Boehner's "Small Price"

Just yesterday on CNN, Wolf Blitzer asked John Boehner, the leader of the GOP in the House, this question (video on Horse's Mouth):

"The loss in blood, the Americans who are killed every month, how much longer do you think this commitment, this military commitment is going to require?"

And Mr. Boehner responded:

"The investment that we're making today will be a small price if we're able to stop al Qaeda here, if we're able to stabilize the Middle East, it's not only going to be a small price for the near future, but think about the future for our kids and their kids."

What a stunningly cavalier statement about the lives of the young men and women who serve our country.

Whether you support or oppose the Bush escalation, no American should ever for even a moment think the cost of war is small.

A single life is a large price to pay for any endeavor. Sometimes, in our national interest, we choose to pay that awful price, but we must always make sure that the policy is worthy of it.

Visit our wounded warriors at Walter Reed hospital and ask whether the price they paid was small. Talk to the mothers, fathers, husbands and wives of those who have been killed and ask them to measure the price of war. Young lives stopped short, children who won't have a mother or father there as they grow up, when they graduate, when they get married -- that loss is many things, but it is not small.

Where is Representative Boehner's apology? And where is an Iraq policy equal to our soldiers' tremedous sacrifice?

Comments

[Levittown]

10:39 PM on 09/17/2007

John Boehner is a what the right wing Republican­s are all about. He is a pompous asshole and does not consider the value of lives when a political point can be made for their agenda. As long as he and his ilk have any power a George Bush is the result. And a Dick Cheney and a Carl Rove and a Gonzalez. Halliburto­n is already in Dubai, out of the reach for the time being.But the axe will fall in the next five months to the suprise of
many.

[frank67]

06:38 PM on 09/17/2007

Mormondude forgot WWI and WWII. How about "Mexican War?" American Civil War?" "Spanish-A­merican War?"
I think you'll find all our wars are totally
bi-partisa­n.
Federalist­s, Democratic Republican­s, Whigs, Know Nothings, Democrats, Republican­s.
They all made war - it's good for business.

[Collielady]

11:01 PM on 09/16/2007

You're preaching to the choir, Senator Kerry.

So, what are you going to do about it? Roll over and play dead, yet again?

Are you really shocked that one of your Republican colleagues doesn't care about the troops? Are you going to confront him, or just get your choir fired up about it?

With all due respect, your thoughtful essay is about as aggressive as the Democrats ever get. Call Boehner out on this. Swift boat him.

[fourex]

09:47 PM on 09/16/2007

Boehner calls six years, a trillion dollars. a million lives a small price. Because John Boehner didn't pay anything, and he never will.

[IMPRISONBUSH]

08:46 PM on 09/16/2007

..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­..........­........" BOEHNER IS STILL OF ".........­...
..........­..........­..........­..........­.......
..........­..".ENLIST­MENT AGE ".........­.........

[Ginzaman]

02:44 PM on 09/16/2007

The neocons bitch that anybody who disagrees with them is a traitor. But then if you suddenly say, if you support it then why don't you serve? Instantly every f*****g excuse in the book. As long as somebody else dies so they can keep making billions they just don't care. Then again you already knew that...

[fourex]

01:38 PM on 09/16/2007

Yes, six years, one trillion dollars, one million lives lost and displaced, yes a small price when you Rep. Boehner have paid nothing and never will. Rep. Boehner and GW Bush the nadir of U.S. morals and politics.

[bonkin]

08:03 AM on 09/16/2007

Please Mr. Kerry! Where is Rep. Boehner's apology? Probably in some fantacy place far, far away, along with Alice and the Swift Boat's appology. When do abusers apologize? Ask any battered woman at the shelter. Usually, if at all, right before the baseball bat slams into your head yet again. Why should any Republican apologize? They have sucessfull­y raped and pillaged for 7 years now with no one to stop them and no change in sight. Since when does the bully on top apologize?

[realpolitic]

03:33 AM on 09/16/2007

I bet the neocons who love this war so much will simply ignore and hold in contempt the many veterans who end up homeless because of difficulty readjustin­g to society after an extended stay in a guerrilla war with no front lines.

[Facethereality]

12:51 AM on 09/16/2007

Mr. Boehner just recollect the history, 9/11 attackers were from Saudi Arabia, Osma Bin Laden is from Saudi Arabia, Talibans, we created to fight Russian in Afganistha­n. We are creating problem for ourselves. Mr. Boehner, there are over billions of Muslims in the world and Al Quedas are spread all over the world. How are you going to take care of them, go to every country and look for them to kill. You Repbulican­s are nuts trying to fool us again. Once we leave Iraq, Al Queda will cease killing any more Americans in Iraq. If you really want to support our brave men and women then please bring our brave men and women back home, they do not deserve to be killed being in the middle of a civil war in Iraq.Democ­rats are trying to cut the funding to save our men and women. More money we give you you are going to keep our men and women in Iraq to be killed. It is as simple as that.
Let Iraqis settle their difference­s themselves­. They will do it once we leave them alone and not trying to put our puppets in the Iraqi goverment to fulfill our self interst i.e., trying to control O-I-L industries­.

[brwnizofmine]

06:15 PM on 09/14/2007

Can someone tell me who the other 36 countries are and what they are contributi­ng?

[Incredulous]

05:26 PM on 09/14/2007

Don't forgot that the troops are there under false pretenses.
Don't forget that your President lied you into this war.
Don't forget that your President lied.
You President lied.
And continues to lie as Americans die for his lies.

[deminmo]

04:52 PM on 09/14/2007

Mr. Kerry you know very well that whenever much is made of something a Republican says or does, the immediate response from the party is to blame "right wing liberals". No one should criticize Mr. Boehner for what he said, its what he meant that counts! One drop of blood lost in war is a great sacrifice. The nation is blessed to have such brave men and women serving in our armed forces all over the world! I wish anyone speaking while in public office would take a moment to think about what they are going to say.

[FOXYLADY]

04:26 PM on 09/14/2007

The first words that "grabbed me" while reading the article, is a quote "...small price.." in reference to the lives lost of our loved ones in this travesty of a war. ANY PERSON WHO IS UNCARING ENOUGH TO CALL IT A "SMALL PRICE" is an uncaring, ignorant, selfish son of a bitch....I need not read any more......­..........­.

[dyannne]

02:43 PM on 09/14/2007

Does Mr. Boner have a son or daughter in this war? Just a wild guess: I think not.