Or am I living under a rock? Maybe I was on May 15, 2006, when this article was published on the After Downing Street website, which became a hotspot for info about the fabulous John Conyers, and what is being done about the factual documents that prove that Bush and Cheney lied to the country about their intent for war. This article focuses on an interview with none other than one of Virginia's Democratic hopefuls, Mr. Harris Miller.How did he fare?
Come with me....
From the article:
During his presentation Harris Miller, who is challenging George Allen in the 06' Senate Race stated that President Bush lied about every reason he sent our troops into Iraq. Miller went on to say that Sen. George Allen has been nothing but a "rubber stamp" for all of the Bush Administration's reckless and failed policies.
Miller went on to say that he intentionally avoided military service during Vietnam and was an "anti-war activist" in the 60s.
Will he ever say that in public, folks? Maybe he will do the "pick and choose" where if he speaks at VCU to a group of anti war folks, he will admit that he said he was an anti-war activist. I have a feeling if he and Webb were to speak in front of a group of veterans, the whole "activist thing" would stay under wraps.
What did the journalist think?
When Miller was done speaking I asked him if he would clarify his position on the war. I added that I was a veteran of the Iraq war, shared with Miller some of my unfortunate experiences in Iraq, and told him that I "strongly support" Congressman John Murtha's Resolution. Miller went on to say that John Murtha is a good man, but he disagrees with his position on Iraq. It sounded a lot like what Vice President Cheney had said in response to Congressman Murtha's call for troop withdrawal.
Oh. OK, this journalist has gotten it down pat. I guess that subject is closed, huh?
I then told Harris Miller that I wanted to get "total clarity" on his position on the war. Because about 3 minutes prior he said President Bush "lied" about every reason our troops went to war in Iraq. I asked Harris Miller "Sir, you just said that our troops are in Iraq for lies, so do you think they should continue to stay, fight, and die for what you have described as lies?" Miller replied "I don't support any artificial timetable for troop withdrawal."
Sigh. I am so tired of this balls-less answer.
Oh but, remember how some people complained that James Webb, Virginia's next Senator, was too "irritated" with Harris Miller in their debate, and how James Webb "lost his cool and seemed frusturated?" Well who wouldn't be, with this kind of response to a VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION COMING FROM PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS?!?
I then asked Harris Miller if he would call President Bush a "liar" in public and on the campaign trail (being that this was more of a private meeting we were in). Miller had no response that I can recall. I actually felt that he was upset with me for asking the question (in my opinion).
Well, that's that. The author remarks in the very beginning about the small Miller crowd, and he basically endorses James Webb at the end of the article when he types:
I think it is really important for Democrats in Virginia to get out the vote for James Webb to defeat Harris Miller in the primary. Mr. Webb has been quite clear in his opposition to the war long before President Bush made the decision to invade Iraq. We need strong, dedicated, and willing leaders to be elected this November that will ultimately deal with the situation in Iraq and get our troops home. Not leaders who are going to dance around the issue in a weak manner just to get elected.
He then links to another article which also favors James Webb over other candidates, and this article is from the Democracy for America at Fairfax website which was last updated on 3/1/06. We may need to shoot over a few more emails...
Harris Miller
Harris Miller and James Webb have declared that they want to run against George Allen. First let+óGé¼Gäós look at Harris Miller. Miller has been president of the Information Technology Association of America. So far he is refusing to declare that we should withdraw from Iraq, much to the dismay of John Bruhns, Iraq Vet against the war. In fact I overheard Bruhns launch into a rant against Miller more than once at the showing of the Fallujah films in Falls Church a couple of weeks ago. As far as Miller+óGé¼Gäós stand on verified voting, by now it seems that he does not support it. He says he realizes it is important to a lot of people, but he won+óGé¼Gäót come out and say he will support it. Word has that he has said he is against it. And recently I heard someone who had seen Miller speak describe him as +óGé¼+ôvery unremarkable+óGé¼-¥.
James Webb
James Webb, former secretary of the Navy under Reagan, also just recently entered the race as a Democratic nominee to run against George Allen. His has stellar credentials. He is an author who has written several books and he is also an ex-marine. Word has it that he is a man of principle and a real fighter. He was against the invasion of Iraq. There had been some speculation about his stand on reproductive rights, but he recently came out as pro choice.
Alright. We can win, we all know that. Let's get out there and do this thing!!!!
"In response to my questions, Mrs. Miller first said that Harris was not among those Democrats who supported the invasion of Iraq and the notion that the U.S. has license to impose "regime change" on countries that have not attacked us. She then conceded that Harris agreed with Colin Powell's case for war. I see quite a contradiction there. In contrast, Webb's essay, published by the Post in the fall of '02 voiced clear and unambiguous opposition to invasion and occupation. This alone should make Webb the superior candidate on the basis his greater honesty, better judgment and stronger backbone in taking what was clearly a minority position among people of his background and experience as war-fervor was building.
"Mrs. Harris tried to flatter me saying I was a 'visionary' for not accepting Powell's case for war. I don't think it took much 'vision' to see the gross dishonesty of Republican policy in the Middle East but maybe she or Harris would have to concede there was some vision in Webb's essay."
"Can I get some Miller with my "waffles?" Oh, they come topped with Harris Miller? GREAT....."
And since at that point Miller would have been at most 19 years old, and possibly less, I'm not sure what if any jeopardy he faced - his student deferment would have been sufficient prior to that.
It would be interesting to know his exact birth date, and to see how he was affected by the draft lottery. If he was never exposed, then perhaps he should be challenged on his claim to avoidance.
On the other hand, I don't think if his claim his true the fact that he avoided service is necessarily bad. It would have to be approached as an issue of hypocrisy -- that he was willing to claim in some cases but not in others. The only place to challenge him -- if it is true -- is to ak him before either a neutral or a pro-military audience whether he actually said that... in this day and age (a) one should not make claims easily disprovable, and (b) one should never say contradictory things in different places, or (c) say something in one place you don't want repeated in another. That becomes a legitimate point, albeit not a major issue .. as part of an overall picture of character, however, in combination with other similar kinds of statements, it becomes telling.