One Strong Ad

For the past couple weeks MoveOn.org's ad "General Betray Us" has dominated the news and even managed to be condemned by the U.S. Senate and House. It has gone so far as having almost every Presidential candidate put to the "patriotism test" by the media with questions related to their feelings toward the ad. It even got the President on record saying "I think it's disgusting." As if it's treason - well America, as an Iraq war veteran let me tell you, it's not.

This is a quite common tactic used in modern day politics, and some might argue that it originated with the Bush/Cheney 2000 campaign when they ruthlessly attacked John McCain in the South Carolina primary. They rallied the right wing against McCain with accusations of being the candidate of gay people, having an African-American love child, and that he was not mentally capable of being Commander in Chief because of his time as prisoner of war in Vietnam caused him to be "the Manchurian Candidate." I totally disagree with John McCain and his politics, but to this day, as a veteran, I am still outraged by what Bush did to him in 2000 with his Rovian style, cut-throat, political smear machine. To me that is "DISGUSTING."

Then it went on to Senator Max Cleland who gave up most of his body in service to his country. We all know how they despicably attempted to put a true American patriot like Max Cleland into the same category as Bin Laden in a campaign ad for one of their fellow draft dodgers -- Saxby Chambliss. That is just as low as you can go. To me that is "DISGUSTING."

Then came the presidential campaign of 2004 with the notorious "swift boat veterans for truth." They continuously bashed John Kerry's military service in Vietnam on behalf of two cowardly draft dodgers like George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. At the Republican National Convention hundreds displayed purple band aids on their faces mocking John Kerry's multiple purple hearts. To me that is "DISGUSTING."

Bush didn't stop with John Kerry. He decided to attack the entire Democratic Party when they began to initiate legislation that would bring the war in Iraq to an end. Bush said the Democratic Party is "now the party of cut and run." Coming from a man who knows damn well how to "cut and run" from a war he supported (Vietnam) - that is "DISGUSTING."

In November of 2005 Congressman John Murtha made himself ripe for the picking by Bush's henchman who will search the entire planet to dig up anyone to counter decorated war heroes who question Bush's and Cheney's war, again - "DISGUSTING." But thanks to Senator James Webb, people saw right through the lies.

It doesn't stop at the top though - it goes down to the lower levels as well. And for the most part you don't hear about these incidents. When I returned home from Iraq I attended a Kerry/Edwards rally in Kansas City where I was greeted by the "Young Republicans" carrying signs that read "Students for Bush." Outraged at the sight of it I asked them "If you support George W. Bush and his war in Iraq - why don't you join the military and go over and fight?" In response they screamed at me "traitor," "you support terrorists," and "move to France." I will never forget how I was treated by a group of able-bodied males, who fully supported and advocated for a war I fought, but lacked the courage to go anywhere near. To me that is "DISGUSTING."

Up until now the swiftboating of heroic combat veterans was all fair game for Bush, his cronies in Congress, and his minuscule portion of left-over supporters (including Fox News). The ad from MoveOn.org attacked General Petraeus's credibility, not his patriotism. But it finally woke America up to the reality of what George W. Bush has done for the last 7 years of his tragic presidency. It's just sad that no one came out on the national level in a similar manner in which they did to MoveOn.org to condemn Bush and his Republican allies for their actual attacks on the patriotism of Cleland, Kerry, Murtha, The Democratic Party, and other patriots who wore the uniform in service to our great nation.

I am not writing this to attack General Patraeus. But when a General testifies to Congress on the so called success of a failed policy, he puts himself out there for those who disagree to practice their first amendment rights. General Patraeus, with all due respect, could not even say that what we are doing in Iraq is making America safer. He even had the audacity to suggest that success on the ground was the reason we can draw down 30,000 troops by July of 2008 - when that was already scheduled to happen because the surge is not sustainable for our military.

The surge was put in place to establish a secure environment for political reconciliation to take place in Iraq among multiple warring factions. Well folks, the Iraqi government practically collapsed during the surge. We had the bloodiest summer to date during the surge. And by next summer General Patraeus is going to draw down the surge? Then what? We will be right back to square one - Donald Rumsfeld's plan of fewer troops in a completely hostile civil war without end. All General Patraeus' testimony accomplished was a smokescreen for George W. Bush to hide behind and deny reality for the rest of his presidency. The reality is that the war in Iraq is Bush's failure, and he will continue to use people like General Patraeus to carry out his needless war in Iraq for the duration of his presidency while our troops die on a daily basis.

I PLACE THE BLAME COMPLETELY ON GEORGE W. BUSH.

I'm glad the ad from MoveOn.org raised awareness among Bush's loyal followers who for so long took pleasure in throwing decorated combat veterans under the bus just because those veterans had the courage and the right to disagree. For speaking truth to power and speaking up for the 70% of Americans who disagree with Bush's war policies - my hat is off to MoveOn.Org !

Comments

[TommyMcCarthy]

MY hat is off to John Bruhns in a big way. I'm so grateful for the Iraq vets willing to speak out and I'm very glad for venues like this where they can be heard.

When the president squawks "Support the troops! Support the troops!" I think what he really means is " Support the policy!, Support the policy"

You bet your ass we support the troops George! After all, those are OUR brothers and sisters doing the fighting, NOT YOURS! Those are OUR sons and daughters trying to resume thier lives with missing limbs and traumatic brain injuries, NOT YOURS! And those are OUR mothers and fathers grieving for those who didn't make it home, NOT YOURS!!!

Supporting the troops would mean returning them safely to thier families and thier communities.

Thanks for your post, John...powerful eloquent stuff.......tm

[NCGigi]

You rock, my man. You rock.

[dadw5boys]

UH OH General BETRAYUS drooped a Rubie Slipper.
"Iraqi Government almost collapsed during surge"? They were on vaction during the most of the surge.

[Sundialsvc4]

Thank you for your service, and your candor.

I do NOT place the blame "squarely on George W. Bush." I place the blame collectively, not only upon him, but also upon his co-conspirators who are now scattered throughout all three branches of this Government, cross-ruffing the game to protect each other, and scooping hundreds of billions of dollars into their own pockets while doing so.

There is nothing at all wrong for us to scream the demand ... to a Congress that is unfortunately part of the "operation" ... that justice be done and that numerous impeachment proceedings be started simultaneously.

Laws have been broken wholesale, and hundreds of thousands of people have died or had their lives destroyed because of it. Congress's refusal to prosecute what is squarely in front of its face is ... aiding and abetting those crimes.

[mikelartist]

This country will be forever in your debt. Thank you for your service and your bravery. You are something those "young Republicans" cannot call themselves. A real man.

[SamEllison]

Great post John, thanks.

[maddogbitesback]

The real blame rests upon the people - the American people who allowed a president to be appointed by a court. The real blame lies upon the people who believed the ads about heroes and ignored the truth about the cowards who were running the ads. Sadly, the rest of the world had nothing to do with the fools who voted for a man from a family of crooks and a known liar. Unfortunately the world must pay the price. Global economy is out of whack, tens of millions of Iraqis have died or been forced to flee or have had to live without sewage treatment, electricity or any sort of safety. The world is now facing the chance of an invasion. And in the meantime, New Orleans is still not rebuilt. some fifty million Americans have no health insurance and foreclosure rise. Personal bankruptcy is due to medical costs and some 18000 die from lack of medical care. And to top it all off the children who need better schools don't get them. I could go on. Suffice to say it is a lot like Germany in 1943. A lunatic and his buddies running the country into the ground.

America has to force the president to give back democracy.

[Halsey]

mad...I'm sorry to say, I agree...maybe W stole both 2000 and 2004..but it was STILL close enough to make theft possible... After reading John's post here...I like others, am able to reignite my light of hope..still small..but at least a faint glow. I, today, chose to believe that it will be Veterans of this invasion that will FORCE "US". to see the truth...to discard the vichy-like democratics..elected for "change", but complicite through inaction, in the continued successes W's administration enjoys...they called Reagan the teflon president... guess that makes W a slippery slide...to a bottomless abyss

[kevenseven]

Bravo, well spoken. God preserve you to a ripe and energetic old age such that you may tell generations to come of the stupidity of imperialistic war.

[bethinCary]

When you have truth on your side-you stick by it.

it's that simple.

[NHGranite]

Having become so jaded over the no-holds-barred war mongering by chicken hawks, it takes a lot to really get to me. Your clear-eyed synopsis of the tactics used to denigrate our real military heroes is overwhelming. Thank you. The truth can still take my breath away.

[sorenmeetsdylan]

To think that nasty politics is unique to the GOP or that it began in 2000 is to demonstrate an ignorance of history that I see too often here. There are a lot of adults in the world, Democrats, who wil[l vote for Hillary just to marginalize the loons.

[ambidextrous]

The United States of America sat on a wall
The United States of America had a great fall
All the King's horses and all the King's men
Couldn't put the United States of America together again....

The rhetorical carnage wrot by those in high American places is underwritten by patriotic blood of America's soldiers. Blood that has more fortitude in one cell than all the pints put together from the Bush administration.
Who will step up and stem the blood-loss before we are bled dry? Or is it already too late to stop the hemoraging and the patient is doomed?
Terrorists be damned, we are doing this damage to ourselves.

[Ani]

Sir. First, thank you for your service. You've done what most would not do. (I tried to join the Army Reserves well before the Iraq conflict, but they refused to take a Mom. I'll always regret that.)

You are so right. Iraq is Mr. Bush's occupation, aided and abetted by the Republicans. It's THEIR occupation. THEIR war. The dishonor of denigrating veterans for political purposes lies squarely on Mr. Bush's shoulders. Calling Congress and American citizens traitors for exercising their right to question, to think, to reason continues to remains an American sadness.

The treatment you received by Bush supporters was morally reprehensible and a grievable offense. I'm saddened that such people carry those views still.

So, picture me ... holding a carefully-worded sign at the airport that says, THANK YOU FOR SERVING. Picture me smiling you home. Hold that in your heart, rather than the hurt you possibly feel for ill-informed, angry people. I know I feel the hurt, and I didn't serve.

They are simply wrong.

Sleep well tonight,

Ani

[nippersdad]

Wow! I read columns like this and it makes me feel proud to be an American again. Thanks!

[Rescisco]

"It has gone so far as having almost every Presidential candidate put to the 'patriotism test' by the media with questions related to their feelings toward the ad."

I am waiting for a Democrat strong enough to pose the real "patriotism test" to the Republicans. These false patriots should be forced to defend their opposition to political free speech. These enemies of the constitution cannot claim to be defenders of freedom. How can such false patriots who are offended by freedom be trusted to defend it? How can a group of "leaders," brought to the verge of irrational rage by political dissent, be strong enough to stand up for American interests? How can a party that is so consumed with finding enemies within be trusted to understand the real threats to American security? You cannot destroy free speech, destroy fellow citizens who disagree with you, destroy the constitution, and claim to be defending America!