Democrats Fear Backlash at Polls for Antiwar Remarks

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/06/AR2005120601707_pf.html
Democrats Fear Backlash at Polls for Antiwar Remarks

By Jim VandeHei and Shalaigh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, December 7, 2005; A01

Strong antiwar comments in recent days by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean have opened anew a party rift over Iraq, with some lawmakers warning that the leaders' rhetorical blasts could harm efforts to win control of Congress next year.

Several Democrats joined President Bush yesterday in rebuking Dean's declaration to a San Antonio radio station Monday that "the idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong."

The critics said that comment could reinforce popular perceptions that the party is weak on military matters and divert attention from the president's growing political problems on the war and other issues. "Dean's take on Iraq makes even less sense than the scream in Iowa: Both are uninformed and unhelpful," said Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.), recalling Dean's famous election-night roar after stumbling in Iowa during his 2004 presidential bid.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel (Ill.) and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (Md.), the second-ranking House Democratic leader, have told colleagues that Pelosi's recent endorsement of a speedy withdrawal, combined with her claim that more than half of House Democrats support her position, could backfire on the party, congressional sources said..........

All they care about is politics not what is right or wrong. It was politics that got us into Iraq in the first place since the vote came up right before the '02 elections--too many Dems supported the resolution becuz they didn't want to be accused of being soft on Terrorism/Defense.

I do not think this will be a problem. They actually hurt themselves even making these bullshit stupid statements more than the comments about the war do.

......These sources said the two leaders have expressed worry that Pelosi is playing into Bush's hands by suggesting Democrats are the party of a quick pullout -- an unpopular position in many of the most competitive House races.

"What I want Democrats to be discussing is what the president's policies have led to," Emanuel said. He added that once discussion turns to a formal timeline for troop withdrawals, "the how and when gets buried" and many voters take away only an impression that Democrats favor retreat.

Pelosi last week endorsed a plan by Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) to withdraw all U.S. troops in Iraq within six months, putting her at odds with most other Democratic leaders and leading foreign policy experts in her party.......

Marshall's comment comes straight from the Repug playbook. He's undercutting his own party chairman! Un friggin' believable.

What will backfire on our party, like it alwasys has, is trying to avoid taking stands that we know are right. We are seen as flip-floppers, vacillators, appeasers, and weak kneed. And it's because we lack party unity and have too many people like Holy Joe and Marshall, that the labels stick. It kills us with the male vote.

although it would be harder for them to spread their BS if there weren't several DINO's like Lieberman & Biden who all over the media undercutting the Dems at every opportunity.

More up-is-down-ism from the War Party.

for boasting about cozying up to K Street. From Roll Call:

"A House Democratic project designed to dip into deep K Street wallets entered its second phase of the 2006 cycle Tuesday, as a group of prominent moderate Members enlisted business donors to shell out thousands of dollars to help the party’s top-tier candidates. Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.), along with Reps. Joe Crowley (N.Y.), John Tanner (Tenn.) and Ellen Tauscher (Calif.), met Tuesday afternoon with roughly 50 business-minded Democratic consultants, lobbyists and corporate officers to get them to commit to writing checks to their most worthy party hopefuls next year. The same group spent the better half of 2005 raising money from the same set of donors for the most vulnerable House Democratic incumbents. 'House Democrats are in a good position to make significant gains in next year’s election, so it’s an important time to work with our friends downtown to remind them we have common goals and that they have a stake in helping to elect Democrats,' Hoyer said."

http://www.workingforchange.com/blog/index.cfm?mode=entry&entry=05DD5D53-ED60-45B6-9D5328E8367B52E4

Money's swell, and businesses that remain good citizens are valuable, but could they at least wait to see where the indictments are gonna land?

or have Harry Truman's words tattooed on his forehead. Remember the famous line "If you give folks the choice between a Republican and a Republican-they'll vote for the Republican." (paraphrasng)

I agree that the Dems must speak clearly, sensibly and give Bush no quarter in his handling of Iraq and the "War on Terror".

think". AAARRRGGGHH!!!!!

All they need to do is claim often and loudly that 'this is going to cause the Dems to lose' and then when they steal the elections, they will say "Told you so!"

Come on folks - we have got to **chew Howard Dean's ass until he announces a 50-State Strategy to prevent the theft of elections** NOW! NOW! NOW!

Disclaimer: I LIKE Howard. He is doing **a lot** right. And we desperately need him to lead on this issue.

:kick:

Democrats "fear" backlash? why not Some Democrats Show concern? Yup, the Post is up to its old tricks, alright.

DEAN IS RIGHT ON, as is Pelosi and Murtha.

Yes, the far far right of the party is probably afraid, but the majority of Americans (wish they'd all vote) want us out of Iraq with a timetable, maybe not 6 months, but they're going on what Bush tells them is BADDDDD, as he would say it, but anyhow, with military hawks like Murtha and Clark out there to help us, we should be just fine. As long as so called Dems shut up about how Dean is hurting us... azz!