The Democrats need a more frontal response to the lies the president is now telling about Iraq funding. The president, of course, wants to force this into a discussion about funding for soldiers — readiness, health care, armaments, etc. That’s funny given the president’s atrocious record on these issues. But whatever. He’s a liar. What’s new? But here’s the key. The public overwhelmingly supports a timeline for leaving Iraq. Overwhelmingly. Every poll shows this. For the first time the Congress has passed a law to do just that — to put a time limit on our presence in Iraq. So the Democrats are on the side of a timeline for withdrawal (very popular) and the president is for staying in Iraq forever (not popular). And the president says he’s going to veto that bill. The president is vetoing the Iraq timeline bill. Why? Because he supports staying there forever. Public wants a timeline. Democrats pass the law. President vetoes the law. Any Democrat is a fool who doesn’t start every comment on this story with, “The president is vetoing the bill to set a timeline to get out of Iraq.” They have to say it over and over and over. It’s accurate. It cuts politically. And to overcome the president’s ability to spread lies about this it has to be said over and over and over. So who’s going to say this more clearly?
Late Update: TPM Reader JC responds …
Josh,
You said “Any Democrat is a fool who doesn’t start every comment on this story with, ‘The president is vetoing the bill to set a timeline to get out of Iraq.'” I disagree. I would say that any democrate is a fool who doesn’t start every comment on the story with, “The president is vetoing the bill to provide money for soldiers — readiness, health care, armaments, etc and a timeline to get out of Iraq.”
Thanks,
JC
I don’t disagree with this. I’d say the two points can be made in unison since they are two sides of one coin. The president is vetoing this money bill because it sets a timeline. And he wants to stay in Iraq forever which almost no one left in America agrees with. The point is, don’t hang back and let the president’s lies hold the stage. At the moment that’s what I’m seeing.
