VET CRITICAL OF CLINTON DRAFT REPLY

SIKESTON - The chairman of Missouri Veterans for Bush has called on Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton to tell the truth about his draft record and charged that Clinton manipulated the system to avoid being drafted.

"It is clear to me and to many veterans that Bill Clinton has been less than candid about his military draft record," said the chairman, Blair Moran, a Sikeston insurance agent and Vietnam veteran.

Said Moran: "Based on recent newspaper reports, I'm convinced that Clinton bobbed and weaved to avoid the draft, and now he's bobbing and weaving to avoid the truth. Obviously I can't call him a draft-dodger because the sincere, open draft-dodgers went to Canada. As an individual with grand political aspirations Clinton couldn't blatantly dodge the draft, so he manipulated the system."

Moran said he and other veterans were concerned by reports last spring that Clinton had failed to honor his commitment to the ROTC program at the University of Arkansas. But now they are even more concerned over reports last week that relatives had sought special favors to keep Clinton out of the military, he said.

"Veterans are reacting with a sense of betrayal and outrage," said Moran. "We're realizing Clinton has no business trying to be our commander-in-chief. He's totally unqualified and unsuited."

Moran, who is past chairman of the 8th District Republican Committee and presently serves as treasurer, said the president has earned the respect of veterans and is the kind of person who should be in command of the nation's armed forces.

"George Bush was there when his country called," Moran said. "He's tasted war and its tragedies. He understands what it means to step forward and respond when freedom is threatened."