Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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White House says Bush fulfilled Guard duties BY TERENCE HUNT THE ASSOCIATED I'llESS WASHINGTON - The White House, facing election-year ques tions about President Bush's mili tary service, released pay records Tuesday that it said supported Bush's assertion that he fulfilled his duty as a member of the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War. Democrats said the documents provided more questions than an swers and offered no evidence that Bush ever showed up for duty in Alabama from May to November 1972 while he working on a politi cal campaign there. Bush was not credited with any service for a five-month period in 1972, from May through September, according to the pay records. He was paid for two days in October and four days in November and none in December. The records do not indicate what duty Bush per formed or where he was. “When you serve, you are paid for that service. These documents outline the days on which he was paid. That means he served. And these documents also show he met his requirements,” press secretary Scott McClellan told reporters. The White House has not been able to produce fellow guardsmen who could testify that Bush at tended guard meetings and drills. Sen. John Kerry, the front-run ner for the Democratic presiden tial nomination, is regularly ac companied by military veterans who served with him in Vietnam. Kerry said Tuesday he had nothing further to say about Bush's record. “I just don't have any comment on it,” Kerry told reporters be tween campaign stops. “It's not an issue that I chose to create. It's not my record that's at issue, and I don't have any questions about it.” But Terry McAuliffe, the Democratic National Committee chairman, did not hesitate. “We also still do not know why the pres ident's superiors filed a report say ing they were unable to evaluate his performance for that year be cause he had not been present to be evaluated. That report was filed on the very day these documents allege he was reporting for duty.” A memo written by retired Lt. Col. Albert Lloyd Jr., at the re quest of the White House, said a review of Bush's records showed that he had “satisfactory years” for the period of 1972-73 and 1973-74. “which proves that he completed his military obligation in a satis factory manner.” Lloyd was personnel director for the Texas Air National Guard from 1969 to 1995 and also had re viewed Bush's military records at the request of his campaign four years ago. The point summaries were re leased during the 2000 presiden tial campaign but the pay records were not obtained by the White House until late Monday from the Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver, McClellan said. He said the center, apparently acting on its own, reviewed Bush's records and came up with the pay infor mation. Asked if the records should end the controversy about Bush's ser vice, McClellan said, “You have to ask those who made these outra geous accusations if they stand by them in the face of this documen tation that demonstrates he served and fulfilled his duties.” Bush enlisted in the Texas Air National Guard in 1968 shortly be fore-graduating from Yale University. Bpjjjj^PfPf] Flower company looking for model BY ALEXIS BASS TIIEUAMRCOCK An online flower provider, 1 800-The-Rose, is looking for a fresh face to grace its Web site and pos sibly other promotional packages. The floral gifting company is partnering with digital confetti and imaging products maker Confoti to launch a model search. 1-800-The-Rose.com publicist Jennifer Caccavo said, “We are looking to give the brand a unique look, but one that our customers could relate to. And we thought, what better way to do that than by inviting one of our customers to become a part of the brand itself, by becoming its face?” The contest invites men and wom en 18 and older to apply by visiting http://1800therosepinfoti.com. Applicants must suomii a current dig ital picture and write an essay about what makes them the perfect face of l-800-The-Rose.com. The winner will receive $1,000, a bouquet of roses ev ery month for a year, Confoti confetti seasonal packets for a year and a digi tal camera. Adam Gantt, a fourth-year physical education student, said the contest is a good opportunity to make some fast money with little effort. “It's worth a shot to try because of the prizes involved, although I wouldn't know what to do with a year's supply of confetti,” he said. “It would be nice though to give my girlfriend flowers for 12 months, too.” Amber Anderson, a second-year biology student, said she feels the same about the con test’s incentives. “It sounds like fun, and I would do it to get free stuff,” she said. The contest ends Feb. 12 at 11:59 p.m. EST, which is also when the final five contestants will be posted on the Web site. Visitors to the Web site have the deciding vote for who should be the new face of 1-800-The Rose.com. The winner will be an nounced April 5. The winner's will be featured on 1-800-The-Rose.com’s Web site along with other online | and offline advertising collateral. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu &( famfo Free! 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