Democratic Unity -- Behind The Scenes
A united Democratic Party leadership forcefully and formally conveyed their position on the Iraq war... in a late afternoon letter with one chamber out of session and no public fanfare?
We believe that a phased redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq should begin before the end of 2006. U.S. forces in Iraq should transition to a more limited mission focused on counterterrorism, training and logistical support of Iraqi security forces, and force protection of U.S. personnel.
Huh? After all the carping and worrying and divisive internal party votes, the news that the Democrats had agreed – agreed! -- as a party caught Democrats, Republicans and reporters by surprise.
Check out the press coverage -- the Washington Post recognized its significance and allotted front page space. The New York Times asked its chief political writer to make sense of it. The Los Angeles Times ignored it, as did most other news organizations.
According to several Democratic leadership aides, Sens. Carl Levin (MI) and Jack Reed (RI) thought a joint letter would publicly demonstrate the party’s unity on Iraq. In June, their amendment to the Defense Department budget authorization bill calling for a phased redeployment and progress reports attracted 37 other Democratic senators. At the same time, however, an alternative put forth by Sens. John Kerry and Russ Feingold urged a calendar-pegged withdrawal. The press and Republicans focused on the divergent opinions, even though Democratic candidates like Ned Lamont of CT supported the Reed-Levin approach. (Lieberman's camp notes that Lamont supported both bills.)
“Levin and Reed have been looking to bring into more people into the Levin-Reed framework,” said a senior Democratic aide privy to internal discussions. “There were discussions at the time about how to bring more House members into the fold,” the aide said.
The roll out was subdued, according to leadership sources, by necessity. The House is out of session and members are spread across the country. Scheduling a Senators-only press conference would be impolitic. House members saw the letter and tweaked the language late last week.
Even though the Reed-Levin framework represents a converging caucus approach, it was hard to corral approval from members with viewpoints and rhetorical positions as diverse as Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) and Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE). Markos Moulitas rightly "Wow"s at that).
Aides said the trick for Democrats would be to contrast their position, characterized by one as “responsible redeployment as part of a broader comprehensive strategy” with Republicans who promise to “stay the course,” as Sen. Bill Frist said last week. “That is a contrast we would like. We’d be happy to have that debate,” said one leadership aide.
Republicans won’t let is rest. Ron Bonjean, House Speaker Dennis Hastert's communications director, e-mailed a statement saying
"The Democratic Leadership continues to demand that American soldiers end their mission and wave the white flag of surrender to the terrorists that we are. fighting in Iraq. In fact, 42 Democrats defied their leadership and stood with House Republicans last month to support both our troops and their mission in Iraq as part of winning the Global War on Terror.
And an internal RNC news summary sent to talk radio hosts today includes this headline: Dems Finally Unite On Cut-And-Run.[MARC AMBINDER]
jack reed is from WV? since when? he's from RI.
what's this happening with Marc Abinder? is he on drugs o something?
The Republicans sure don't allow any facts to interrupt their "Cut and Run" message.
We need to cut our lossed because there is nothing to be gained.
"Trick" is right. What a continuing con.
This is the same damn "should start before" (and end never) language contained in the Levin/Reed utterly nonbinding resolution that still only 37 Democrats could bring themselves to vote for in June.
OF COURSE the Washington Post and NY Times rushed to highlight it: they are 100% behind ANYTHING that will promote and preserve the STATUS QUO, as this letter conveniently does in the end. [Note to journalists: THIS and MORE is already the LAW OF THE LAND - see last December's nonbinding resolution about 2006 being "a year of SIGNIFICANT transition" in Iraq - ha, ha, ha. Good one, huh?]
What is sickening here is that it appears that this lame letter has now substituted for the push Reid and Durbin promised ten days or so ago (via CNN) on the Defense Appropriations Bill, which is now under consideration in the Senate. They were going to offer solutions to the Iraq disaster as amendments. Is this meaningless letter their idea of a "solution"???
Democrats: Since it appears more and more obvious that fundamentally you loathe Arab peoples and 'dark-skinned' cultures wherever they may be, just like the Republican Party and the corporate media -- ADMIT IT already. ADMIT you'll keep us in Iraq for good 'since we've invested so much already' (which will become obvious just as soon as the elections are over with).
Barbara Boxer doesn't seem to give a damn about the deaths in Lebanon. [And we know Chuck Schumer doesn't, while he still fully supports the ongoing carnage in Iraq along with Lieberman.] And Boxer thinks Iraq "owes" us for what we have done for (to) their country without being asked. Has she or Chuck Schumer ever considered what a damning memorial such a self-absorbed, cut-throat attitude as theirs is for all those poor, innocent civilians who were, en masse, forced unknowingly to their deaths in Nazi prison camps, just because of their ethnic background, which Boxer and Schumer happen to share? I have. And it appalls me to see the descendants of the victims embrace the inhuman behavior of the murderous tyrants who victimized their ancestors. TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT.
the democrats are too lame and too late.
the american public has shifted their limited attention to lebanon.
in the meantime if you haven't noticed the gop, via fox news and hate radio, has managed to convince our limited public that yes there were wmd's in iraq.
there is no VOICE in the democratic party; only much dithering...