"The ads rely on a standard political technique: Scour your opponent's record for potentially embarrassing views; quote them out of context; seek plausible allies willing to lend authority to your attack; and don't be put off by your own shortcomings on the same issue. In this case, the Bush campaign seizes upon Mr. McCain's opposition to two or three breast-cancer research projects; it ignores his record in supporting many more of them; it bolsters its attack by persuading a well-known breast cancer survivor to narrate the ad; and it is unfazed by Mr. Bush's own lack of leadership on this disease, which kills more than 40,000 women annually.

"The ad says nothing about the reason for Mr. McCain's opposition to some projects: that they did not go through the normal appropriations review process. It says nothing about Mr. McCain's cosponsorship of Senate resolutions establishing National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, nor of some 10 other votes in favor of research funding over the past decade. It neglects to mention that in a national survey of breast cancer screenings in 1997, Texas ranked 41st in the nation; or that as governor Mr. Bush turned down a request for funds to improve that performance.

"Even when it turned out that Mr. McCain's sister is a breast-cancer survivor, Mr. Bush showed no sign of remorse: Far from pulling the ads, he remarked that this was all the more reason to attack Mr. McCain on the subject. But Geri Barish, the narrator of the ads, seems open to second thoughts. After it was revealed that she owes a salaried appointment to New York's Republican machine, which is firmly in the Bush camp, her credibility as an independent cancer activist suffered.

BACKING BUSH WAS BLUNDER--ACTIVIST. "The Long Island breast-cancer activist who appeared in George W. Bush's controversial attack ad against GOP rival John McCain yesterday said she's "sorry" she used the issue to play politics. Geri Barish's about-face came amid heavy criticism from other activists and a report in Mamm a magazine aimed at women with cancer that Bush is the most "vague" candidate on women's health....The article notes that the Texas governor's state has the biggest proportion of women who lack health insurance in the country it ranks 50th out of 50. Bush's home state also ranks 47th in state spending on health.

Barish an ally of Gov. Pataki, who heads Bush's New York campaign holds a $65,000-a-year patronage job through the pro-Bush Nassau County GOP. She has twice run for local office. Barish didn't return calls yesterday, but other breast-cancer advocates were livid at her ad, which attacks McCain for saying all research including studies conducted at Long Island's North Shore Hospital should pass the same scientific scrutiny before it's funded. "As far as I'm concerned, those ads have nothing to do with breast cancer and everything to do with the ugly side of politics," said Diane Sackett Nannery of Manorville, L.I., a breast-cancer survivor. "I agree with McCain. I want the National Institutes of Health to decide what's the best research. Fine if North Shore has a good, sound scientific proposal. But what if their research isn't in the right direction? What I want is a cure. I've been to too many funerals." Bush has insisted he has no regrets about running the ad and has rejected calls for an apology to McCain, whose sister Sandy McCain Morgan is a breast-cancer survivor and calls the charge against her brother "absurd." --NYP, 3/7/00

"Last Friday, McCain's nonstop chatter with reporters on the bus came to a halt when ABC's "World News Tonight" came on and the entire bus turned to see how the race was playing on TV. Bush was shown at a press conference at a breast cancer treatment facility in New York. When asked if he would have run his breast cancer ad had he known about Morgan's illness (which is in remission), Bush remarked, "All the more reason to remind him of what he said about the research that goes on here." Even ABC News' normally down-the-middle Dean Reynolds felt compelled to characterize the comments as "rather cold." A hush fell over the bus. McCain, gripping his seat, waved down the occasionally hotheaded Salter, who immediately began to boil. Take it easy, McCain's hand motions said; knowing that every reporter on the bus was studying his reaction, he stayed calm. Cindy McCain sat in shock. "Every time I think I've seen it all ...," she said, her words trailing off." --Jack Tapper, Salon

Photo by Wizard of Whimsy (c)2000

"Wednesday the Bush campaign started running ads in New York which accused McCain of opposing federal funding for breast cancer research in a New York hospital. In the interim Salon revealed that breast cancer is a subject close to McCain's heart and Friday the Associated Press discovered that Bush denied $40 million in funding for breast cancer screening while governor of Texas because "most of the money comes from the federal government." (Salon, 3/3) "The Texas Campaign for Women's' Health, a coalition of 50 local groups, estimates that 1.7 million women in the state are not covered. Women without health insurance are less likely to get checkups and screenings, said Peggy Romberg, executive director. Bush didn't support the group's request for $40 million in state funds for breast cancer exams, a program that had won the backing of the state health commission, said Romberg....At a campaign stop Friday at a breast cancer research center in New York, Bush said he hadn't provided funds for breast cancer research in Texas because 'most of the money comes from the federal government.'"--AP,3/3

"The latest misportrayal of McCain deserves more notice than it's getting, especially as a window on the man with the smirk whose weird, college boy mind-set led him to chuckle through a question and follow-up on the death penalty during the recent debate here.

"The breast cancer canard...is a direct Bush...fraudulant... operation. In a commercial that was followed by a personal appearance at a cancer center on Long Island, Bush uses a cancer survivor to charge McCain with fighting funds for breast cancer programs. With horror, she intones, ''That's shocking; America deserves better.'' The survivor, Geri Barish, doesn't disclose that she is a major crony of New York's top Bush-backer, Governor George Pataki. ["Barish, who draws a $65,000 salary from Nassau County to run a new cancer facility, is no stranger to politics. A critical letter she wrote to then-Rep. Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, was used against him by rival Republican Alfonse D'Amato in last year's Senate race." NYDN, 3/5/00]

"The truth is that McCain [,whose sister is a breast cancer survivor,] is a solid supporter of research and treatment programs for breast cancer, and always has been, especially when what's before him in Congress are the bills that actually produce the money as opposed to publicity stunts for the folks back home. What he opposes is pork-barrel. In this case, Bush [who, when initially asked by reporters at the conference, was unable to name a specific action he has done as Texas governor in support of the fight against breat cancer,] has seized on votes against amendments to extraneous legislation purporting to increase funding, usually with juicy allocation formulas that make the sponsoring senator look generous. These kinds of proposals are made only in the confident expectation that they will not become law.

"If what is involved is an actual appropriations bills for health programs, McCain is a reliable yes vote when the bills conform to congressional budget rules. The facts, however, are irelevant when Bush Rules are operating. So also is the more relevant fact that Texas is one of the most dangerous places for a woman to live. It ranks 50th in its percentage of women with health insurance; the figure of 21.9 percent without any coverage compares with 13.8 percent nationally. And one study found that nearly half the Texas women over 50 had not had a mammogram and breast exam in the last two years. Attacking someone on an issue where you are the bad guy has got to be a new low. The tactics used against [McCain] should be remembered as the year goes on; they were dirty and dishonest." --Thomas Oliphant, 3/5/00

Note. When Bush appeared at the N.Y. breast cancer conference with Governor Pataki, they were both wearing pink breast cancer ribbons. Bush said his appearance there was a welcome respite from his campaign activities. Unlike his past photo-ops where members of his team searched the audience for black children to sit on the stage with Bush, the breast cancer photo-op featured Bush seated with women. Perhaps the Texas governor could combine his photo-op themes next time by featuring Bush with black women seated behind him. Also, we will be looking for pink ribbons on Bush at future campaign stops outside of New York. --Politex, 3/5

George W. Bush thinks a concoction of french fries and cheese curds smothered in gravy is the Canadian Prime Minister. Is Bush really missing in action? Updated Texas Rankings Under Bush: 1st in Children without Health Insurance %...1st in Toxic Air Releases...1st in Smog Days (Houston)...1st in poorest counties(3)...3rd in Hunger %...5th in Highest Teen Birth Rate...41st in Breast Cancer Screenings...45th in Mothers Receiving Pre-Natal Care...46th in Public Libraries and Branches...46th in High School Completion Rate...46th in Water Resources Protection...47th in Delivery of Social Services...48th in Literacy...48th in Per Capita Funding for Public Health...48 in Best Place to Raise Children (29th before Bush)*...48th in Spending for Parks and Recreation...48th in Spending for the Arts...49th in Spending for the Environment...50th in Women with Health Insurance...50th in Teachers' Salaries plus Benefits... *Children's Rights Council. further documentation Only one accredited child-care center exists for every 2,637 children. A fourth of children still are not immunized by age 2. --Texas Freedom Network. Bush Watch is a non-advocacy site paid for by Politex, a non-affiliated U.S. citizen. Editorial Policy: All entries are dated and documented as needed. Text (c) Politex. Permission of author required for reprinting. Duration of working link not under our control. Updated daily at various times. Send all e-mail to Politex. Bush Watch has not reviewed all of the sites linked to our site and is not responsible for the content of any off-site pages or any other sites linked to our site. Your linking to any other off-site pages or other sites from our site is at your own risk. links