Who says Democrats can’t fight?

DeLay and Racicot screw up and pick a fight with the wrong guy

by Bryan Zepp Jamieson
04/06/03
http://www.zeppscommentaries.com/Politics/kerry.htm
 

For most rank-and-file Democrats, the phrase, “regime change in Washington” isn’t exactly a new one.

When Putsch started talking about regime change to rid Iraq of an arrogant, unelected thug, the similarity was obvious to the millions of Americans who are sickened and disgusted by the right wing coup of December 2000.

But when one of the leading Democratic presidential candidates, Senator John Kerry (MA), used it in a speech the other day, the Republican leadership reacted with startled outrage. Whether the outrage  was just more of the pseudo-moral squawks Republicans can manufacture for any occasion, or whether they were really that insulated and out of touch with public sentiment, is open to conjecture. But the Republican behemoth heaved to its feet grunting in outrage. Mark Racicot, the GOP patron ain’t of perpetual outrage, grumped “Senator Kerry crossed a grave line when he dared to suggest the replacement of America's commander-in-chief at a time when America is at war."

Never mind that the Republicans had the temerity to suggest a regime change in the middle of a war back in 1944, when they had the incredible and unpatriotic effrontery to nominate Thomas Dewey to run against FDR in something called an “election.” World War II, in Racicot’s eye, wasn’t nearly as vital to the national interests as the war on Iraq is.

Some of the lesser turds in the GOP punch bowl, such as Dennis Hastert and Tom DeLay, also howled their rage that Kerry would dast compare Putsch to Saddam, even though Kerry had done nothing of the sort.

Now, as a rule, most Democrats have stood by the courage of their convictions in much the same way that a scalded cat holds his ground. All it took was a few snarls from the trash right to get most of the leading Democratic candidates for the Presidency to start clucking and scratching in the dirt and mumbling about how of COURSE they support the troops. Most of the Dems were easily reduced to this. Indeed, about the only ones with the courage to continue to insist the rape of Iraq was wrong despite the stentorian blats of “disloyalty!” from the GOP were Dennis Kucinich and Howard Dean, and a couple of the minor candidates. John Kerry, by voting to support the use of force in Iraq, had apparently scrambled to the safety of the middle ground.

The GOP apparently considered him a safe target. They tend to shy away from people who can shoot back, having learned from their defeats at the hands of Clinton.

They forgot something. Kerry was a war hero, a winner of the silver star, and he wasn’t about to let a bunch of trashy right wing chickenhawks question his loyalty for proposing we have an election in 2004.

What’s more, there was a problem with the timing of the GOP attack on Kerry’s loyalty. It came the day he was to give an introductory speech on behalf of former Senator Max Cleland.

Cleland was hit by a vicious smear campaign on the part of the GOP in the 2002 election, one which
questioned his loyalty, and perhaps even more inexcusably, his ability to perform his office. The GOP actually had the viciousness to suggest that a man missing both legs and an arm might not be the ideal candidate for the Senate. Saxby Chambliss, another chickenhawk who preferred that others die so he could make money at home, openly called Cleland’s patriotism into question while moping about how tough it was to run against a war hero who lost three limbs in Vietnam. AWOL Putsch and Dick “I had other priorities” Cheney flew in repeatedly to reinforce the notion that el chickenhawk presidente preferred real patriots in the Senate, and not a bunch of damn war heroes.

It was a disgraceful performance by the GOP, and Georgia voters disgraced themselves by voting for
Chambliss over Cleland.

But the Democrats also disgraced themselves by not coming to Cleland’s aid. They sat on their hands and stared at their shoes while the GOP smear machine did its thing on Cleland.

But Kerry showed that he has a spine. And he wasn’t about to let the motley collection of draft
dodgers, AWOL queens, and radio gasbags with infected asses push him around or question his patriotism.

Here, in full, as reported by Salon Magazine  are his remarks of that evening. If any Republican was foolish enough to respond, the press didn’t carry it.
 

I don't think it gets better in public life, and certainly not in
mine, than to be introduced by my brother, Max Cleland.

We were part of a special band of brothers in the U.S. Senate, Max
Cleland, Bob Kerrey at one point, John McCain, Chuck Hagel, Chuck
Robb, myself, and I'll tell you seriously that those of you who have
served in the military, in particular those of you who've been in
combat that share this sentiment with me, it's as close as men who
don't throw the word around easily can get to loving another man in
the most connected, personal, and extraordinary way, and when I think
about Max Cleland saying something about Hemingway and grace under
pressure as he just did I think all of you should join me in sharing
the sense that this man, who left three limbs on the battlefield in
Vietnam for this country, deserves better than what the Republican
Party gave him in the last election here in Georgia.

Five months ago here in Georgia, Max Cleland's position on national
security, known to all his colleagues, was deliberately distorted, and
that was particularly outrageous given the kind of sacrifice and
service that he has given this country. There is something very wrong
in America when a hero like Max Cleland who has made his contribution
is subjected to the worst in American politics. He ought to be in the
U.S. Senate today. And let me tell you, every day in the course of my
race for the presidency of the United States I will be motivated –
and I ask you to help me be motivated – to hold them accountable for
what they did to Max Cleland.

Max, who talked about grace under pressure, and I just want to share
with you that for those of us who got to know him and love him so much
in the U.S. Senate, who watched his personal effort each day, for
anyone who needs an example not just of grace under pressure, but
grace in life itself, I think you would share with me that Max Cleland
is an example to every single American and we are grateful for his
love of this country, for his patriotism, and for his contribution to
all of our lives. Max, thank you, for who you are and what you have
done ...

But let me just share today something I feel very strongly about,
because today I had the pleasure of having Tom DeLay, Denny Hastert,
and a score of other Republicans come out of the woodwork to attack me
for speaking out regarding the direction of our country when I spoke
up in New Hampshire yesterday.

I think that Max who served with me and many who have served share
with me this belief: I don't need any lessons in patriotism or caring
about America from the likes of Tom DeLay and the right wing, whose
motivations can be questioned ... And the one thing that passed in the
mind of those of us who served, who have fought for freedom, and the
one thing that all those who are in the Middle East fighting today is
the cherished rights of Americans to question and debate the democracy
of our nation and to turn this country in the directions that we
believe are in the best interests of America. Tom DeLay, hear me loud
and clear: I speak out for America, not for politics, and as long as I
have air in my lungs I will continue to speak my mind ...

Here in the South – perhaps more than in any other part of this
nation – service, patriotism, and duty aren't buzzwords. They're a
way of life. I believe we need national leadership that sees service
that same way – not as a slogan and rhetoric, but as a cause and a
commitment.

Unfortunately, this administration has failed to honor the service of
citizens who are doing what's right. After Sept. 11, Americans wanted
to contribute and to serve. This administration told them to go
shopping. They have cut AmeriCorps when we should be expanding it so
every young person has the opportunity to perform national service.
But nothing flies in the face of the values of duty and service more
than what this administration is doing when it comes to fulfilling our
obligation to our troops, our veterans, and their families. We can do
better – and our soldiers deserve no less.

We made a sacred bond with these men and women when we asked them to
risk their lives for their country. And this administration has failed
to hold up its side of the bargain. Just as we wouldn't think of
sending our military into battle without the uniforms and equipment
they need, we shouldn't neglect to care for our troops and their
families before, during, and after the war. Yet, 20 percent of our
Reservists and their families don't have healthcare coverage.

And at the same time that American soldiers are engaged in battle at
home, this administration is proposing substantial cuts in federal
school aid to children of military families. As we learned the hard
way after Vietnam, our duty to our troops doesn't end when the battle
is won. Those that put their lives on the line have earned a lifetime
of support. And America must live up to that commitment.

Yet, two months ago, this administration announced it would suspend
enrollment in the healthcare system of at least 160,000 qualified
veterans. And now they want to deny another 230,000 veterans the
healthcare they deserve.

And many of the vets already in the system are doing little better.
More than 200,000 veterans are waiting six months or more for their
first doctor's visit. We need to do much more to deal with this
backlog and get the veterans healthcare system ready for the hundreds
of thousands of vets who will be returning from Iraq. Yet, this
administration says we cannot afford healthcare for veterans because
they prefer a massive tax cut that harms economic growth and gives the
greatest benefit to those with the least need. Today the Republican
majority leader in the House of Representatives announced that – and
I quote – "Nothing is more important in the face of war than cutting
taxes." Let me make this clear: Never in its history has the United
States passed a big tax cut in a time of war. We have always believed
in shared sacrifice.

And I say to Tom DeLay, one thing I know about America is that in the
face of war there are things more important than cutting taxes and it
is wrong to reward the wealthiest Americans before we fulfill our
solemn obligations to those that have served.

Georgia's brave sons and daughters have borne more than their share of
the burdens of battle. Your heroes include soldiers like Chief Warrant
Officer Ronald Young Jr. His dream was to be a pilot. And he made it.
But when his Apache helicopter went down in Iraq, he was captured and
is now being held as a prisoner of war.

Tonight, our thoughts are with all the prisoners and all the families
of those held, lost, or fighting – let us go home and say a prayer
that he and all the troops are safe at home soon. But we need to do
more than think and pray – we need to vow that they'll come home to
an America that keeps its promise to them, not one that turns its back
on those who served.

And let's make sure they come home to an America that is moving
forward – where Democrats are fighting for them and for what's right.