Media: Democrats have "no plan" for national security

[helderheid]

Media furthered false claim that Democrats have "no plan" for national security

http://mediamatters.org/items/200609050003

Recently, several media figures and news outlets have uncritically repeated or lent credence to the false Republican talking point that Democrats, for all their criticism of the Bush administration's Iraq war policy, have no plan of their own to deal with Iraq, terrorism, and national security in general. In fact, as Media Matters for America has noted, Democrats have offered several plans for addressing various issues related to U.S. involvement in Iraq and national security, but these plans either have gone largely unnoticed in the media or have been mischaracterized using GOP talking points.

The Associated Press reported on September 4 that Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (NV) and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA), along with 10 other senior congressional Democrats, sent the White House a letter criticizing President Bush for the administration's Iraq policy and urging Bush "to change course and adopt a new strategy to give our troops and the Iraqi people the best chance for success." The AP noted that the letter "suggests several changes long called for by Democratic leaders," but did not explain -- or even mention -- any of those changes.

On the September 3 broadcast of CBS' Face the Nation, guest host and CBS anchor Russ Mitchell, during an interview with Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean, uncritically repeated the Republican claim that "Democrats are quick to criticize, but thus far they've had no plan of their own, no specific plan as to how to fight the war on terror, how to end the war in Iraq," and asked Dean whether Democrats will "announce a specific plan before Election Day." Dean contradicted Mitchell's statement, saying: "That's actually completely untrue," and noted that Republicans have voted against Democratic proposals "for more port security, more aviation security, more rail security." Nevertheless, Mitchell asked Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) later in the same program whether he "agree" with Dean's statement that "the Democrats have, in fact, offered a plan to fight the war on terror." When McConnell answered: "I haven't seen it," Mitchell offered no challenge.

On the September 1 edition of MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, Chuck Todd, editor of the National Journal's weblog The Hotline, claimed that the Democrats "have not set a policy of strength at all," and that "they don't talk about, OK, this what we're going to do to make us stronger."

On the August 31 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, guest host John Kasich claimed that "the Democrats are in a weak position , because I don't understand what their strategy is there," and said of Democrats, "They can criticize the president, but that's not very effective if you can't say what the heck you would do." Responding to Kasich's analysis, Fox News analyst and National Public Radio senior correspondent Juan Williams stated: "I agree. You need a coherent strategy," later adding, "I don't think anybody has a plan." Larry Sabato, head of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics, claimed that Democrats "don't have a clear plan because they're divided into several different factions," adding: "They will have to come up with a specific plan for the presidential election in 2008." When Sabato asserted that some Democrats favor "immediate withdrawal," Kasich interrupted, stating that most Democrats are "talking about a gradual withdrawal," but added: "I don't know what that quite means. You know, I'm not sure what it means when I even talk about it."

From the September 4 Associated Press article:

In a letter released Monday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and 10 other congressional party leaders told Bush that considering making such a change would show he recognizes the problems his policies "have created in Iraq and elsewhere."

"While a change in your Iraq policy will best advance our chances for success, we do not believe the current civilian leadership at the Department of Defense is suited to implement and oversee such a change in policy," the lawmakers wrote.

The 850-word letter criticizes Bush's policies in Iraq, calling them part of a "stay the course strategy" that has failed to make the U.S. more secure, and it suggests several changes long called for by Democratic leaders.

Others who signed the letter were Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois, Carl Levin of Michigan, Joe Biden of Delaware, Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia and Daniel Inouye of Hawaii; and Reps. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Ike Skelton of Missouri, Tom Lantos and Jane Harman of California, and John Murtha of Pennsylvania.

From the September 3 broadcast of CBS's Face the Nation:

MITCHELL: Governor, Republicans say the Democrats are quick to criticize, but thus far they've had no plan of their own, no specific plan as to how to fight the war on terror, how to end the war in Iraq. Will you announce --

DEAN: That's actually --

MITCHELL: Will you announce a specific plan before Election Day?

DEAN: That's actually completely untrue, and I think you can ask Senator McConnell, who voted against a Democratic proposal to increase money for first responders so they can synchronize their radio, voted against the proposal -- with many of the other Republicans -- for more port security, more aviation security, more rail security. In many ways, the Republicans have turned down the suggestions that the Democrats have for improving our ability to defend our homeland, and we think it's time for a new direction.

<...>

MITCHELL: Senator McConnell, let me ask you this. Howard Dean just said the Democrats have, in fact, offered a plan to fight the war on terror. Do you agree with that?

McCONNELL: I haven't seen it. Their plan is to leave. They're having a big debate among themselves, sort of the McGovern wing, represented by Howard Dean and his group, that beat Joe Lieberman in the primary up in Connecticut, and the more reasonable people who understand that if you cut and run in Iraq, the terrorists will soon be back here, like they were on 9-11.

From the September 1 edition of MSNBC's Hardball:

A.B. STODDARD (associate editor of The Hill): I think it's good for Democrats to make Republicans defend Rumsfeld. I don't think they can lose. I mean, on balance, I don't think they lose. But I am not someone who thinks the Democrats have to, at this stage, set an Iraq policy, specific timetable.

TODD: But they still need to set -- they -- what they haven't done is they have not set a policy of strength at all. They have still sit there and said everything that's made us weaker, and they make that case very well these days, but they don't talk about, OK, this what we're going to do to make us stronger.

STODDARD: Well, I know, but, please, they are not on the ground. They are not executing this war. It's not their war. They are not supposed to give General Casey his marching orders. I just don't see why Democrats have to do that.

From the August 31 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:

KASICH: You know, when the president's opponents say that, you know, the fact is we want to get out of Iraq, but they don't say exactly what they mean. In other words, there's real no clear exit strategy for those that oppose the president's policies. They don't like it, but they don't say what they want to do. Does that make -- is it really harder to take the president on to go toe-to-toe with him when they don't have a clear message and a clear plan?

SABATO: Absolutely. And they don't have a clear plan because they're divided into several different factions, some wanting immediate withdrawal and some wanting it within a year and --

KASICH: But that's a small number, Larry, right? That's a very small number. Most of them are talking about a gradual withdrawal, but I don't know what that quite means. You know, I'm not sure what it means when I even talk about it.

SABATO: Well, sure. Gradual could mean the end of this year.

KASICH: Right.

SABATO: Could be gradual at least for some of the troops. Or it could mean five years. But the whole point is this is a midterm election. And the out-of-power party, the Democrats, gets a pass from the voters on this for the most part. They simply are allowed to oppose the incumbents, to oppose the White House party of the Republicans. They will have to come up with a specific plan for the presidential election in 2008.

<...>

KASICH: Well, I do -- I do respect a politician with -- with resolution. I do. Now, Juan, I think the Democrats are in a weak position, because I don't understand what their strategy is there. They can criticize the president, but that's not very effective if you can't say what the heck you would do.

WILLIAMS: I agree. You need a coherent strategy. And at the moment, it's interesting. Actually, the president and all this charge of appeasement and satisfying the terrorists coming from Cheney, from Rumsfeld -- you know, the Democrats have pretty much been supportive of the administration, now this claim that somehow if the Democrats win they're going to take away the money from the war. Where does that come from? People have asked the White House, you know, who did you see --

BARBARA COMSTOCK: (former Justice Department official): Nancy Pelosi.

WILLIAMS: -- who on the Democratic side said they'd do that? Nobody. But what you see -- I agree with you, John, you need a plan. It would be good if the Democrats had a plan.

KASICH: They're not gonna get a plan, Juan, it's Labor Day. I mean, how can they put a plan together?

WILLIAMS: Well, I don't think anybody has a plan. I mean, on the other hand, you can -- let's reverse it, John. Where's the Republican plan except "stay the course"? And you know where "stay the course" is taking us, it's taken us down the tube.

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[sui generis]

1. What is the plan?

Is there someplace we can go to check it out?

That's the only way we can shut these pie holes. We have to tell them what the plan is. FIRST.

Then we have to tell them what's wrong with theirs.

There are always going to be pols and pundits who "play stupid" as if they couldn't possibly know even if you staple-gunned them to their foreheads. We need to be able to deal with the fake-stupid people too, because the corollary to "you have to be an idiot to argue with an idiot" is that pretending to be an idiot in an argument will often turn your opponent into an idiot.

[PoiBoy]

2. Check this out...

http://democrats.org/agenda.html

hope it helps... :hi:

[sui generis]

4. thanks - still playing devil's advocate a bit longer

bear with me

Democrats have a plan that is comprehensive-- from repairing our military, to winning the war on terror, to protecting our homeland security, to ensuring success in Iraq and freeing America of its dependence on foreign oil--and it will finally prepare America for the security needs of the 21st Century. And we honor the sacrifices our troops, their families and veterans by making sure we take care of them when they come home.

Democrats are unwavering in our commitment to keep our nation safe. For Democrats, homeland security begins with hometown security. That's why we led the fight to create the Department of Homeland Security and continue to fight to ensure that our ports, nuclear and chemical plants, and other sensitive facilities are secured against attack and support increased funding for our first responders and programs like the COPS program so we keep our communities safe. We want to close the remaining gaps in our security by enacting the 9/11 Commission recommendations.

I think we need to be able to list bullet points. What are the top three 9/11 recommendations that we're going to implement? What are the Five Most Important parts of the plan? What is the single biggest thing, first on the list thing we're going to do? Can we get up in a bully's face on camera and start ticking these off on our fingers in a way that is memorable to anyone else foolish enough to ask the question? I know it's in the democratic agenda, but we have to be able to trot it out at the drop of a hat.

I think that may be what we're missing. There is a plan but we can't outline it effectively so they say we don't have a plan. Solution: articulate our plan.

My advice is don't say anything unsupportable.

1. We are NOT going to win the War on Terror, capital W capital T. That's like saying we're going to win the war on jazz. We ARE going to address what makes us vulnerable to terrorists, and we're going to address what makes us a target of terrorists, and we're going to round up terrorists and wannabe terrorists at every opportunity, but first we're going to stop making more of them.

2. We're going to beef up our military but not to become a military nation and a military state. We're going to do it by making the military a safer place to be, and by taking care of the safety and welfare of the sons and daughters of our nation who volunteer, before, during, and after their service.

3. We're going to increase funding to monitoring our ports today and to the technologies that will help monitor our ports in the future, and we're going to do everything in our power to share those skills and knowledge around the world so that terrorists are locked out, not just locked out of America, but locked out of anyplace they think to create a distraction, and caught when they try.

4. We don't buy that every American is a potential terrorist. We don't believe that we have to monitor Americans without any case or cause in order to find terrorists abroad. We don't believe that we need to invade your home, your personal privacy, your financial information, your personal phone conversations, in order to do our job. We don't believe you should be treated like a terrorist in America because there are real terrorists in Iraq.

5. We are going to unambiguously support ONE STANDARD of human rights the world over, and that means we are not going to torture, or condone torture. We are going to have a standard for democracy that goes beyond simple majority vote to one that supports a common standard of human rights for all humans regardless of their gender, affectional orientation, religion, skin color or any other rationale for prejudice and discrimination.

how 'bout that.

[ladjf]

6. The Democrats aren't in power. They couldn't implement a plan

if that had one. It's up to the pubs to provide the plan since they have all of the power.

[sui generis]

8. yes but that's not a convincing argument

We don't have a plan, it's not our responsibility, but please vote for us?

I agree that we do need to pound them until it hurts - they screwed up and they're going to continue to screw up, with or without a plan, as they have repeatedly proven.

[blm]

10. George Will even admitted Kerry's plan to fight terrorism was the best way

to do it just a few weeks ago - he said it on camera and again in one of his columns. Why is everyone pretending it didn't happen?

[NNguyenMD]

3. oh you mean versus listening to this plan from the GOP?

1) Continue with this pointless war and watching the enemy slowly kill off our soldier 2-3 at a time daily?

2) Whipping out the "terra" boogey man in the hopes that we shit our pants and surrender every last constitutional right that we have?

3) Keeping shopping and maxing out those credit cards with the latest plasma TV or H3, its supporting our troops.

[blm]

5. A few weeks ago GEORGE WILL said Kerry was right about HOW TO fight

terrorism and then repeated it in one of his columns - guess all the corpmedia MISSED Will's show and column that week.

[helderheid]

7. kick it

[stepnw1f]

9. Media Working Against the Dems AGAIN! (nt)