Posted on 01/20/2004 12:28:45 PM PST by Veritas_est
Democratic presidential candidates preach hate
The Augusta Chronicle By: Herman Cain
December 28, 2003
WHAT HAS HAPPENED to "united we stand?" Yes, as Americans, we can disagree and have the right to voice those disagreements, but destructive rhetoric about the war in Iraq for the purpose of self-promotion is demoralizing to our troops and the American people. Unfortunately, we can expect nothing more from the candidates running for the Democratic presidential nomination. Their words and their actions are unpatriotic.
Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt of Missouri actually said, "The president is a miserable failure (on foreign policy)." In what way have President George W. Bush and the American people failed? Whom did we fail when we captured former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein? Did we fail when we stopped the oppression of a people who lived in constant terror? Did we fail when we stopped the genocide occurring to our fellow man at the hands of a merciless dictator?
Now that Saddam has been caught, Democratic presidential candidates have decided to write off the dictator's capture, even though they used Saddam's hiding to provoke fear in the American people. We need to build up the United States of America, not tear it down one phrase at a time, one lie at a time!
I was embarrassed for Democratic presidential candidate Gen. Wesley Clark when he recently tried to downplay Saddam's capture, by referring to Osama bin Laden, saying, "I would have kept the focus on Osama bin Laden. I would have gotten him ... I would like to think I would have had Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein by now."
WHEN VICTORY is achieved, when military goals are accomplished, these candidates have proven that they will say anything to destroy the success of our brave soldiers.
What do our children think when they hear Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts say, when referring to the war in Iraq, that he did not "expect George Bush to (expletive) it up as badly as he did?" Has he no moral compass?
When did a political agenda become more important than freedom? More important than peace? More important than facts or leadership, or holding the office of president in the highest regard? Do you really want one of the Democratic presidential candidates to finish the war effort, when their collective plan of action is to attack America's leadership and Americans fighting overseas?
As I think about their destructive behavior and language, I'm reminded of a quote from another president who served during a time of war, a civil war. President Abraham Lincoln said, "It is better to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt."
THERE ARE still things worth fighting for in this world: freedom, peace and democracy. And the Democratic presidential candidates would have us pull out of Iraq before the job is finished, admitting defeat to the terrorists and those who fuel their efforts to destroy America. What would they stand up for if, heaven forbid, one of them was to be elected president? If not for this country, its people and humankind, then what?
The Democrats have chosen to discuss every victory the United States has in the war to invigorate hate, fear and turmoil in the American people. If the Democrats have their way, the final result of this war will be a victory in Iraq but a terrible, terrible defeat here at home.
President Bush did not break the peace when he announced war on Iraq; he began to defend peace. As long as terrorists and the countries that harbor and abet them are allowed to continue on their murderous path, there will never be peace or true freedom. I earnestly ask the Democratic presidential candidates to put aside their demoralizing, hateful speech and replace it with something we can all use - constructive criticism.
(Editor's note: The writer is a conservative Republican from McDonough, Ga., who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. Zell Miller.)
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