Bush Denounces 527s, Says Kerry 'Served Admirably'

Melanie Hunter | Deputy Managing Editor | Published: Aug 23, 2004

Bush Denounces 527s, Says Kerry 'Served Admirably'

(CNSNews.com) - President Bush, speaking at his ranch in Crawford, Texas on Monday, denounced all ads run by 527 groups, including the ads run by the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which attack Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's military record, saying "this kind of unregulated soft money is wrong for the process."

"I'm denouncing ... all the stuff being on TV, all the 527s. That's what I said," Bush said. He also called on Kerry to join him in "getting rid of all that soft money, not only on TV, but used for other purposes as well."

Bush said by signing the McCain/Feingold campaign reform bill, he thought "we'd gotten rid of that."

"I thought we were gonna once and for all get rid of the system where people could just pour tons of money in and not be held to account for the advertising....I'm disappointed with all those kinds of ads," Bush added.

The president also praised Kerry for having "served admirably" in the military.

"He ought to be proud of his record," Bush said.

"But the question is who best to lead the country in the war on terror, who can handle the responsibilities of the commander-in-chief, who's got a clearer vision of the risks that the country faces," he added.

See Related Stories:
New Kerry Ad Accuses Bush of Smearing Kerry (Aug. 23, 2004)
Kerry Files Complaint With FEC Against Swift Boat Veterans (Aug. 20, 2004)

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Bush Denounces 527s, Says Kerry 'Served Admirably'