Senators Reid And Levin To Vote For Boxer's Resolution -- And Against GOP MoveOn One
Harry Reid's office has just told me that he and Dem Senator Carl Levin will be voting against the GOP resolution to condemn MoveOn that's being debated as we speak.
His office says, however, that he and Levin will vote for the reso being introduced by Barbara Boxer, -- which we reported on below -- that condemns all political attacks on military men and women, including Max Cleland and John Kerry, as well as on Scholar Warrior Petraeus.
Thus is revealed the point behind the Boxer move: Reid and Levin, by voting for Boxer's reso, insulate themselves from charges that they won't condemn MoveOn for attacking the General -- while simultaneously forcing Republicans to decide whether or not to condemn such attacks that came from their own party.
Of course, it doesn't bode well for MoveOn, obviously, since Boxer's reso condemns the group, too.
Comments (6)
Pete wrote on September 20, 2007 12:11 PM:Right wingers will point out, not without reason, that MoveOn's attack was against someone currently serving in uniform, not a politician who served in the past.
The real point of the MoveOn ad was the Petraeus was doing the work of politicians under the guise of military service, which is what is truly disgusting.
Once again, the Democrats are handling this poorly by not showing a spine. Reid needs to say "We're not wasting our time on manufactured outrage while we need to focus on how to best meet the needs the people who are currently serving their country."
We've got people dying in an unnecessary and ill-advised war. The Senate needs to figure out ways to get those troops home rather than wasting time condemning newspaper advertisements.
Everclear wrote on September 20, 2007 12:24 PM:Just another waste of time...
TheraP wrote on September 20, 2007 12:31 PM:This uses repub tactics against them! Very good solution.
If the repubs complain about this, bring up their tactics from yesterday!
Turn-about is fair play.
President Lindsay wrote on September 20, 2007 12:34 PM:How about if the Dems filibuster to keep the GOP resolution from coming to the floor? What's good for the goose. They could do a real filibuster, and spend the hours raking the GOP over the coals for all offenses to date. Granted, there would never be time to do more than scratch the surface, but just see how fast the GOP would withdraw their stupid motion once the Dems were on CSPAN and the news shows reciting the litany of Bushco's offenses. What's not to like?
CT Voter wrote on September 20, 2007 12:36 PM:What this means is that Republicans who want to condemn MoveOn will also now be asked to condemn the Republican National Committee and other GOPers' attacks on both Cleland and Kerry.
Is it possible that some Democrats might have outmaneuvered the Republicans? How refreshing. And unusual. Go ahead and rant, Cornyn. You've been had, dude.
As for people who think this should just go away, no. It's about time that the Democrats started fighting every political grandstanding act of the Republicans.
Nell wrote on September 20, 2007 12:58 PM:Stop with the symbolic, petty games and bring the Webb amendment back. Fight for it. Force the Republicans to filibuster it for real, flood the zone with supporters hitting home the solid reasons for it, and make them cave. Make them pay a price for their relentless obstruction, and force the media to describe what's really happening: Republican roadblocks, not "bills requiring 60 votes to pass".
