Posted by Frank James at 10:04 am CDT
The White House political operation, like other Republican operatives in town, tries to be very helpful to us Washington reporters, often sending us press releases under the heading "In case you missed it...," pointing out information that is favorable to the Bush administration or Republicans generally.
This morning, the White House Communications Office emailed under the "In case you miss it..." rubric a column that ran in today's Washington Post. It's by Peter Beinart, editor-at-large of the New Republic, a liberal publication which must be as much fun for people in the White House to read as the National Review is over at the Democratic National Committee.
Anyway, Beinart's column accuses congressional Democrats of pandering this week to Jewish voters through their criticism of the visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for inveighing against Israel but failing to condemn Hezbollah for the Lebanon situation.
Beinart was essentially accusing Democrats of playing politics at the expense of Maliki who is the U.S.'s best hope currently to stabilize Iraq which would allow American troops to leave. It was a view the White House communications operation was obviously endorsing.
That the White House agrees with Beinart will only confirm for congressional Democrats like Sens. Harry Reid, the Senate minority leader from Nevada; Charles Schumer of New York; Richard Durbin of Illinois; Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader from California et al. all believe that they made the right call on the issue.
Also, there's definitely something ironic about the White House, whose chief political strategist is Karl Rove, sending out a column that accuses the Democratic opposition of political pandering.
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Comments
Let's see, if the dems are critical, they are pandering for votes. If they say nothing, they're cut @ run cowards.
Here's what they should be asking. The U.S. gives Israel 3 bil. in miltary hardware every year. Now, they're using it to blow the **** out of lebanon, rightfully or wrong, I don't know. But this cheney crowd is cheering em on and doing nothing to facilitate a cease-fire. Now,we're going to give lebanon us tax dollars to re-build after they let Isreal pound the **** out of them. Is this how conservitives spend our money?
Posted by: john scanlon | July 28, 2006 10:42 AM
John D this is about Washington not here had to make that clear.Swiftboating will not work Republicans in Washington have a record that can and will be destoyed. Secure America has not happen under their watch at all borders,buses,trains,nuke and chem plants not protected.Stay the course is not working need a New Direction.Cuts in Veterans Bebefits,out of control spending. Trade deficits out of sight jusy China 800 billion.Deficits at home way out of line. Promises to seniors broker Med D meds are now going way up.A energy bill that was welfare for oil companies.While we here at home suffer from Gas prices and home bills that are back breakers. A Foreign policy thats a joke. No Karl don't throw rocks when your record is in the deep do do
Posted by: Dale Peters | July 28, 2006 10:54 AM
Accusations of political pandering from Karl Rove? If anyone in Washington is guilty of political pandering, that would be the guy. It still amazes me there are people that believe that guy’s bulls**t.
Posted by: Rory M | July 28, 2006 11:31 AM
The first three comments encapsulate the Hate-Bush crowd. Two curse instead of argue, and the third can't put together a grammatical sentence. And none get to the point of the Beinart New Republic article, which is all about how Liberals should stop being sock puppets for the Hate-Bush mob.
Posted by: Bruce | July 28, 2006 12:35 PM
Politicians pander because it works. If 'gay marriage' can win you an election, anything is fair game. I think it's also ridiculous to assert that one party is more guilty of pandering than another. These are politicians and their #1 objective is to get re-elected. Dems are pissed because Rove is so effective. All they have is Howard Dean!
Posted by: drew | July 28, 2006 12:47 PM
This is a non-issue issue if the Repub. lawmakers would look at themselves. They've pandered so many times; it's a number maybe just under the number of stars in the universe. So, now the Dems. do it, and it's a big deal.
But, there's still a difference, because it seems the Repubs. are oftentimes frothing at the mouths about some "Z" priority issue when the "A" priority ones are directly in their faces demanding action.
Posted by: Jim B. | July 28, 2006 1:15 PM
Bruce,sorry we're not on your level.I would like to ask,are we more hate full then you guys were towards clinton?Would you find me more intelligent if I yelled out @ world conf. of int.leaders, yo blair, you gotta tell them syrians to stop that ****. Then maybe gave a back rub to the german leader that i just met?
Bruce, just answer the last part of my previous post. Is this how conservitives spend my tax dollars? Sorry in advance about swearing like frat boy.
Posted by: john scanlon | July 28, 2006 1:26 PM
Yeah, the Dems only wish they had someone like Karl Rove. Too bad all their great political strategists have retired or gone insane.
James Carville is... I don't know what James Carville is anymore.
Stephanopoulos is busy playing reporter.
Dick Morris has gone to the other side.
Ahh, loyalty, thy name is democrat.
Posted by: Bill | July 28, 2006 1:40 PM
KKKarl Rove is the poster child for the Republican Party and one of the reasons why this administration is the most corrupt & incompetent one in history.
The Dems don't need a KKKarl on our side; we just need to stop flinching everytime we see his shadow.
Posted by: dylan | July 28, 2006 2:04 PM
Dylan, you're right, they don't need KKKarl they have an actual KKK member on their side, Senator Robert C. Byrd! Oh, sorry, former KKK member. Right.
Posted by: Bill | July 28, 2006 2:10 PM
Bruce I see you don't hear me I told the truth and I am a modrate Republican like 89% of veterans. With his cuts to our budget just cooked the Republicans in Washington. I do not hate Bush he's my President I respect the office not a man who broke every promise made to the veterans. He been in office for six years and every year we lost benefits. Read GAO reports that show every one of his veterans budget was based on phony numbers. Last year alone we who defended you had 600,000 of our brother and sister veterans denied or put on five year waiting list. So Bruce you can love him. We do not trust him for his broken promises. One person who can tell you is Chris Smith (R) Who Chairmaned Veterans Affairs Committee replaced for just saying Mr. President your Veterans Budget will not fund veterans. Bing Bang Boom Veterans hater Steve Buyer a veteran who forgets his brothers and sisters. When you cut veterans you cut our family. I know you will not understand unless you sevred in Combat
Posted by: Dale Peters | July 28, 2006 2:39 PM
Dale, I am not saying this to be snide or make any type of judgement, but I have to agree with Bruce. I've looked at your original post several times and I can't figure out what you're trying to say.
We've had several conversations on this blog before, you and I, and you should know I honor you with all the respect I have for serving your country as you have in a time of war. But I still don't understand what you're trying to say.
Who is swiftboating? I don't know what its meaning is as a verb? I get the welfare for oil companies part, but what are Med D meds? I'm just trying to understand your points.
Posted by: Bill | July 28, 2006 3:24 PM
Sorry Bill bad night found out family has to stay in Iraq. Here the Swiftboating its a term used when the other guy lies about you. Medicare D prices were going to stay in reach but drug companies have raised it by 22% this week. Sorry again it just broke my sisters heart he been gone now for 18 mnts.
Posted by: Dale Peters | July 28, 2006 8:25 PM
That sucks, Dale, I'm very sorry to hear about that.
Posted by: Bill | July 29, 2006 10:05 AM
Bill, better him than us right?
Dale, from a Dem, hopefully in the near future your family will be re-united. As for your issues with lost benefits, I know here in IL.the veterans had to go to Sen.Durbin & Sen. Obama to get assitance.The 3rd.most powerfull politician in the country,chickenhawk Hastert did nothing to help the veterans. I suppose he was to busy getting the tax dollars to fund his hgwy. to nowhere.And just by coincidence he happened to have purchased some land near the hgwy to nowhere and made a few mil. Dale, vote Democratic and the veterans will be fully funded.See,the wingers don't like entitlements unless they're going to farmers,drug co's etc.etc. Dem's truly appreciate veterans,while your fighting and when you come home.
Posted by: john scanlon | July 29, 2006 11:24 AM
IN the last several years there were 7 levels of Veterans Benefits. Now there are only 5 Veteran Benefit levels, since the Republicans have cut 2 levels out. The Democrats have been trying to fight these VETERAN BENEFIT REDUCTIONS, but they don’t have control of the House or the Senate. The REPUBLICANS have been pushing the CUTS for OUR VETERANS!
If the DEMOCRATS win the House and the SENATE –they will restore BENEFITS to the Veterans!
Posted by: steve | November 5, 2006 2:49 AM