Democrats Should Attack Bush, Not MoveOn
Before a single Democrat condemns MoveOn's ad, they should insist that George W. Bush and the Republican Party repudiate the anti-military smears on war heroes that have been the hallmark of Mr. Bush's political career.
Too many Democrats still think Mr. Bush's presidency is on the level. Let's be clear. Mr. Bush is not leading a serious, sober discussion about public discourse during a war. He wants to divide progressives and score political points. We should not let him. Throughout his career he's been willing to tolerate and benefit from vicious lies about military men. We should not concede that he is legitimately angry now.
Mr. Bush is, as he likes to say, a loving guy. But by golly the MoveOn.org ad criticizing Gen. David Petraeus has him madder than Larry Craig in a pay toilet.
When a "reporter" asked him a loaded question about the MoveOn ad (not mentioning, for example, that Petraeus wrote an op-ed in support of the Bush Iraq policy a few weeks before the 2004 election), Bush swung for the fences. But then again, he's always been pretty good at T-Ball - and this was definitely teed up for him.
He slammed MoveOn, repeating language he used Wednesday in a meeting with right-wing columnists, saying that criticizing Petraeus is tantamount to attacking the entire US military, and expressing astonishment that leading Democrats have not attacked MoveOn as courageously as Bush has.
Before Democrats fall all over themselves to agree with a president whose trust and honesty rating from the American people is even lower than his IQ, let's look at the real record of Bush's cowardice when it comes to speaking out against attacks on military heroes:
- In the 2000 South Carolina primary, George W. Bush stood next to a man described as a "fringe" figure - a man who had attacked Bush's own father - at a Bush rally. With Bush applauding him, the man said John McCain "abandoned" veterans. McCain, who was tortured in a North Vietnamese POW camp, was incensed. Five U.S. Senators who fought in Vietnam, including Democrats John Kerry, Max Cleland and Bob Kerrey, condemned the attack and called on Bush to repudiate it. When pressed on it at a debate hosted by CNN's Larry King, Bush meekly muttered that he shouldn't be held responsible for what others say. Even when he's standing next to them at a Bush rally.
- In the 2002 campaign, draft dodger Saxby Chambliss ran an ad with pictures of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, then said Sen. Max Cleland lacked courage. Max Cleland left three limbs in Vietnam as an Army captain. Mr. Bush's political aide, Karl Rove, later refused to disavow the ad, saying, "President Bush and the White House don't write the ads for Senate candidates."
- Also in the 2002 campaign, the PAC for the Family Research Council, a close Bush ally, ran an ad in South Dakota that pictured Sen. Tom Daschle and Saddam Hussein. "What do Saddam Hussein and Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle have in common?" the ad asked. Apparently, they both opposed drilling in the Arctic wilderness. First, I had no idea that supporting drilling in the wilderness is a family values issue. Second, I have seen no reporting on the late Iraqi dictator's position on Alaska drilling. But I do know Tom Daschle is an Air Force veteran. Mr. Bush never disavowed the smear.
- But perhaps the worst was what was done to John Kerry. Kerry earned five major medals in combat: the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. And yet supporters of Bush and Cheney decided to smear his war record. The despicable, dishonest Swift Boat attacks alleged that Kerry fabricated reports that earned him the Bronze Star. The Swifties also suggested that Kerry's wounds were insignificant - and that one was even self-inflicted. Kerry's wounds were certainly more serious than Mr. Bush's, who suffered a cut on his finger from popping a beer can while avoiding his duty in the Alabama National Guard. At the 2000 GOP convention, rich, white Republicans were photographed gleefully putting Band-Aids with purple hearts on their chubby cheeks. Mr. Bush refused to condemn the attack - blandly noting he didn't like 527 groups generally - and later nominated one of the men who financed the smear to be Ambassador to Belgium.
Mr. Bush is a coward and a bully. He knows he'll never be the kind of hero his father was. He knows he lacks the heroism of John Kerry or Max Cleland, so he overcompensates with bluster and bravado. In fact, he told bloggers recently that he wishes he were fighting in Iraq. The Washington Post's Dan Froomkin reported that Bush told a blogger in Iraq that he'd like to be carrying a 50-pound pack and an M-16, but, "One, I'm too old to be out there. And, two, they'd notice me."
So Mr. Bush is too old to fight in Iraq, and he was too rich and well-connected to fight in Vietnam. But he's itchin' for a fight with a progressive interest group. Does anyone believe he'd have the same outrage if a right-wing group were attacking war heroes? Of course not.
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Right on Paul! The President is using the 'Move On' Ad as a Red Herring.
bush is a boy, a teenage boy, a vindictive, petty, petulant teenage boy, the same one who walked away with the ball if he didn't like the outcome of a game; the dems are chickens and the r's are chickenhawks.
You've got Bush down to a T. It's a shame that someone didn't punch his lights out back when. Maybe he would have actually learned something from the experience.
I am so disgusted by this, can anyone tell me which democrats sided with this ridiculous declaration against free speech? I would really appreciate it if you could post it. Bush and his cronies are a bunch of hyprocrites that pick and choose what they think is appropriate. Like Paul said they let Kerry, Cleland, all the Generals be denigrated by the Bush administration during the election,they thought that was okay?? They literally make me ill and I can't wait until this president is out of office. I hope the American people stand up to their Republican senators and represenatives that have stood by this president and vote them out of office. I have a few in Texas that I can't wait to see in the unemployment line. Cornyn and Hutchinson love to line themselves with Bush. The people that are keeping us in this war are just as guilty for kids dying as Bush. They can't even pass the Webb amendment to allow them to have time with their families. Sickening, congress is doing a really shitty job!!
These no ballsDemocrats just continue to show the need for a strong third party in this country.
Remember Democrats ran and won on the campaign pledge to end the war. The numbers in the population support the end of the war. Once elected the Democrats could have and could still be ending the war. They have not and will not. They try to hide, but they can't hide behind the Republicans on this one. So....be wary of giving up control of your health care to these beltway characters. They simply are not accountable.
Paul, Right on. Way too many Democrats have either forgotten these slams or just cannot get away from the politically correct thing to do which is what has made our party the weak link it has become. I too am a Combat veteran of the Vietnam War and I get tired of hearing that all Veterans are Staunch Conservatives. I am a Moderate Democrat. You remember moderate? Thats what most Americans were before the Vietnam War. Bush reminds me of Ronald Reagan in that like Reagan Bush pats the Military on the back in Public while he picks the VA Budget apart. He is and will always remain a Putz.
The Democrats were elected in such large numbers to make a statement - the people are fed up and want changes. What do they do once they get in? NOTHING.
Granted, they still have to let things slide by the senate, but they are too afraid to rock the boat because of what the senate MIGHT do, or the nasty names they MIGHT be called. Instead of presenting the case of the people who elected them, they would rather roll over and play dead while waiting out the clock with Bush and hope a Democrat will be the next president.
THAT is why we need MoveOn to speak up for us. The Republican party have their bad guys to do the smear work on their behalf. Remember those anti-Kerry and anti-Gore ads, who were they run by??
If the Democrats want to be mousy and not present the issues the people want brought up, what makes them think they look any better in the eyes of the voters than the Republican choices? All I see is an ineffective bunch of turds leading us in the House, including a few of the Dem presidential candidates. Why would I want to vote for them when they cannot do the job they have now in a manner I can trust them?
Either way, vote for a Democrat or a Republican, you vote for the same ineffective people who are in this for their own selfish needs and not the needs of the people. Without a legitimate third party offering a real plan and the intention to act it out EVERY vote is a wasted vote no matter who you vote for.
I think the most disgusting thing in this ordeal is hearing Bush using a childish, schoolyard taunt to "scare" the Democrats into condemning an advertisement that told the truth, and 22 of them actually rolled over. "I think the Democrats are afraid to speak out against them." It would be truly a comedy moment if it didn't work. The Republican platform is based now primarily on lies. They claim to be fiscal conservatives. Yeah right, triple the national debt and climbing and a housing bubble ready to burst. They're for the military. Okay, then why are you contracting mercenaries, paying them triple with our tax dollars of what our troops get. They're for national security. Then why can't you tell us how many terrorists cross our southern border each day as well as bombs coming in our ports? When an organization comes out and speaks the truth, they are labeled as left wing extremists who hate our troops and aid terrorists. Wake up people. Things are getting very dangerous in Washington. We REALLY need to vote wisely this time. Vote out the congressional incumbents in the primaries. That way Republicans and Democrats can vote along party lines yet still send a message.
I can't stand it any more. I'm sure I heard Russ Limbaugh say the same thing about Petraeus after he took over his current command. I forget the exact context but it had something to do with Petraeus's comment about the war in Iraq. It was something like: "There is not a military solution in Iraq." and Limbaugh popped off with something like: "Oh no I hope he isn't going to be General Betray Us." I didn't think that quote was original to Move On. I thought they copped it from Limbaugh. I'm kind of new at this. Is there any way to verify Limbaugh's past comments?
Great article with which I wholeheartedly agree, to the point that in the present and also in the foreseeable future, the lion's share of what little I can donate will go to MOVEON.ORG
So bushie got his panties in a bundle because MoveOn slapped his lap dog David Petraeus. Who really gives a shit what bushie thinks or says.
Bushie declared himself "the decider". He got that wrong, he should have classified himself as "the deceiver" since he has done nothing since 9/11, but deceive and lie to the public.
MoveOn, keep on slapping! Kick ass!
JOHN EDWARDS in '08
When the Republicans came up with this idea of wasting time when our soldiers are dying to vote the MoveOn ad- the Democrats should have fired back with well then let's censure John Boenner(sp?) "small price" remarks. What's the Senate the free speech police?
Democrats should do WHATS RIGHT and Attack the Moveon.org AD . You cannot be a Partisan SHEEP all the time. Sometimes you must take the moral high ground. But Begala is a maggot anyway.
So naturally you did what's right and attacked Bush for slandering McCain, and you attacked the Swift boat group and Bush for slandering Kerry, and Chambliss for slandering Cleland... Yeah right. Hypocrisy, thy cover is conservativism.
True, true. Focus on the problem, Bush and his failed policies, his smearing tactics and his total dis-regard for the Constitution, not a free-speech ad that, in my opinion, was pretty cool.
Thanks, Paul. We progressives need to take a more aggressive stance against these clowns.
The President is attacking an ad that hit his administration where it hurts and Fred Thompson's the party's hope for hanging on to the White House. You can cut Republican desperation with a knife.
You know what they say about cornered animals...
This president's attack on civil rights is just outrageous. He's been trying to quiet his detractors from the very beginning and the Democrats are simply falling in step with him. In November 2006 we elected the Democrats to change the course of this administration. They've done nothing but aid and abet a would-be dictator. We are not insulting the soldiers when we speak out. We are simply pointing out the facts: General Petraeus was put into his position to carry out the will of George Bush and Dick Cheney, not to present a fair assessment of what is going on in Iraq. Come on, George, everybody knows your plan isn't working. And that includes General Petraeus. Instead of spending time and taxpayer dollars passing referendums condemning those who exercise their right of free speech, try passing some meaningful legislation that will end this war. I'm tired of this president become outraged by those who see differently from him. This is America. It is not only our right but our duty to speak out. George W. Bush spends his time oppressing the American public while he professes to be fighting for "freedom" in Iraq. And what have the Democrats done to reign him in? They gave him expanded powers to spy on his own citizens. They are cowards who do not deserve their positions.
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