Rove Changes Story on Contacts with Perry

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION

On August 20, the New York Times reported "Mr. Rove, Mr. Bush's top political aide, recently said through a spokeswoman that he and Mr. Perry were longtime friends, though he said they had not spoken for at least a year."

On August 24, the liberal watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the White House seeking, among other things, any documents (such as phone logs) that would show any contact between Rove and Bob Perry since the beginning
of 2004.

The very next day Rove told Fox News, "I don't want to leave any misimpression. But he's [Perry] not somebody that I've had, you know, any EXTENDED conversation with in years and certainly did not discuss with him or anybody else in the Swift boat leadership what they're doing."

Sure looks like Rove is now admitting that he has spoken to Perry recently and is trying to downplay the significance of the conversations. Unfortunately for Rove, you don't have to have an extended conversation to have illegal coordination - merely asking Perry to contribute to SBVT so they could run anti-Kerry ads between the conventions would be enough.

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Other Resources:

"Bush campaign lawyer resigns over ties to veterans group"

"The growing list of contributors to Swift Boat Veterans for Truth includes some Texans with strong ties to the president. Atop the list is Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, the undisputed king of Republican donors in Texas. Perry, a longtime associate of Karl Rove, Bush's political strategist, helped start Swift Boat Veterans for Truth with donations totaling $200,000."
-- Knight Ridder Newspapers, August 25, 2004

"Party invitation lists veterans group contributor as sponsor"

"A Texan [Bob Perry] who helped launch the attack ad for Swift Boat Veterans for Truth is listed as a sponsor of a fund-raiser for the Harris Country Republican Party at the G-O-P convention."
-- Associated Press, August 24, 2004

"More Bush Connections to Smear Ads"

"Additionally, the Dallas Morning News yesterday reported that the man bankrolling the smear ads is hosting President Bush's top political adviser at a fundraiser in New York during the Republican National Convention. Robert Perry, the top Bush-Cheney fundraiser who is financing the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads, 'is listed as the co-host' of an event whose guest list includes Karl Rove on September 1."
-- MoveOn.org's The Daily Mislead, August 25, 2004

A BUZZFLASH READER CONTRIBUTION

Update:

"White House Denies CREW's FOIA for Contacts with Swift Boat Veterans Group," Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, August 26, 2004