Politico Putz:Admits Reid "Comment" raised a ruckus

[Perky]

John Bresnahan said yesterday that Reid called Petraeus and Pace "incompetant" Look what he is is saying today:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0607/Reid_comments_on_Pace_Petraeus_cause_a_ruckus.html

Reid comments on Pace, Petraeus cause a ruckus


Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) caused a stir on Thursday when Politico reported some unfavorable comments he had made a couple of days earlier regarding Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. David Petraeus, U.S. commander in Iraq, during a conference call with liberal bloggers.

Initially, several of the bloggers who took part in Tuesday’s call challenged the article and said Reid had never made derogatory comments on Pace or Petraeus. But then one, Bob Geiger of BobGeiger.com, stepped forward to confirm that the Nevada Democrat did in fact call Pace an “incompetent man” during the interview.



As reported by Geiger, here is Reid’s full quote on Pace from Tuesday's call:

"I guess the president, uh, he's gotten rid of Pace because he could not get him confirmed here in the Senate... Pace is also a yes-man for the president and I told him to his face, I laid it out to him last time he came to see me, I told him what an incompetent man I thought he was.”

Geiger said the Politico article did not offer adequate context for Reid's remarks. "What he said about Pace was not said in the spirit of throwing some rhetorical red meat to a bunch of liberal bloggers by gratuitously bashing Gen. Pace -- which is certainly what one could infer from The Politico's 'reporting' on this story," Geiger wrote.

Several of the bloggers on the call also said they did not remember Reid saying anything about Petraeus, although other sources familiar with the conversation said Reid did make “disparaging remarks” about the Iraq commander.

During a press conference on Thursday afternoon in the Capitol, Reid said he was not alone in his criticism of Pace, and that he had told Pace of his concerns personally.

[babylonsister]

1. He's patting himself on the back; I'm sorry I went there. And FWIW,

Reid admitted to what he said (and he should be proud of stating the truth!):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1116901&mesg_id=1116901

[lazer47]

2. Being Incompetent is a requirement to work for GWB and Karl

[blondeatlast]

3. I agree--the incompetence SHOULD be called out when thousands of lives are at stake on a daily basis

Don't back down, Harry.

[Perky]

4. you miss the point

He took second hand infor could not independently verify anbd wrot the article saying that Reid call BOTH Pace and Petraeus "incompetant"

Now He is saying well I have a single source for the comment on Pace. But now has dropped the notion of any criticism of Petraeus coming from Reid about Petraeus.

There is a huge difference between criticising Pace and Petraues. as the latter is in the field, in harms way and Pace is being retired.

[blondeatlast]

6. And still no direct quote from anyone about what was actually said, am I right?

Anyway, I won't be adding Politico to my bookmarks anytime soon. I haven't thus far and see no reason to after they've screwed things up at least three times.

Thanks for clarifying, P. I knew there had to be much more than Politico reported (if you can really call that reporting!).

[babylonsister]

8. Yes, Reid himself discussed it last night:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1116901&mesg_id=1116901

[blondeatlast]

9. I should have specified from Politico, but thanks for the link. nt

[rodeodance]

7. agree

[Perky]

5. Link to the original article

From Politico.com

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0607/4490.html

excerpts from articles)

By: John Bresnahan
Jun 14, 2007 06:21 AM EST


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "incompetent" during an interview Tuesday with a group of liberal bloggers, a comment that was never reported.

Reid made similar disparaging remarks about Army Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said several sources familiar with the interview.

This is but the latest example of how Reid, under pressure from liberal activists to do more to stop the war, is going on the attack against President Bush and his military leaders in anticipation of a September showdown to end U.S. involvement in Iraq, according to Democratic senators and aides.