Bush Criticizes Clinton-Gore on Defense

Sept. 7, 2000 -- George W. Bush is waging an election year offensive against the Clinton-Gore administration, accusing the White House of going AWOL on the nation’s military readiness.

“The next president will inherit a military in decline,” Bush told the American Legion’s national convention in Milwaukee, Wis., Wednesday. “I will rebuild the military power of the United States of America.”

The Republican presidential nominee will press the theme again today, with the help of some famous friends. Gen. Colin Powell will join Bush at a campaign appearance in Michigan this morning, and Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf will appear with both Bush and Powell at a speech in Dayton, Ohio.

Powell and Schwarzkopf helped lead the Persian Gulf War effort under the administration of Bush’s father, President George Bush.

Bush Vows Improvements

Bush vowed to improve the lives of men and women in uniform if elected to the Oval Office in November.

“Our soldiers must have confidence that if asked to serve and sacrifice, the cause will be worthy, and our support for them will be total,” the Texas governor told the group. “We will act to give our armed forces better pay, better housing [and] better training.”

And Bush repeated his pledge to review all overseas deployments — including peacekeeping operations in the Balkans.

“We’ll let our friends be the peacekeepers,” he said. “The great country called America will be the peacemakers.”

Bush, a former Air National Guard pilot, also promised America’s 25 million veterans that he would improve their access to medical care and insist that the Veteran Administration act as an advocate for assistance, not an adversary.

“I will return the VA to the principle that it has a duty to assist veterans who seek service-related benefits,” he said. “That policy has changed. Should I become president, that will be our policy once again.”

Finally, Bush responded to Vice President Al Gore’s assertion that he has been maligning men and women in uniform for political benefit.

“Let’s get something straight,” Bush said, wearing his American Legion hat. “These are not criticisms of the military — they are criticisms of the current commander in chief and vice president for not providing the necessary leadership for America.”

“Bush talks tough on defense, but that is all it is — talk,” shot back Gore spokeswoman Kym Spell. “To strengthen our defenses and improve quality of life for our servicemen and women, Al Gore devotes more than twice as much of the projected surpluses as Bush gives to national defense.”

A budget outline released by the Gore campaign Wednesday earmarks $100 billion of the surplus to national security — Bush has proposed only $45 billion in new defense spending.

Gore’s outline does not budget any money for a missile defense system, although he says he supports a limited, land-based system.

The Republican’s defense-related proposals include $1 billion in pay raises, re-enlistment bonuses, the creation of a “Veterans’ Health Care Task Force,” and a $310 million plan to build and repair public schools on or near military bases.

Gore Is a No-Show

The convention did not hear from Bush’s Democratic rival, who was campaigning in Ohio and Pennsylvania as he released new details of his spending plan. And even before the Texas governor entered the convention, the American Legion’s national commander skewered the vice president, a Vietnam veteran, for failing to address the gathering.

“I believe you deserve better than that and America deserves better than that,” Lance told delegates.

The Gore campaign, citing a scheduling conflict, offered to send vice-presidential candidate Joe Lieberman to address at the convention, but the group declined.

“Their staff did offer to send a substitute to speak in Mr. Gore’s place,” Lance said, “but it is Al Gore Jr. who is running for the presidency of the United States, not a substitute.”

Lance said the Democratic nominee was the first candidate for national office to decline an invitation in the 82 years that the group has been convening.

The Gore campaign also had a problem with a press release they issued Wednesday with the subject heading, “Bush Strong on Defense.” The title was supposed to have a question mark on the end.

ABCNEWS’ John Berman and ABC Radio’s Jon Bascom contributed to this report.