Leaked Letter Reveals GOP Strategy: Talk About Anything But Escalation
So this explains a lot. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's office has obtained a letter that GOP Reps. John Shadegg and Peter Hoekstra sent out to House GOP colleagues about escalation. The letter gives GOP members pointers on how they should approach the battle over it on the House floor this week.
Hoyer's office has now posted the letter on his Web site, and it lays bare the GOP's strategy for dealing with debate over the House's anti-escalation resolution and reveals just how worried party leaders are about having a genuine discussion about the "surge." The letter says:
We are writing to urge you not to debate the Democratic Iraq resolution on their terms, but rather on ours.Democrats want to force us to focus on defending the surge, making the case that it will work and explaining why the President's new Iraq policy is different from prior efforts and therefore justified.
We urge you to instead broaden the debate to the threat posed to Americans, the world, and all "unbelievers" by radical Islamists. We would further urge you to join us in educating the American people about the views of radical Islamists and the consequences of not defeating radical Islam in Iraq.
The debate should not be about the surge or its details. This debate should not even be about the Iraq war to date, mistakes that have been made, or whether we can, or cannot, win militarily. If we let Democrats force us into a debate on the surge or the current situation in Iraq, we lose.
Yep, so the advice here is this: GOPers shouldn't allow themselves to be lured into a "debate" about the single most important policy question facing us right now, because they might lose. Never mind how all this might impact the troops who actually have to go to Iraq. Healthy priorities, huh?
Also amusing is the letter's assertion that "Democrats want to force us to focus on defending the surge." Now why on earth would Dems want Republicans to justify a policy that will directly impact tens of thousands of people and their families? How unreasonable!
Wouldn't you know it, but during the House debate today many GOPers did indeed "broaden the debate" to the threat posed by "radical Islamists." Say this for your House Republicans: They're good at following orders.
Update: More from Think Progress.
Hey, at least they said it was the "Democratic resolution", not the "Democrat resolution."
February 13, 2007 6:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
If [Republicans] let Democrats force [them] into a debate on the surge or the current situation in Iraq, [Republicans] lose.
this needs to be implanted into the brain of every single Democrat in the Senate and every Democrat running for president.
February 13, 2007 6:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
When I read something like this I actually feel bad for the GOP. I really do. How are we as a nation supposed to deal with the myriad problems facing us in the immediate to long term when one of the two dominant political parties is concerned solely with winning and losing power? In other words, I want a responsible and principled opposition party to debate with, not this reprehensible bunch of fear-mongering extremists who answer only to authority and power. Really, this is quite sickening to me. Well at least this resolves the question of defining conservatism for 2008.
New motto for the 2008 GOP Party Platform: Fighting the Clash of Civilizations so you don't have to.
February 13, 2007 7:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
These people cannot take themselves out of political partisanship mode. It is all about winning or losing. Right and wrong do not enter into the equation.
Note, for example, how it isn't about how they [repubs] are actually right on the merits. They don't even address the merits. Instead, it is about how they should avoid losing the dabate. Note how it is about framing and semantics.
I said this elsewhere today - there is simply no reasoning with these people.
February 13, 2007 7:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
In my opinion, it doesn't matter. Democrats show strong skills in letting the GOP take over any type of debate and define it within their own terms.
I wrote something about GOP flipping debate topics a few months ago, based on an actual GOP topic flip during a discussion that happened on TPM Cafe, actually...
http://www.projectlucidity.com/content/view/615/2/
[EDIT] - Let me somewhat amend my previous statement. I don't believe Democrats necessarily let the GOP run roughshod over their debates, because Dems are weak. Rather, I see it more as Dems trying to be inclusive and non-inflammatory. Plus, Dem talking points tend to be much more nuanced that their GOP counterparts, somewhat forcing Dems into more of a clarifying - rather than driving - role in a debate.
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Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur.
Come visit PROJECT: Lucidity.
February 13, 2007 7:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
My favorite part is how they say the Republicans can't even let the debate be about "whether we can, or cannot, win militarily." They really don't care. I know these people are bad, but every time I see the proof of how little they care about actual people's lives -- reality, that is -- I still feel a tinge of surprise.
February 13, 2007 8:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. And, not only is it important to be aware of these types of tactics, it's even more important to call those Congresspeople out who actually use them.
I imagine we'll see many GOPers claim the memo is not reflective of the overall attitude of the GOP; that those two were just acting on their own; etc. However, anyone who even remotely seems to be using the methodology outlined in that memo needs to be called out on it and described as someone who doesn't care about actual people... only winning against their political opponents.
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Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur.
Come visit PROJECT: Lucidity.
February 13, 2007 8:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
We've still got a long way to go before this debate gets to a useful point. Listening to minority leader Boehner rant about the "global war on terror" in the House today, it's clearer than ever how Bush and GOP have hypnotized the nation with their hysterical and alarmist rhetoric. So ultimately, it's not really a matter of whether they debate the escalation, when to bring the troops home, etc. It's about exposing the hallowness of this shrill and fear-mongering narrative which keeps the public enthralled to Bush/GOP. The Dems still don't have a convincing alternative to the GWOT, even if they're now tapping into public discontent over the war.
February 13, 2007 8:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
If I was in the House, I would use my 5 minutes to read this letter and then I would use the excess time to say and nothing and just stare down the assholes who sent it out.
February 13, 2007 8:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
It actually disgusts me. I read it as code for "turn this into a metaphor for a battle between Christianity and Islam" and make all the good "Christian Americans" chose based on that framing...
The violence in Iraq is mainly sectarian and is only directed at our forces when we try to intercede. And the voters need to be reminded all this sectarian violence/civil war was directly enabled by Bush and the republican party. What is currently happening in Iraq has nothing to with Islamic Jihadists and the west.
The repugs are as clueless as ever...
February 13, 2007 8:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
My old congressman Jim Saxton (R-Lockheed) is on CSPAN right now talking about our enemies Hezbollah and Quds guards. Sheesh what a moron.
February 13, 2007 8:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why isn't this on CNN and Newsweek? Why are they covering Air Pelosi instead?
February 13, 2007 9:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Another important line from the memo:
The authors use this as their opening to call for a counter-balancing public awareness of the supposed costs of withdrawal and the virulence of Islamic extremist views, which (they assume) will make the whole thing worthwhile in the public mind.
But the first statement is revealing in and of itself. Why on earth was it ever left to the "liberal mainstream media" to reveal the costs and consequences of an elective war and occupation? Why does its post hoc airing of that information constitute poor judgment (as the memo's disapproving tone clearly implies)?
Shouldn't the architects of this fiasco have been honest up front about the predictable costs and goals, instead of lying & sugarcoating and then hoping a cowed press would cover for them?
I think this Freudian passage deserves as much play as the frank political calculation of "Don't mention the war!"
February 13, 2007 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Because they are owned and operated by large corporations that do whatever they possibly can to keep Republicans in power. That is why they went into the news business and invested all that money. Profits are nice, but a secondary consideration and are aided immesurably by having Republicans in power.
global citizen
February 13, 2007 10:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Makes you wonder who leaked it: possibly a rare GOP member (Walter Jones?) who's lined up to vote with the Dems.
But the bare-facedness is shameful.
February 13, 2007 11:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
If you give a Republican enough rope he'll never get tired of hanging himself. Democrats should rejoice that Republicans are tying themselves even tighter to Bush and his failed war. It means that many more seats in the next election. Rove sends down their lame talking points, and the Republicans in Congress still fall in line like lemmings off a cliff. My only worry is if Bush doesn't continue to take the party right down the rat hole with him. Most Republicans in Congress still don't realize what happened in the last election, and it make take them another few elections to wake up. Until that happens, Democrats should never lose an opportunity to demonstrate the stark constrast between Bush's delusional mess of a party and the Democratic party.
February 14, 2007 12:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
Eric the Red has a point when he says, "These people cannot take themselves out of political partisanship mode. It is all about winning or losing. Right and wrong do not enter into the equation. "
I think they share this characteristic with much of the business community, a common failing resulting from immediate concern with the bottom line and no concern for the long run. But companies prosper best in the long run. Companies that are based on short run thinking suck vigor out of the economic system, and their profits are usually based on trickery or taking, rather than on production. We should be more sensitive to this kind of issue and vote for responsible businesses and candidates by being their patrons. We should shun the door of the takers--and unionize them.
February 14, 2007 12:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the best strategy for responding to this letter is to embrace it. To "bury Caesar, not to praise him." Democrats should refer constanty to this letter and agree with each and every principle. E.G.: "as our esteemed colleagues have pointed out, we can no longer afford to discuss this war. We know that many lives have been lost and that we will lose more lives the longer we stay, but this does not matter. The only thing that matters is that we "stay the course" set out for us by President Bush. We must follow his lead without question, without debate, without consideration, because this is the American Way. We all know this. The Republican Leadership has made it clear in terms that any Real American MUST see as true: any debate on this matter is unamerican, and only serves to aid and abet our enemies because such debate has never served our country well, and never will." Etc.
February 14, 2007 3:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. I think Barack Obama should emphasize your statement as part of the his campaign. Americans need to know why the most pressuring problem today to all citizens is not even being debated but shifted to petty fearmongering. I hope this letter is used to whollop the GOP in the 2008 congressional races and we have win a solid 90 plus majority. Barack has already said in one speech that it is not just about electing a new President, americans will need to send democrats to Congress in a majority as well for Obama to follow through on the will of the political electorate.
February 14, 2007 8:46 AM | Reply | Permalink
Get real. There is no GWOT, it is a figure of speech. WORDS of FEAR,
The only GWOT is how the GOP is terrorizing American citizens with fear and propaganda while killing our children for oil in the name of fear in the desert.
The only answer to fear is hope. WORDS of HOPE. The Democrats are already providing a clear and convincing alternative. Is the citizenry listening to the ONE candidate talking about HOPE, and changing the country, returning to our ideals, pursuing our dreams. Who is reminding the public of what Americans DO believe in and what they have historically accomplished.
The Democrats have a voice out there who is touching the hearts and minds of the people in order to galvanize them in to action against the paralyzing impact of fear. We need this man, it is his time and our countries time to stand up and fight, to believe in our democracy and demonstrate the courage of our convictions by taking back our country.
February 14, 2007 9:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like this tactic with one minor change. The excess time should be used to repeat this part of the letter until time is up:
The debate should not be about the surge or its details. This debate should not even be about the Iraq war to date, mistakes that have been made, or whether we can, or cannot, win militarily. If we let Democrats force us into a debate on the surge or the current situation in Iraq, we lose.
February 14, 2007 9:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think the Dems should mail out a copy of this letter to every single person who's on any current mailing list. I couldn't write a more cynical and self-serving letter if someone paid me to write one in order to make the GOP look bad. Talk about a gift.
February 14, 2007 9:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is, of course, all in the spirit of bi-partisanship?
February 14, 2007 9:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
To the extent that it lays bare the political tactics for achieving an end that I'll take it on faith they honestly hope for, this document is merely embarrasing.
More instructive, from my perspective, is that even if they succeeded in having the debate on their terms, their position is not especially strong. In the unlikely event the surge works and Iraq is stablized, it's becoming clear to anyone who is paying attention that that outcome will result in a Shia dominated client state of the GWOT bogeyman du jour, Iran.
The GOP wants to sacrifice more young Americans on the alter of Pyhric victory.
February 14, 2007 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Great thread, Greg and some excellent comments and ideas. Hoist the SOB's on their own petard - heck, this should be a fundraising letter for the DNC.
Repetition does not tranform a lie into a truth. FDR
February 14, 2007 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
This also shapes up to be interesting because there are people in the upper echelon of the GOP who think they're gonna come out ahead no matter what the Democrats do.
If the Dems get us out of Iraq and it goes badly: "Well, leave it to the Democrats to lose Iraq."
If the status quo holds: "The Democrats had two years and they didn't do anything, so put us back in charge."
And that's just the Legislative branch. What about the next president, who's gonna find the Iraq mess in her/his lap if this Administration has its way.
Hell, bring on the Oversight, let the blood flow, and let God sort 'em out.
February 14, 2007 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink