GOP calls on top Senate Dem to condemn anti-Petraeus ad

[rodeodance]

Source: cnn





GOP calls on top Senate Dem to condemn anti-Petraeus ad

........ A letter addressed to Reid circulated Monday among senators asking that Reid make it clear he does not share MoveOn.org's views.



The letter reads: "The ad is distasteful and frankly, below the level of respect that America's commanding general in Iraq has earned. No matter whether any senator supports or opposes the war in Iraq, we should all voice recognition and appreciation of Gen. Petraeus' long and distinguished record of service to our country."

A senior Democratic leadership aide called the ad an "unnecessary distraction" and said Democrats are prepared to focus on "Petraeus executing a mismanaged mission."

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said, "Democratic leaders must make a choice today: Either embrace the character assassination tactics Moveon.org has leveled against the four-star general leading our troops in the fight against al Qaeda, or denounce it as disgraceful."

"Gen. Petraeus and the other commanders in the U.S. Armed Services have dedicated their lives to defending the very freedom that enables MoveOn.org the right to free speech. I support that right, but I find the way they have chosen to exercise it today to be disrespectful and downright reprehensible," Boehner said in a statement.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Connecticut, also called on the Democratic leadership to "denounce MoveOn.org's attack on Gen. Petraeus." Lieberman has been supportive of President Bush's efforts in Iraq.




Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/10/petraeus.moveon/index.html

[rodeodance]

1. * Ticker: Thompson calls on candidates to return MoveON.org money

Don't Miss

* Ticker: Thompson calls on candidates to return MoveON.org money

[rodeodance]

10. . Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, called the ad "over the top."

..... Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, called the ad "over the top."

"I don't like any kind of characterizations in our politics that call into question any active duty, distinguished general who I think under any circumstances serves with the best interests of our country," said Kerry, the 2004 Democratic presidential candidate and a decorated veteran.

"I think there are a lot of legitimate questions that need to be asked, a lot of probing that ought to take place; there's a lot of legitimate accountability that needs to be achieved. It ought to be done without casting any aspersions on anyone's character or motives," he added.

[TankLV]

16. Fucky VICY DEMOCRAT... Fuck you Kerry. Glad he's not pres...

he would have been a miserable failure...

[LeftishBrit]

36. You prefer the alternative????

Mind you, considering the way the Republicans smear their opponents, they haven't too much right to an apology here.

[karynnj]

55. You prefer Bush

Kerry's full comments show that he is a decent person. He also transitioned the question to say that it is immportant to probe the General's answers and get accountability.

[saigon68]

57. Petraeus is a War Criminal

And a Tool for the NeoCons In five years he will be booed off the stage

He is also a stooge for "Gangster" Cheney

[TankLV]

75. I've never said any such thing.

I don't like either - bush ten times more...

But keep dredging up the strawmen - it didn't work all the other times either...

FUCK KERRY.

He should keep his mouth SHUT on this one - like all the other times...

Criticize the REPUKES, not us...

(oh - and I'm not a leading public figure, so I can and justifiably criticize assholes when I see em...to head off your next inane comment about criticizing dems)

[C_U_L8R]

2. apology nazis

i hate it when they get their undies all tied up like that.

someone need to tell those creeps to go blow

[saigon68]

64. Like Joementum Getting his nuts in an uproar

[radfringe]

72. sure...right after they apologize for:

Give a Friend a chuckle, or Annoy a Republican --- Email a toon!
Support the Radical Fringe: sign up for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION.
Radical Fringe on Comics Sherpa

[LibDemAlways]

3. I hope the swift and rapid response to this nonsense is

the sound of crickets chirping.

The repukes are constantly demanding apologies. When was the last time one of them ever apologized for anything?

[rodeodance]

11. He also put out a statement, saying: “Serious questions have been raised,

Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, said in an interview that the ad “may have given the Republicans a talking point,” but in the end, their efforts to deflect responsibility for the war would not work.

He also put out a statement, saying: “Serious questions have been raised, and will continue to be raised, about the veracity of some of the statistics that will the White House and General Petraeus will cite. The Administration has exhausted its credibility when it comes to intelligence and statistics. The burden really is on the White House to demonstrate why we should trust it and its flawed strategy any longer.”

[bluestateguy]

4. This will be interesting

I will be interested here to see if the Senate leadership capitulates--and reveals their weakness and spinelessness--or stands firmly by their convictions.

Just ignore these "demands" and the whole thing will go away in a few days. That's what Republicans do whenever one of their politicians says something offensive: they ignore all of the carping and demands for apologies and the whole thing drifts into news archive obscurity in a few days.

[Kolesar]

5. Maybe they will play the ad every day on the network news

and give MoveOn some free publicity in front of an already-skeptical public.

[patrice]

18. Eli Pariser (sp?) Handled the criticism quite well on Hard Ball this pm.

Excellent job really - He kept the discussion on the message. Petraeus cooked the books.

[Kolesar]

37. Thanks. I must have gone to the kitchen to cook during the Pariser segment of the shoutfest

I thought Chris Matthews was in good form during that one. He had some parting remark about the war continuing for political reasons that was sharp.

[rodeodance]

6. CNN: Republicans Pile On Over MoveOn Ad

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/10/petraeus.moveon/index.html


September 10, 2007, 5:41 pm
Republicans Pile On Over MoveOn Ad

By Katharine Q. Seelye

Has MoveOn.org moved too far?
............

Republican members of Congress are mentioning the ad repeatedly throughout the televised hearings, probably drawing much more attention to it than it might have received otherwise.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, began the day with this statement from the Senate floor, referring to the ad: “I resent the comments of those who have sat comfortably in their air-conditioned offices, thousands of miles away from the firefights and the roadside bombs, and tried their Washington best in recent days to impugn the general’s good name.”

Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republican of Florida, opened her remarks by saying: “I offer my colleagues the opportunity to use this hearing to distance themselves from the despicable ad that was published today calling into question the patriotism of General Petraeus.”

“Point of order!” called someone from off screen. “No one has to distance themselves from something they weren’t associated with.” (CSPAN didn’t show us who was speaking, but the Associated Press reports that it was Representative Neil Abercrombie, Democrat of Hawaii.).......

[rodeodance]

8. “Point of order!” called someone from off screen.

[last_texas_dem]

24. I heard that response

I was listening to it on the radio, and was wondering who had said the, "Non one has to apologize..." comment. Ros-Lehtinen got kind of huffy and said, "Take it easy." I liked hearing her get called on the grandstanding.

[calimary]

32. I called her office and told her staffer that ileana bush-kneepads

is the one who needs to "take it easy."

GAD, what a troll.

[TankLV]

17. He Mitch, you repuke scum - can't impune something you never had...

LYING.

FUCKING.

BETRAYUS.

REPUKE.

GENERAL.

[ANCGuy]

26. Maybe...

...Wisconsin's Sensenbrenner can get them some cheese for their whine.

[Skittles]

28. it really is sickening hearing them whine

after all the outrages the GOP has inflicted on America these little bastards piss their pants because we call one of Bush's whores for what they are

[TwilightGardener]

7. Well, I ask the GOP to condemn a multi-billion dollar five-year waste

of life and limb. When they do that, I'll expect the Dems to answer them about the ad.

edit to say--I didn't like the ad, but the GOP can STFU--they have NO moral authority to demand any apologies for anything.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

9. did top republicans criticize the kerry swiftboat adds?: those were a disgrace/

[Drum]

12. exACTly!

they shrugged and said "so what about it?" :(

[Lasher]

71. And that would be my response if I were Reid

"We're still waiting for a response from President Bush about the swift boaters. You might recall we asked him to condemn their vicious lies against Senator Kerry in 2004. Come back and ask me again about Moveon.org after we get a response from the president about the swift boaters.

On second thought, no it wouldn't. I would ignore them. They're trying to use this to change the subject.

[Caretha]

68. Exactly

and if I remember correctly Kerry wasn't very pro-active about rebutting them either. He sure is willing to to stand up for Betrayus though.

[TankLV]

13. TANKLV CALLS ON DEMS TO CONDEMN REPUKES!!!

This is bush*s and the REPUKES war - started with LIES, conducted in LIES, and continued with LIES...

FUCK YOU ALL REPUKES TO HELL...

RESIGN IMMEDIATELY!!!

[MidwestTransplant]

14. Did Bonner cry? I hope so.

[stlsaxman]

38. no, not just then... he saved all those tears for the 911 memorial show.

and boy, did they flow. he can turn them on/off like a tap.

what a phony.

[patrice]

15. No real Democrat will do what Republicans say.

I can see objecting to the rhetoric, if that's how you feel personally and ethically, but bowing down to MORALLY BANKRUPT Republicans is completely un-acceptable.

I want to see a thread in which DU keeps track of any Democrats who comply with these Republican demands. And that doesn't include Kerry, because he said what he said independently AND, for someone how disagrees with MoveOn's pun, he stated his objections politely.

[Warren Stupidity]

19. Once again our 'leaders' will fold like a cheap suit.

There is nothing wrong with the MoveOn ad other than it tells the truth, asks the tough questions, and doesn't worship fruit salad on lapels.

Is It Fascism Yet?

[ronnie624]

49. Everyone must bow to the God of War.

In typical fashion, the Republicans will leap with predatory relish at every opportunity to smear the Democrats as unpatriotic, and the corporate owned media will always subtly frame their story in a manner that favors the Republicans.

Removing the corruption from our government will be a monumental task, if it's even possible at all.

[tabasco]

60. Well said.

Sad days for the USA.

[nealmhughes]

20. uh, that's kinda what Moveon.org kinda does. . .

[mbee]

21. If the Democrats cave in to these intimidations then they

deserve to lose the election. We should stay home on Election Day!

[cali]

22. Democrats

would be well advised to mouth some meaningless stuff about free speech and how the repubs didn't denounce the name calling of the swift boat ads, and how they're not responsible for MoveOn's rhetoric. Let's see if they're smart enough to do it.

[lligrd]

23. Reid's Answer Should Be "Go F*** Yourselves, GOP" nt

[ShortnFiery]

50. It better be "no" ... Reid is proving to be one disappointment after another. Surprise me please?nt

[saigon68]

58. He has no spine

It is missing. He does however know how to Genuflect in front of "Gangster" Cheney

[Spazito]

25. Hmmm, I heard crickets from the repubs when the swift boat ads

surfaced, no condemnation there, no cry from ANYONE for those ads to be condemned, gee, hypocrisy yet again, shocking, truly shocking, NOT.

[last_texas_dem]

27. Good point

On what grounds are the Repugs even suggesting the Democratic Party endorses the Moveon.org ad? Because the Democratic Party and Moveon roughly share the same ideology? Pretty damn weak connection if you ask me, but I won't be surprised if some in the party fall for the trap. (I saw Joementum is already siding with the Repugs, but I don't count him as a Democrat anyway.)

[Canuckistanian]

40. Yes, good point

And they smeared everyone who had a Purple Heart by denigrating Kerry's medals during service in Vietnam.

[JaneQPublic]

46. True -- It was a disgusting display at the GOP Convention

[aggiesal]

29. Sounds like the truth hurts. n/t

[stimbox]

30. Crybabies...

[defendandprotect]

31. How about the GOP condemns their labeling dissent as "treason" ?????

And all the other propaganda they've put out over the years --
from "welfare queens" to "swiftboating" of Max Clelland -- or even John Kerry --

Maybe they want to stop suggesting that defunding the war is "abandoning our troops" .... ???

These are people who have done nothing but poison the political atmosphere over three decades and more -- what a joke!!!

[6000eliot]

33. They're goddamned idiots if they fall for this shit.

[girl_interrupted]

34. Senator Kerry, did you forget what they did to Max Cleland?

Comparing him to Bin Laden? Or how about Jack Murtha? Or Jon Stolz?

Maybe Senator Kerry didn't want to defend himself against the Swift Boaters..thats his business. But I thought Max Cleland was his friend. And as far as questioning anyone's patriotism, what was done to Max, was beyond disgraceful.


I still remember the GOP'ers 2004 Convention with the "Purple Heart" band aids too. Sickening.

If Dems "apologize" for this ad, they are crazy. It's not their ad to begin with...but they should definitely point out what was done to other vets by these hypocritical rethugs.

[karynnj]

54. Or maybe he holds himself to higher standards than the smearers

Maybe it is memory of all those attacks, that makes Kerry also speak against this. I'm sure that Cleland, Soltz and Murtha do not question in the least Kerry's commitment to them.

As he said to Sam Fox, 2 wrongs don't make a right.

Kerry is Cleland's friend and from a 2006 appearance they were both at the friendship is extremely close. Nothing Kerry said about this ad being wrong says those ads were ok. That is illogical - Kerry has consistently been against ALL of these attacks.

Kerry also did NOT apologize for the ad - as you said it's not theirs.

[donkeyotay]

62. Well said. What infuriating hypocrites. After all the dirty shit they've pulled

they want to whine over a bad pun, conflate the Democratic Party with Move On, and above all - DISTRACT from the real business at hand, which is the country trying to recover from this disastrous war. This war was started by the GOP and will continue until the country holds them accountable. No wonder they have to keep pointing at the liberals and wailing at the top of their crybaby lungs. Ooh, they said this, ooh, they said that. WWWWAAAAAAAA!. Crybaby Republicans. Always trying to silence people because they can dish it, but can't take it.

Thanks GOP for your stupid response to 9-11, for lying us into this war, for covering for that stoopid president who has impeachment written all over his ass, and for continuing to play politics with our nation's welfare. Go Cheney yerselves.

[Vinca]

35. 9 soldiers died in Iraq yesterday and the Republicans are worried

about words on a page. Everything's politics as usual - even dead soldiers.

[tom_paine]

39. Standard Bushie Propaganda Attack: Defend your extreme.

Once again, I stand consistently amazed at the lasck uf understanding (or is it simply fear) of our Democratic Leadership in sticking their chin in fron of EVERY right uppercut the Bushies throw!

HERE'S the answer, and it's the same goddamned answer we should have been saying since whenever the fuck this particular template came into use (late 90s)

ANSWER:"Senator, I will make no statement on MoveOn.org until and after YOU answer for Ann Coulter's call for terrorists to attack the New York Times building and for liberals to be randomly assualted and killed to intimidate them." (or insert ANY of the thousands of extreme craziness the Bushie Stormtroopers say and write, even their supposedly "sober" pundits)

For the thousandth time, I ask, "Can't they see this? Surely they couldn't be so stupid as to keep fallin for the same basic bullshit OVER AND OVER AND OVER?

But they can...and they do. Watch. What they need is a good COUNTER-ATTACK, no more puling and waffling.

WHY CAN'T THEY SEE THIS? WHY WON'T THEY SEE THIS?

[Maribelle]

41. The commanding general in Iraq is below the level of respect that Americans deserve, many believe.

Petraeus' mission in Congress was to deceive them. Petraeus was on an o mission. History books will rank Petraeus right down there with Powell, perhaps once fine and honorable men that turned into widdle puppets of Bush.

[saigon68]

59. Petraeus doesn't care about his subordinates

You know -----those who get a leg blown off.

He does however care about his future 7 figure job offer at Bechtel when he "retires"

[sampsonblk]

42. The ad was bad, but an apology is worse

These GOP devils are looking for a sign of weakness. Its time to shock and the world and not give it to them this time.

[niceypoo]

43. The ad told the truth

Remember the truth?

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

56. Have to agree there...

I just looked at the ad and there is nothing even remotely slanderous about it. Everything is sourced, and nearly as I can tell, everything is accurate. The worst part seems to be the play on the general's name. Whoopdee-fucking-doo.

And the fact that the general's "report" happens to dovetail precisely with Republican talking points would suggest to me that he's a shill who puts his own career advancement ahead of the lives of his troops.

And no, I'm not going to friggin' apologize for saying that.

[sampsonblk]

65. That's his job

The man has served this country all his life. This battle needs to be kept between politicians. Right now, Bush has the entire US military at his disposal. That's the way it has to be.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

73. Not sure I take your drift...

But to the extent that Patraeus has allowed himself to become a tool for politicizing the military (and what hasn't this Adminstration politicized?), then his actions and his motives are fair game. When he starts repeating administration talking points, he's just another pol.

[bunkerbuster1]

44. um, MINORITY party? that one that's in its death heaves with the American public?

Fuck off. You don't get to tell us what to do.

[4dsc]

45. Remember the GOP lady yesterday claiming

I seem to recall yesterday that the congresslady from Florida, called anyone opposed to the Iraq plan as "ENEMIES OF DEMOCRACIES".. I wish we would see movement to condemn her remarks..

[Maribelle]

47. And all the while her Cuban base in Miami pines for their old dictator, as they harbour terrorists.

You talk about enemies of democracies. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen wrote letters on behalf of several terrorists held in U.S. prisons for acts of violence.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58297-2005Apr16.html

[MissMillie]

48. Doesn't the Senate have anything more important to do?

I mean, seriously.... get back to getting the S-CHIP program funded... or something.

[ShortnFiery]

51. The Good Senators don't realize it yet, but 2008 will NOT be a good year for incumbents. nt

[cali]

74. Actually, it will be a very good year for dem incumbents.

There's only one seriously endangered dem senator; Landrieu in LA. As most people know, the dems have only 12 incumbent dems in the Senate up for re-election.

[Gen. Jack D. Ripper]

52. MoveOn has been WAY more over the top than this

Oh my God, they matched Petraeus with 'Betray Us.' Those slimy rhyming bastards!

[David__77]

53. Why do the Democrats even let them talk during sessions?

Why not just deprive them of the mic completely?

[Politicub]

61. Let's not stop there

Certainly we need to make an animal sacrifice in order to prove our allegiance to our esteemed military commander, followed by an orgy of self flagellation to earn his respect.

:puke:

[olddad56]

63. sort of hard for the GOP when the shoe is on the other foot.

They had no problem with the Swiftboat Veterans adds against John Kerry.

[mbee]

66. Republicans always excel at getting Democrats

to abandon their convictions! What a pity for us all!

[JerseygirlCT]

67. Just as soon as they all stand up and disavow the Swift Boats,

the lies that got us into Iraq... the list goes on and on.

This is the worst of political gamesmanship. No surprise at all that Lieberman's in the middle of it. I keep thinking it's not possible that I could like him less. He keeps surprising me, though. My disdain just grows and grows...

[MODemocrat]

69. GOP needs to apologize for General Powell lying about WMD

After what that sick bunch,(who were behind the swift boaters),did to John Kerry, I wouldn't apologize to anyone in the so-called GOP.(I don't consider them good enough to call themselves the GOP.) The neo-fascist party NFP is more befitting. :thumbsdown:

[moondust]

70. Unbridled hypocrisy.

Have their small attention spans simply forgotten The Great Swiftboat Defamation Campaign already?

[FVZA_Colonel]

76. Why should he have to "apologize" (which is what they mean by condemn) for something

he had nothing to do with? That may be an obvious question, but it really is the correct one to ask.