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Hastert and Delay Assail Kerry Speech
The top three Republicans in Congress sharply criticized Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on Thursday for saying that the United States, like Iraq, needs a regime change.
These guys are the artillery, softening up Mr. Kerry for the coming assault in early 2004.- House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., released a statement that said in the midst of war, the nation should pull together to support the troops and commander in chief. "Once this war is over, there will be plenty of time for the next election," the statement said. "But the war is not yet over, and we still have much work to do to rid the world of Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime."
- Sen. Bill Frist, R.-Tenn., the senate majority leader, said the statement called into question Daschle's (sic) fitness for presidential office. "Free and open discourse is one thing, but petty, partisan insults launched solely for personal political gain are highly inappropriate at a time when American men and women are in harm's way," Frist said in a statement.
- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, released a statement calling Kerry's words "desperate and inappropriate." "America before New Hampshire," DeLay said.
Kerry backed a congressional resolution last fall giving Bush the authority to use force to oust Saddam, but he repeatedly and hypocritically has criticized the president for failing to give diplomacy more time. "Clearly, Senator Kerry intended no disrespect or lack of support for our commander in chief during wartime, but the point of this campaign is, obviously, to change the administration of this government," said Kerry spokesman Robert Gibbs. "And unlike many of his Republican critics, Senator Kerry has worn the uniform, served his country, seen combat, so he'd just as soon skip their lectures about supporting our troops."
Wonder, if we took a count, how many Dems and Reps in Congress served in the military.
Kerry is a decorated Vietnam War veteran. Hastert and DeLay did not serve in the military. In response to Gibbs, DeLay's spokesman Jonathan Grella said, "His service to our country was admirable, but his words now are shamelessly political."
On the day that Bush announced military strikes would begin unless Saddam left the country, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said Bush's diplomatic efforts failed "miserably" because he failed to secure a U.N. resolution for the war. Daschle's remarks drew a sharp rebuke from Hastert and DeLay. This week, Daschle said that he was satisfied with Bush's strategy.
Please, Tom, please express your dissatisfaction. Don't be shy.
Posted by: Steve White 2003-04-04 |
