Mehlman shows new GOP Script: Democrats want to "Surrender"

[Sparkly]

The theme's the same, but note the new emphasis on the word "surrender."

"America faces a critical question," Mehlman said in his prepared text. "Will we elect leaders who recognize we're at war and want to use every tool to win it, or politicians who would surrender important tools we need to win?"

If Democrats win control of Congress, Mehlman claimed that their leaders will stop the National Security Agency from eavesdropping on foreign terrorists and pursue impeachment of President Bush.

(snip)

"As foreign jihadists call into the United States, do we use (National Security Agency) technology to stop sleeper cells before they hit us? Or do we surrender use of this technology, as Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean would have us do?"

How do you think our Democratic leaders should respond to this?

Edited to add link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060805/ap_on_el_ge/republican_strategy

[jobycom]

1. Work the words lie, steal and murder into every sentence.

"The Republicans are lying down for a nap. The Republicans are trying to steal a few votes with this tactic. They will murder the Constitution."

[OzarkDem]

2. How about Quagmire?

Quagmire in Iraq, in US, in economy, in the world, GOP has muddled everything.

[young_at_heart]

3. At War? What country are we AT war with?

It would be nice if the Democrats pounded this obvious political tactic into the ground. Iraq is a police action.

[tanyev]

4. I'm fully prepared to surrender Ken Mehlman to anyone that wants him.

[ProSense]

5. DNC: "Ken Mehlman's desperate rantings won't change the fact that Bush ...

DNC Response to RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman's Remarks at Summer Meeting

August 4, 2006

The Democratic National Committee issued the following response to Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman's remarks at today's RNC meeting:

"Ken Mehlman's desperate rantings won't change the fact that Bush and his rubber-stamp Republicans are in deep trouble with the American people who can see right through their trickery and spin," said Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney. "The American people will not be fooled again. No matter how hard Mehlman and Republicans try to spin the political landscape, they can't run away from the fact that President Bush's policies have taken America in the wrong direction, and Congressional Republicans have been a rubber-stamp for his failed agenda. From the war in Iraq, to health care, to skyrocketing gas prices, creating good paying jobs, lowering gas prices, investing in lifesaving research like stem cells, to keeping America safe at home, Republicans have failed miserably. Democrats offer a new direction that puts America's hardworking families ahead of special interest, partisan political games.

"We certainly won't be lectured to by Republicans who have sent our brave troops off to war without the proper equipment, continue to ignore the facts on the ground as Iraq slips into civil war, ignore the growing threats in Iran and North Korea or blocked Democrats' efforts to close the gaps in our security right here at home.

"Do they really think they can win on a platform of tax breaks for their pals in big oil, pharmaceutical companies and a handful of the super rich at a time when hardworking American families are struggling to make ends meet, our seniors can't afford their prescription drugs and our children have been saddled with trillions in Republican debt?"

http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/08/dnc_response_to_5.php

[Sparkly]

7. I was looking for DUers' thoughts on how they should respond ...

...before showing how the DNC did respond, so far.

Of course, this sounds like a theme the GOP will continue through November -- so there's a lot more responding to do!!

[ProSense]

9. Oops! I'm sure

you'll still get lot's of feedback!

[Sparkly]

11. That's okay!

I like how you're right on the ball, ProSense. :hi:

[MissWaverly]

16. they should surrender the technology that invades my privacy

who are they to snoop and pry into the lives of everyday Americans just because they have the
TECHNOLOGY, woo hoooo, just because we had nuclear weapons didn't mean that we should have nuked
somebody. They have trampled the rights of many and put the lives of many at risk thru their
careless handling of the government both pre and post 9-11. They MUST go.

[Sparkly]

21. I don't have a problem with the technology

if they use it the way it's intended (with legal oversight, warrants, showing cause, etc.). I doubt we can make the technology itself go away, but no need to surrender our "freedom" and privacy, as you point out, out of fear of "The Terrorists."

[MissWaverly]

24. I am not talking about the single tap

but the big brother device logging every single phone call. I have heard from a reliable source that at my friend's bank, Homeland Security comes in every month and routinely audits the business
accounts of everybody, they look at every single transaction for everybody. This is what I
am talking about, not the occasional search which is related to a legal investigation but
broad snooping.

[Turbineguy]

6. This is a good idea I think

the worse, the more obviously false their propaganda is the better. The true believers will believe them anyway. It's the people who have a tiny bit of critical thinking ability left who will leave their planet.

Back during the Vietnam war days, a friend of mine got drafted. His conservative parents were proud to send him off to war to get those commie rats (those were the days when conservatives actually sent their kids to fight the wars). What a difference 6 months later! OK, they were not marching but they were definitely against the war.

[cureautismnow]

8. Bush-boy Surrendered on 9/11.

He did absolutely zilch to defend this country on that day. He also surrendered to the anthrax killer.

[Sparkly]

10. He's surrendering OUR Freedom!!

That's one of the responses I'd like to hear. He's willing to surrender the Bill of Rights, Congressional oversight/ balance of powers, and legal protections of citizens' privacy.

[mike_c]

12. surrender sounds perfectly fine to me....

Let's see.... Surrender? Or fight an undefined, unending, and unwinnable war?

Only one of those is a viable option. Call it what ever you want, surrender or coming to our senses-- it's all good for me as long as we stop.

[welshTerrier2]

13. the most important "tool" we have to "win the war" ...

is one that Mehlman and his party of fascists would never understand ...

the most important tool we have to bring peace to our country and the rest of the world is the US Constitution that the republicans are so busy trashing ... by honoring our values and respecting the founding principles of the US, we become a ROLE MODEL for other countries ...

by promoting "all war all the time", as Mehlman advocates, and trashing our own country's values, we lose allies and encourage other countries and cultures to fight us ...

it's hard to argue "they hate us for our freedoms" when Mehlman and his party of fascists are so busy revoking them ...

[msongs]

14. is Mehlman a chickenhawk? nt

[AndreaCG]

22. Probably

The military doesn't accept gays.

Oh wait he's in the closet.

Nah still a chickenhawk.

[Catchawave]

15. "We are the invader !?"

"...and we should surrender ourselves to that fact first!"

I'd like to see Dem leaders address the flip-flopping of facts, for instance:

Which RW statement is correct:

- Democrats' anti-war comments demoralizes the troops.

- The troops' morale is high.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

17. My try

Our new Democratic Congress will provide the President with any legitimate tools he needs in a war on terror, but we will do it legally, Constitutionally and with due process and oversight, as is our responsibility to the American people. We will be stronger, not weaker, as a result.

[Sparkly]

18. Excellent!!

That goes right to the accusation. :thumbsup: Could you work the word "surrender" into it someplace?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

19. thanks , I just edited it because I thought it was one word too long.

It does go right to the accusation.I think if you use the word surrender yourself, you will be inadvertently repeating and reinforcing the meme and actually weakening your own argument. In argument, seize control and don't be defensive.

[Sparkly]

20. See the DNC reply in post #5 above

I think the strategy is to put it back on the GOP, but by changing the topic (almost multiple-choice -- there's something there for everybody) but I wish it at least *included* a direct reply to the accusation.

My thought was to turn the word "surrender" back on them somehow. Your point of view is one to think about, though... :hi:

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

23. I kind of like the DNC response

I like the feisty "we 're not gonna take it anymore" attitude. I kind of wish they would work my sentence or something like it into further responses as this campaign goes on.

One other thing - I am always amazed at how ineffectual our talking heads seem to be - I'm talking about those somewhat anonymous "now representing the Democratic viewpoint" people that you see on Hardball and the like. The only really effective presenter is Katrina Vandenhuevel. She always looks bemused that they can be so idiotic while she slays them with reality.

Aside from her, there are hundreds of posters on this Board, yourself included, who could do a better job of deflecting Republican bile. I think The DNC should make it mandatory that everyone monitors or patrols these boards (and others) to keep informed and to pick up some great rejoinders. :hi:

[oberliner]

25. How about this:

"Will we elect leaders who recognize we're at war and want to use every tool to win it, or politicians who ignore important tools we need to win like diplomacy which are LYING right there in front of their faces?"

"As foreign jihadists call into the United States, do we legally and constitutionally use (National Security Agency) technology to stop sleeper cells before they hit us, as Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean would have us do? Or do we ignore the words that are LYING right there in the U.S Constitution as our current President has chosen to do?"

[flpoljunkie]

26. Mehlman, please explain Hagel's call for phased redeployment within 6 mos?

Is Senator Chuck Hagel, R-Nebraska, "surrendering" too?

[ComerPerro]

27. Elect leaders who recognize we are at war? Does that mean we

want leaders who won't take more vacation days than actual days they work while we are at war?

Leaders who will focus on passing legislation that will help the country and our war effort, rather than just election year bullshit like a gay marriage ban and a flag burning amendment?

Leaders who will actually have the courage to ask ALL Americans to sacrifice for the war effort, and not just the lower and middle class?