Republican Majority leader blames troops

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

House Majority Leader John Boehner: Wolf, I understand that, but let's not blame what's happening in Iraq on Rumsfeld.
Wolf Blitzer: But he's in charge of the military.
Boehner: But the fact is the generals on the ground are in charge and he works closely with them and the president.

Yeah. Deflect blame for Rummy's mistakes onto the men on the ground. Way to support those troops baby!!!!

Where are all the right wingers on this board demanding apologies on the behalf of our troops? Why I would think they'd be right behind Rush and the right wing echo chamber demanding apologies.

Oh silly me. It's ok if you're a Republican. I forgot. Move along, nothing to see.

 

[Mugg Mann]

The silence of conservative posters around this goes to show that first and foremost it's all about partisan politics for them.

 

[sleepydog25]

The silence of conservative posters around this goes to show that first and foremost it's all about partisan politics for them.

As it always has been and always shall be: myopic, regressive, and tragically sad.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I'm stunned that the first time I'm hearing this is on the Dis. With all the fuss of JK, why is CNN not all over this?? It was even said on one of their shows?? Why aren't they pushing this to the front page?

Rumsfeld should have been out LONG ago. I'd have fired him and his whole team.

 

[TheDoctor]

The Democratic Whip in the House has a great statement about House Majority Leader Boehner's insult of our troops. http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Sen._Reid_blasts_Rep._Boehner_for_1101.html

A statement also came from the office of House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) which said that "John Boehner's comments defending Donald Rumsfeld and, by implication, laying the blame for our failures in Iraq on the military just shows how out of touch he is with the American people and the situation on the ground in Iraq."

"The responsibility for the gross miscalculations and incompetence in the war in Iraq lies with the Secretary of Defense and ultimately with the Commander in Chief," the statement continued. "Our troops have performed brilliantly, with honor and courage. Any suggestion otherwise is outrageous."

Bush went on record today stating that Rummy will be with bush through the end of his administration. Boehner had no choice but to insult our troops in order to defend Rumsfeld.

 

[TheDoctor]

From DNC Chairman Dean http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/11/dean-to-boehner-apologize.html

Boehner Owes Military An Apology

Washington, DC – Today during an interview on CNN, House Republican Leader John Boehner blamed the military for the problems with the Bush Administration’s failed Iraq policies. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement calling on Boehner to apologize to the men and women in the armed services for his irresponsible election year rhetoric:

“After the Bush Administration’s numerous failures in Iraq, to blame our brave troops is just wrong. John Boehner should apologize immediately. Once again, Republican leadership is pointing fingers rather than taking responsibility for their failures. Our brave troops deserve better from Republican leaders like Don Rumsfeld, John Boehner and Dick Cheney.”

 

[VampHeartless]

Well, at least it's nice to see that now both parties are agreement that our military is stupid.

 

[suzannen]

This is the first I heard of this either, yet I heard 20 minutes this morning about Kerry's unfortunate comment. Go figure, you just cannot make this stuff up. Well, at least all of this stuff keeps giving Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert lots of material to choose from...

 

[Fitswimmer]

Can a Democratic Senate force Rummy out if GW wants to keep him? I thought once the Cabinet choices were made, then it was the President's discretion.

Even though I agree that the Iraq war has been screwed up nine ways to Sunday there are a number of domestic issues where I disagree with the Democratic platform. (yes, I've gone to their website and read it) If a Democratic congress really can't change the course of the war because they can't remove Rummy or anyone else at Defense, then I'm not interested in letting them have control.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

The silence of conservative posters around this goes to show that first and foremost it's all about partisan politics for them.

Conservative here, and this is the first I've heard of it. Blaming those who are running the war from the front lines is wrong and he should apologize.

 

[poohandwendy]

Conservative here, and this is the first I've heard of it. Blaming those who are running the war from the front lines is wrong and he should apologize.

I agree.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Another conservative checking in...

Also the first I have heard of this. (I don't spend my days following the talking heads... I have better things to do)

The insinuations that the silence here speaks against conservatives as a whole is just plain wrong.

If this is how it appears, then I agree that an apology is in order.

Everyone, both parties, should step up and take responsibility for their words and actions.

 

[TheDoctor]

Another Democratic Party leaders demands that GOP Majority Leader Boehner apologize to the military. http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20061101/pl_usnw/reid__boehner_blames_the_military306_xml

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid released the following statement on House Majority Leader John Boehner's decision to blame the troops for Republican failures in Iraq.

"John Boehner ought to be ashamed. He's blaming our troops for failures in Iraq. If he wants to cast blame, he can start by looking in the mirror because he and his Congressional Republican colleagues have rubberstamped the Bush Administration's failed policy for nearly four years. Our troops in Iraq have performed bravely. It's political leaders like Congressman Boehner and Donald Rumsfeld, who have failed. I expect President Bush and Congressional Republicans, who demanded John Kerry apologize, hold their own party's majority leader to a much higher standard. There's no spinning his disparaging comments. He made them. He needs to apologize."

 

[lyeag]

Conservative here, and this is the first I've heard of it. Blaming those who are running the war from the front lines is wrong and he should apologize.

Another conservative here. The buck does not stop at the generals. Stuff rolls uphill too.

 

[Mugg Mann]

Conservative here, and this is the first I've heard of it. Blaming those who are running the war from the front lines is wrong and he should apologize.

I agree.

Another conservative checking in...

Also the first I have heard of this. (I don't spend my days following the talking heads... I have better things to do)

The insinuations that the silence here speaks against conservatives as a whole is just plain wrong.

If this is how it appears, then I agree that an apology is in order.

Everyone, both parties, should step up and take responsibility for their words and actions.

Another conservative here. The buck does not stop at the generals. Stuff rolls uphill too.

Thank you all for your comments, and I find it gratifying to find some measure of bipartisan fairness around the comments.

For what it's worth, I've stayed away from the Kerry threads because while I do feel his comments were deliberately made into something that was not the original intent, Kerry made a huge mistake by putting himself into a position to allow it to allow others to capitalize on it in the first place, especially so close to the general election. A man of his experience should know better.

I will bring up one additional point. For those who heard about it on the DIS for the first time, please ask yourself why. If the general media is as truly liberal as most perceive it to be, why was this not given as much (if not more) airtime than Kerry's comments?

Food for thought, and again, your collective condemnation of the comments in the OP is indeed noted and greatly appreciated.

 

[eclectics]

Thank you all for your comments, and I find it gratifying to find some measure of bipartisan fairness around the comments.

For what it's worth, I've stayed away from the Kerry threads because while I do feel his comments were deliberately made into something that was not the original intent, Kerry made a huge mistake by putting himself into a position to allow it to allow others to capitalize on it in the first place, especially so close to the general election. A man of his experience should know better.

I will bring up one additional point. For those who heard about it on the DIS for the first time, please ask yourself why. If the general media is as truly liberal as most perceive it to be, why was this not given as much (if not more) airtime than Kerry's comments?

Food for thought, and again, your collective condemnation of the comments in the OP is indeed noted and greatly appreciated.

Good post. I too am amazed at the scant exposure this is getting. I can understand saving face and having to defend Rumsfeld, at least publicly, but that was a stupid statement and if Bush, Cheney, and Co. are going to continue to squawk about Kerry, they should admonish Boehner also....Publicly.

 

[conciergekelly]

...Boehner also remarked yesterday, during FOX News's coverage of President Bush's remarks related to Kerry, that "If Kerry doesn't apologize, we're going to beat him to death until he does."

Nice.

 

[poohandwendy]

I will bring up one additional point. For those who heard about it on the DIS for the first time, please ask yourself why. If the general media is as truly liberal as most perceive it to be, why was this not given as much (if not more) airtime than Kerry's comments?

Actually, I can't even tell you how much airtime either situation has received because I heard about both stories here. I haven't even watched the news or read a paper since the weekend. (my bad)

 

[Fitswimmer]

I've been avoiding the news because of the political ads. I have Directv and the campaign ads don't run on TNT so I watch Law and Order instead of the news!
I did see the item on CNN's website after I read it here.

 

[TheDoctor]

Here is another great quote from Boehner. http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/131

BOEHNER: I think Donald Rumsfeld is the best thing that's happened to the Pentagon in 25 years. This - this Pentagon and our military needs a transformation. And I think Donald Rumsfeld is the only man in America who knows where the bodies are buried at the Pentagon, has enough experience to help transform that institution. Let's not take the problems in Iraq, the tough fight that we're in there and blame it on anyone.” [ABC, 10/29/06]

Boehner's love of Rumsfeld has led him to attack our troops. Someone has to take the blame for the botched war in Iraq and Boehner has decided that it needs to be our troops instead of Rumsfeld.