more peril than others.

What Did Kerry Do?

I guess John Kerry did not politicize his military service?

The point Palin was making is that she is PROUD of out troops. That differs for the position of many Democrats.

Give me a break!

Is this the best you media maggots can do today? Go paint lipstick on a pig or something!

So Governor Palin is giving a speech! She's running for vice president, that's what candidates do!

When the governor was introduced to the american people she chose to introduce her family and since she was proud of her son, she introduced him as a soldier. The idea that she is somehow endangering him is totally absurd. No mother is going to risk her sons life unnecessarily.  That's a real stretch for Berman to make.

 

Faux concern

"There's a risk that terrorists could try to take advantage of the fact that they know when flights are leaving."

Thank you for you faux concern but most reasonable people understand that there is very little chance that a terrorist will attack a plane full of well armed, highly trained American troops as that would be instant suicide for said terrorist. What most politicians ARE afraid of are the disgusting displays that LIBERALS put on every time a troop deployment occurs. I have NO doubt that the lunatics of the left will be protesting Sarah and her son during the speech and the airport where that flight will originate.

Obama: My job is above my pay grade

....So now they slam her for

....So now they slam her for being a proud mother (who happens to be the Gov.) and giving a speach in support of her son?

John Berman, we see you as

John Berman, we see you as just a "tool" for the left.  I bet you didn't even write your copy.  

And just who is publicising

And just who is publicising the information endangering American troops? Just who is refusing to publicise any good reports about our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan? Can we get a cheer for the MSM? Nothing obscene now.

I don't think it's a bad

I don't think it's a bad thing that she mentioned the sun in her speech.

But a public ceremony to send off her son? That sounds like using his deployment for her gain.

Her son is a member of the

Her son is a member of the STRYKER unit assigned to Alaska.  By all accounts it was a farewell to the unit as a deploys from Alaska.

I have never had a politician attend a deployment ceremony for one of my units.  Not saying it was a bad thing. 

 I once watched a mayor say farewell to the local National Guard unit from his town as it deployed to Iraq.  I personally thought that quite fitting since most of the soldiers were local cops, paramedics, and college students.

Not just her son

As Governor, she bid farewell and good luck to the entire unit.  I'm sure if her son wasn't apart of the unit, she still would have said a speech.

While stationed in Colorado, our Air Guard was deployed and the Governor didn't send them off.  A lot of the families took offense; it is custom, regardless of political party, to send the troops off with fanfare....as well as be there when they come back (which I don't think CO Gov did either!)

Alaska NG deployment

Wait just one darn moment: Can you imagine the outcry from MSM if this ceremony was not open to their cameras?

Beau Biden

The Fighting Litigators of the 527 Officer Corp. It makes the enemy cringe in anticipation of endless lawsuits . Their squadron symbol is a blood stained copy of the rules of habeus corpus. Even the generals weep when their briefs are filed. Sue on faithful litigators!