Webb On McCain's Opposition To Troop Bill: "Read The Constitution"
Yesterday Senator John McCain attacked Jim Webb's troop rest plan, saying that the measure is "unconstitutional," saying: "Where in the Constitution of the United States does it say that the Congress decides how long people will spend on tours of duty and how long they will spend back in the United States?"
This morning, Webb responded to McCain on CNN. Take a look:
Webb said:
Well, first of all, Sen. McCain, who I’ve known for 30 years, needs to read the Constitution. There is a provision in Article I, Section 8, which clearly gives the Congress the authority to make rules with respect to the ground and naval forces. There’s precedent for this.
More from Think Progress. Meanwhile, Matt Stoller notes that Warner's nonbinding version of Webb's amendment is likely "a fig leaf for Republicans to vote for so they can pretend they don't consistently undermine American soldiers." It's also a way of supporting the idea of Webb's amendment -- rest time for troops that's equal to combat time -- without actually putting it into law, which would slow down the war.
Comments (23)
Xenos wrote on September 19, 2007 2:25 PM:Article I, Section 8. The Congress shall have power... To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces;
Yup.
Zulia wrote on September 19, 2007 2:33 PM:Good for Webb, and good for him for not allowing the CNN anchor's interruptions & sullen, not quite hostile demeanor affect his ability to say what he wanted to say.
jan wrote on September 19, 2007 2:40 PM:Who's that big mouth, egotistical so called "newscaster"?
Get rid of these self-grandiosed political interviewers. CNN is on it's way to being a
baby FOX channel. Pretty soon 'fair and balanced" is going to be a laughable reference to CNN as well as FOX.
Shame on you, CNN.
Imagine if today's NY Times piece from this AM, which starts:
The legislation that Senate Democrats viewed as their best hope for challenging the conduct of the Iraq war suffered a setback on Tuesday as a senior Republican who is influential on military policy told colleagues that he was reconsidering his earlier support for the proposal.
were worded something like this: John Warner, while repeatedly questioning President Bush's strategy in Iraq, has revealed that he may no longer support an amendment designed to strengthen the military.
Instead of "Democrats", setback, influential Republican, etc. But I guess asking reporters to reconsider their stereotypes and biases is the equivalent of asking the Niagara River to flow upstream.
Man, she was a real bitch, wasn't she? (What's with the half-closed eyes, is that supposed to be sexy?)
Good on Webb for cutting through her bullshit - I wish a few more Dems (like, most of them!) would take lessons . . .
anfy Sunderland wrote on September 19, 2007 2:44 PM:Yikes. There goes John McCain's credibility down the drain once again. How much longer are Americans going to take him seriously?
Fred M. wrote on September 19, 2007 2:46 PM:I am so sick of the endless cycle of young, pretty faces with no real journalistic experience ... or life experience for that matter ... being trotted out to improve ratings. I hope this little tart realizes her value to CNN or other news outlets will end once she begins to develop a few wrinkles. The news networks need to concentrate on their coverage of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, et al.
It is sad that real investigative reporters like Dan Rather and Ted Koppel have been relegated to the sidelines, but their investigative reporting still makes one yearn for the day when we had real journalists reporting on real news!
Fred M. wrote on September 19, 2007 2:50 PM:I meant to say that the news organizations need to concentrate on their coverage of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, et al, because that is all they are equipped to handle.
Michael wrote on September 19, 2007 2:50 PM:Why do these brainless talking heads ask a question if they don't intend to allow their guest to answer it?
Fred M. wrote on September 19, 2007 3:00 PM:The desperation of McCain and his campaing is sad to see. He obviously sees his chances of being president slipping away and is willing to sell his soul in his final attempt.
It seems he decided to base his entire campaign on full support of the war in Iraq in hopes that things would turn around and he would be seen as visionary and the person to carry on the effort.
Like Bush, his hopes have success have clouded his vision of the facts and he refuses to face reality.
It's just as well that he changed the slogan on his bus because his days of "straight talk" ended long ago ...
phil james wrote on September 19, 2007 3:07 PM:All in all, and on balance, a good day. Jim Webb gets to demonstrate that he is one Democratic Senator with true grit. Warner looks like a back-stabbing Bush flack. McCain looks like the tired cliche he is while make up fairy stories about the Constitution. And CNN is shown to be a sorry stepsister to the real Ministry of Disinformation...the Fox Propaganda Network...by the thinly veiled attempt to impugn his motives and attack his credibility during Webb's interview. Now, back to getting the damn bill passed.
CT Voter wrote on September 19, 2007 3:16 PM:All in all, and on balance, a good day
I appreciate your optimism, but any day in which habeas corpus gets tabled, and, Warner and McCain dissemble the way they have, isn't all that good of a day.
Sally wrote on September 19, 2007 3:21 PM:Interviews have become hostile interrogations for Democratic guests. My price for hearing from Senator Webb was listening to the female. What a piece of work she is. And to think Dan Rather was fired for truthful reporting.
bedtime for democracy wrote on September 19, 2007 3:34 PM:This CNN robocaster is doing the AC Squint™, a technique that allows vapid these talking heads being stage-managed by off-camera producers to appear to have an interest and or engagement with the content they are offering to the viewer.
The Crisis News Network is increasingly turning its semi-serious reporting into current event theater, tightly controlled vignettes based off of "newsbites" spun to sensational effect.
Sen. Webb should be commended for not only bothering to subject himself to this ridiculousness but to steadfastly refuse to allow his message to be usurped and manipulated.
Kudos to Webb for not letting that anti-Cronkite/Murrow, corporate, utterly rude person that CNN is trying to pass off as a journalist get to him. If this is the means that most of America relies on to form their opinions about urgent national matters, no wonder we're in the utter Cluster F&%# we're in!
I find myself once again thinking back to the Guardian UK's headline after the '04 re-election of George Bush: "How can 63 million people be so stupid?"
Reporting like this is the answer to that pointed question.
While I agree that the newscaster wasn't bringing much to the interview (and was somewhat hostile) I don't like the characterization of the newscaster as a "tart" or "bitch." These sort of terms are meant to denigrate someone based on their gender... if you think the newscaster is uninformed or biased, great. Don't resort to stereotype-enforcing slurs to make that point.
xysea wrote on September 19, 2007 3:52 PM:who is she? she's rude and should be fired.
SeaTea wrote on September 19, 2007 4:18 PM:I agree. What ever happened to honest journalism? When did asking "Fox Questions" ("isn't it true that we're setting ourselves up for failure?") take the place of looking for the facts of a situation? Honestly I expect better of CNN.
Houston Bridges wrote on September 19, 2007 4:25 PM:I didn't hear McCain say that Congress had no right to pass the Don't Ask, Don't Tell law. I guess he means Congress can't do anything that McCain doesn't approve of. What a loser!
maxie a wrote on September 19, 2007 4:59 PM:guess where this twerp came from? come on, guess....FOX Noise. Corrupt News Network hired her away from Faux news to replace the ever-dippy Solidad.
Her name is Kiran Chetry and she was fired from Fox Noise after a contract dispute.
At first I felt she was interrupting Webb needlessly but when I went back and watched the interview several times it is obvious that she is trying to stay focused on the topic at hand, Webb's proposal.
She asks if he is micro-managing; fair enough, since it lets Webb directly respond to McCain's idiotic statement. She then asks why it failed earlier, again a fair question (although I did not hear that it had previously failed). Webb gets to point out what is good about his amendment in the first question, and now has to answer for why it failed (the obvious answer is Republicans don't support the troops (perfect opening for Webb). Unfortunately Webb misses the opportunity and responds with a soft " I hope they start to realize how tough it is" answer. Obviously it is tough on our troops when they come home in body bags.
She then bolsters Webb's credibility saying his son just returned (although Republicans could twist that around). She then states that the defense chief is opposed to it and would this amendment be a disaster. This is probably her most loaded question. Just because the defense chief (not sure who she is talking about-Gates?) is opposed to the amendment does not mean the result would be a "disaster". To her credit she gives him a full 47 seconds to respond (may not seem long but the interview is only 3 minutes long. Webb brings up an excellent point about Admiral Fallon saying its not how many you have but how you use them.
I am starting to have a lot of respect for Fallon. I heard somewhere that he called Petraeus (spelling) an ass kisser (need to research that!). Lastly she brings up the point that bush will veto it anyway (valid, unfortunately).
As a side note if you research Kiran Chetry on the right wing newsbusters.org you'll find them bashing her.
Disclaimer: Kiran graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in journalism where I also graduated.
Sorry for the long post but was bored and wanted to contribute something after getting over my initial "she seems like a bi***" reaction. Sometimes, as a man, it's tough to accept when an attractive women asserts herself. Luckily I've reached an age where I can listen to the message and am not as distracted by the hottie factor.
Fear the Turtle-
Ned wrote on September 19, 2007 5:05 PM:CNN is already the Baby Fox News. It seems like the majority of their announcers become vaguely bored, snide or contentious when speaking with anyone who opposes the administration, or doesn't trot out support of their line. I have given up on CNN. They're a waste.
hjpIII wrote on September 19, 2007 5:07 PM:
Jim Webb ~ the old, straight-talk John McCain. Thanks John, you can retire now,
appreciate your service to our country.
