Big Story with John Gibson. August 12, 2004. 5:21 PM to 5:25 PM EDT.
Guest: Max Cleland, former Senator from Georgia

I think the Democratic surrogates - at least some of them - have finally gone on the defensive. First, Dr. Susan Rice and now Max Cleland. Cleland wasn’t about to let himself be interrupted or talked over. He started and just didn’t stop. What a nice change from the “Oh, yes, I agree with you, thanks for letting me come on your show” kind of Democrats we usually see on FOX News Channel.

The topics were Kerry’s use of the word “sensitive” in a speech before the Unity Conference of Minority Journalists and Kerry’s stand on the war in Iraq.

CLIP OF Vice President Dick Cheney mocking Kerry’s use of the word “sensitive” to describe how he would have handled war in general.

CLELAND: First of all, Dick Cheney has no business criticizing anybody about war especially somebody who’s been to war, since he himself evaded five different times in the Vietnam era by getting five different deferments... John Kerry had the courage to volunteer. Not only the courage but, when he went to war, he defeated his enemies, he brought his ship home safely and he brought his crew mates back alive.

In terms of being careful where you step in the world, it was a great Republican President, Teddy Roosevelt, who said “walk softy but carry a bid stock.” That actually is the essence of John Kerry’s foreign policy....this crowd, that has never been to war, made every mistake you could possibly make and the young people out there are paying the price.”