Republicans Seeking to Condemn Rep. Stark's Remark

In remarks on the House floor this week, Congressman Pete Stark (D-Fremont, Calif.) blasted President Bush for his veto of the SCHIP reauthorization, citing the continued war in Iraq, that sparked a chorus of outrage from Republicans and may land the 18-term congressman in hot water come Monday.

Stark said:

First of all, I'm just amazed that the Republicans are worried that we can't pay for insuring an additional 10 million children. They sure don't care about finding $200 billion to fight the illegal war in Iraq. Where are you going to get that money? You are going to tell us lies like you're telling us today? Is that how you're going to fund the war?

You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement.

The remarks set off a firestorm of outrage from Republicans. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-West Chester, Ohio) immediately demanded that Rep. Stark apologize for his comments as other Republicans issued statements of rage to the press. If you happen to be a FOX News viewer, you probably have the inflections of Stark's voice memorized by now.

Republicans weren't alone, however. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco, Calif.), stopping short of seeking an apology from Rep. Stark, called his comments "inappropriate."

But as the conservative cable programs find yet another reason not to cover actual news, sources say Republicans are gearing up for a resolution on Monday condemning Rep. Stark's comments.

Now, I don't agree with Rep. Stark's comment, but wasting the time to draft, debate and vote on resolutions condemning what boils down to free speech is, to me, a much more serious transgression. It was dumb when they did it to MoveOn.org and would have been no better to do it to Rush Limbaugh over his "phony soldiers" nonsense.

Plus, didn't you hear? We're in a war. Two, in fact. And we're not winning either of them. Nearly 50 million Americans are without health coverage. And we've got bridges and roads collapsing all over the place. New Orleans is still a mess. But hey, let's forget the First Amendment exists. Then, all of our problems are solved.

What happened to the Party of Eisenhower? It is fascinating how Republicans enjoy parading around as tough on crime and strong on national defense and rail against "political correctness" but become unglued and turn into a bunch of seven-year olds demanding their political enemies "take it back!"

It is the only card the Republicans have to play. A desperate effort to change the story from the GOP's relentless smearing of a 12-year old kid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell blatantly lying about his office's involvement in the smear campaign, and outright lies about the SCHIP program from cover to cover.

Comments

[Taan]

Regardless of Mr. Stark's phraseology, it is correct that the Pentagon is playing Russian roulette with U.S. troops in Iraq by sending them out on endless missions where their fate is likely to include death and dismemberment. And all to achieve what? At this point, no one is claiming that a military "victory" is possible in Iraq, but we continue furnishing the shooting gallery with new ducks on a daily basis. Why would our adversaries even bother with creating mayhem in the U.S. when they can systematically destroy our military one incident at a time in their own backyard and at practically no cost to them.

[MissingAmerica]

The Republicans are all for lunatics like Limbaugh. They have done nothing to get Craig to stick to his guns and resign. Many of their ranks have been forced to resign over sex and lobbying scandals. The party that was going to bring new values to Washington certainly did, and they should be ashamed.

They will not override a veto to provide healthcare for our children, they will not override a veto on stem cell research, they inject pentecostal religion into our politics, which is against our Constitution. Yet, once again, they want to censure a remark they don't like! Why don't they back America and impeach the one they follow: the one who is responsible for far more deaths than Al Qaeda; the one who has caused us to be called a leading terrorist nation; the one who says he vetoes because of his ego, not his conscience.

Have they lost all reason, all compassion and all patriotism? Have they all gone mad? They give me nightmares, yet they want to censure a man who says exactly what's on the minds of millions of Americans at this moment. The GOP party needs to be abolished, and an American political party put in the place of this pentecostal one.

[DemandTruth]

I agree with what Representative Stark said, and I'm glad he had the balls to stand up and say it! I think he ought to be congratulated and promoted! All this pussyfooting around by our elected representatives is riduculous! How can they get anything done for us, when they're afraid to say how they really feel? How, then, are WE supposed to know how they really feel so we can make informed election decisions?

Maybe he went a little too far. Maybe President George W Bush isn't amused by the murders of the soldiers he sent to their deaths. But he sure as HELL seems to be plenty amused by the TORTURE of innocent people in American cages all around the world. You can tell by that shit-eating-smirk he always wears when declaring "America Does Not Torture" while visions of waterboards dance in his head...

Oh, and as far as a "desperate attempt" to steer the media coverage away from McConnell's LIES and Larry Craig's latest internet LIES, all I have to say is: WHAT COVERAGE? The only place I've seen either of those mentioned is on Keith Olbermann. ONE show. That's it. Ditto for unravelling the lies and smears about the Frost family and that other little girl's family. I believe the other networks were still talking about John Edwards' haircut and repeating still more LIES in defense of the Republicans once again blocking healthcare for kids.

[AnotherunhappyDemocrat]

Gee. The Republicans are going to waste more of Congress' time condemning free speech. And I thought this was America. Guess I was wrong.

Heil Bush!

[Merrysunshine]

Republicans are outraged at Mr. Stark's comments? You want to know what outrageous is?

"Please," Bush whimpers, his lips pursed in mock desperation, "don't kill me."

How dignified of the President of the United States of America.

Or how about this as seen all across the world?

While millions of people marked the first anniversary of the invasion of Iraq this week by protesting against war on Saturday, President Bush marked the event in a different way: joking about how no weapons of mass destruction were found.

At a black-tie dinner for Radio and Television Correspondents' Association on Wednesday, Bush poked fun at himself and his administration for among other things not finding weapons in Iraq.

At one point Bush showed a photo of himself looking for something out a window in the Oval Office. He said: "Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere."

After a few more slides, there was a shot of Bush looking under furniture in the Oval Office. Bush said "Nope. No weapons over there." Then another picture of Bush searching in his office. He said "Maybe under here."

How dignified of the President of the United States of America.

As of June 2007, it has been reported that at least 832,962 people have been killed, and 1,590,895 seriously injured in Afghanistan and Iraq. These numbers don't include the millions of internally and externally displaced citizens of these two countries.

Mr. Stark was right on about his statement and shouldn't apologize.

[Kansas Evans]

Great comment.

If Bush isn't amused by the death of American soldiers, Karla Faye Tucker sure gave him a chuckle.

[valsagem]

Wow couldn't have said it better. I was begining to wonder what country I was in thanks for reminding me.

[Misanthrope2]

http://www.house.gov/pelosi/contact/contact.html

http://www.house.gov/stark/contact/index.htm

[Desiderata]

"No weapons of mass destruction under there," Bush joked as our courageous soldiers were being maimed and killed. MSM barely covered that outrageous behavior, and there was not even a suggestion by these bloated Republican windbags that he apoligize let alone be censured.

Mr. Stark defined the charactor of the Fratboy-in-Chief quite accurately, and, like Stark, we are not amused.

Mr. Sta

[TomR]

----
What happened to the Party of Eisenhower? It is fascinating how Republicans enjoy parading around as tough on crime and strong on national defense and rail against "political correctness" but become unglued and turn into a bunch of seven-year olds demanding their political enemies "take it back!"
----

As you allude to, this is all about manipulation. The tactics used here are diversion and brandishing anger.

There are numerous manipulation tactics to be aware of such as lying (including by omission), denial, minimization, selective inattention, rationalization, diversion, evasion, covert intimidation, guilt-tripping, toxic shaming, playing the victim role, vilifying the victim, playing the servant role, seduction (charm offensive), projecting the blame, feigning innocence, feigning confusion, and brandishing anger (false outrage).

To learn about these tactics in depth, I highly recommend a book on Amazon called "In Sheep's Clothing: Understanding and Dealing With Manipulative People" by Dr. George K. Simon.

- Tom

[Democrab]

It might have been more effective if he'd held up a picture of soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice for the republicans.

We never see those.

The right is careful of that.

Neocon whiners can't condemn a picture and nancy Pelosi is rapidly becoming a huge disappointment since she became speaker of the house.

And as for congressman Starks comments, what's so wrong about them?

[scooperss]

I didn't see Stark make the statement but I heard about it because of the fuss repubs are making. Starting a resolution to condemn a man for speaking what he sees to be the truth will show American voters that republicans are AGAINST FREE SPEECH by anyone who isn't one of them.
Why wasn't cheney condemned for what he said to leahy on the floor?

[syllepsis]

It is not a waste of time to expose the GOP and Pelosi for what they are: The guardians of 'morality' and 'propriety,' which exist only on FOX News and in the neoconservative imagination. I am sick of anyone who speaks the truth getting Congressional resolutions passed against them.
If Rep. Stark is condemned by Congress, my next letter to my own Representative will be a request to get him to provoke a Congressional resolution condemning him, too.
The 'condemned' Democrats represent the reality that this Democratic Congress works to repress. In truth, we should not condemn this Congress for not getting anything done. Shutting people up who speak the truth and keeping Madam Speaker on her leash must mean they're working overtime.

[JudyGee]

Thank you, Rep. Stark,from the millions and millions of Americans whose voices cannot be heard through their spineless, gutless legislators. It sure is good to get some fresh air into that sealed tomb this Congress has become.

[nancytheragingliberal]

I ditto that "Thank you" too. He does not have to say "sorry" ever. W needs to apologize for the lie for war, death, maiming, 3 million displaced citizens, destruction of the treasury, good will around the globe...gone. Then and only then, sir, you may then consider a slight retraction and only a slight retraction of the comment. I have always said W enjoys all of the death and mayhem. He smiles.

[BARRISTER]

I agree with starks comments. And whats more he has the god damn Right to make them. Bush and his enablers ARE sending youne Americans to Iraq and Afganistan to get their heads blown off!! And, YES, for Bush's amusement. He is the only person in the room who laughs, chuckles, giggles and tries to be cute and funny when there is a discussion about Iraq and Afghanistan.

YES TO STARK!

SAY IT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!

PELOSI,IT IS YOU,YOU, WHO IS "INAPPROPRIATE", AND WE WILL SHOW YOU NEXT NOVEMBER!!!

[fatmo]

I agree 100%. Pelosi needs to be replaced

[Dem02020]

Rep. Stark should repeat what he said, word for word, everytime he's asked about it, or asked to apologize about it.

The above essay characterized Republican's reaction to Mr. Stark's comment as a "firestorm of outrage".
That's not what it is.
As "outrage", it is phony and insincere; it's a posturing and overblown attempt to silence public criticism of George W. Bush and Iraq, that's what it is.

Again, the Republican reaction to Mr. Stark's comment is not "outrage", it's an attempt to defend Iraq and George W. Bush, and to intimidate any criticism of them.


And anyone (Republican or Fox or other "media") who can manage to confront Mr. Stark personally on this, and express their phony "outrage" to him, and suggest he should apologize, he should simply repeat what he said, calmly and rationally, right to their faces:


"Republicans won't insure an additional 10 million children.
But they do want hundreds of billions to fight the illegal war in Iraq.
They want to blow up innocent people and get our kids' heads blown off for the president's amusement."

"Republicans won't insure children, but they want to fund Iraq."


Say it just like that Mr. Stark, because that's how the American People feel about it too.