First of all, let’s state right off the bat that it is a given that anything a politician does is generally done for a political reason. However, we generally are polite enough to politicians in both parties that, when they go to a veteran’s hospital or military base, we don’t accuse them to their face of trolling for votes.
It may be a polite fiction, but it is polite.
What do we do, though, when a politician explicitly states that he’s going to a veteran’s hospital or military base for political reasons? Peeping in windows is a moral failing, staring at a streaker is a natural fucking reaction. And Harry Reid just took off his cheap suit and went running down the street.
Most of you know about the memo Reid wrote that instructed his colleagues to schedule events like this, for blatantly political reasons. What is even more stunning is the reaction of Reid’s spokesman Jim Manley, who while denying that these were political events stated that “It’s an effort to paint the White House and the Republican Congress as having a failed effort on national security issues, which is a direct result of their misplaced priorities and mismanagement.”
How is that not political?
Had Reid simply instructed his colleagues to visit military bases to get briefings on the war or weapons programs, or visit hospitals to learn about the challenges our wounded veterans are facing, there could be no possible criticism of their actions that didn’t look crass and meanspirited. These senators would just be doing the “people’s business” (wink wink, nudge nudge.)
Reid made it explicitly political, and tore away about the last fig leaf any of those politicians have. That’s pretty damn stupid.
It certainly is. While I might not agree with Senator Reid often, I certainly wouldn’t expect the minority leader of the Senate to make such a rookie mistake.
To say I found it surprising would be an understatement.
I agree - to besmirch a polite fiction! Damn, that’s just a step below throwing one’s medals. I’ll never vote for him!
And to think I’ve been caught up in the emerging scandals of John Doolittle and Jim Sweeney’s wives skimming from their political contributions. Sheesh, where’s my priorities.
I’m confused. Did HR write a memo about going to VA hospitals for political purposes and then cricize someone else for doing that same thing? Or did he streak thru a VA hospital on his way to a political meeting?
Having said that, why is he the minority leader in the Senate? He doesn’t seem to be up to the fight at hand. He just looks like a tired, old man. Was there no one better suited to the job?
Really? From all I’ve read, he’s been kicking ass pretty much. I like what I’ve heard about him, his attitude and his approach. He’s looked upon favorably among liberal blogs and blog readers like those at Daily Kos.
Harry Reid explicitly told his Democratic colleagues to go to these venues for political reasons, a view backed up by his spokesman.
Here’s a link. I’m submitting this one because it has the Manley quote.
The problem, of course, is that if anyone accuses any of these Democrats of only going to a VA hospital for political reasons, they have little defense, because their leader in the Senate has no common sense. He just said the same thing.
Note that in your link, hospitals don’t appear. I’m not saying it wasn’t in his original memo, but a cite for that would be nice; otherwise, this looks as if you’re exaggerating the extent of his cynicism.
Note that the Times article doesn’t forbid incumbent politicians from using military bases to make political points; you just can’t use them as electioneering events. Sure, there’s a very fuzzy difference, but I think they can plausibly claim to be on one side of the line.
I have trouble believing you’re shocked that gambling is going on in this establishment. The Republicans have never been shy about accepting their winnings.
Moto, from a man who thinks nothing of using his own service for petty politics, your condemnation means less than nothing. Now, go start a pissy thread whining about something else.
Well, heck, I think he ought to be telling Democrats to go visit injured soldiers instead of sitting in a circle with Cindy Sheehan singing Kumbaya, but I’m just funny that way.
It’s only bad when They do it. However, going in-country to use soldiers for your “pep rallies” is OK, using soldiers is OK, using the widows and orphans of dead soldiers is OK, it’s only bad when THEY do it. IOKIYAR (?)