Posted on 06/28/2005 3:24:38 PM PDT by smoothsailing
ENOKIAN: Durbin's Lame Apology
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
By Lee Enokian (lenokian@earthlink.net)
"Durbin issued an entire statement. That was no accident. He stated exactly what he thought at the time and didn't realize both sides of the political aisle would throw him under the bus for it. Even his apologies indicate he wasn't sorry for the statement, but that so many people took him to task for it," writes Enokian.
OPINION - Democrat Senator Dick Durbin compared U.S. servicemen to Nazis, Soviets and other genocidal monsters while defending terrorists held at Guantanamo Bay.
During his June 14 speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Durbin said, "If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime - Pol Pot or others - that had no concern for human beings."
WHAT?!!
Our illustrious senator equated the detainment of a few hundred America-hating, Islamo-extremist murderers to the slaughter of 8 million Jews and Poles in Nazi death camps and an additional 40 million murders perpetrated by Stalin against the Russians, Ukrainians and Belorussians.
Durbin's remark goes far beyond mere left-wing rhetoric. We must question his ability to represent Illinois rationally.
If the freedom of terrorists equals the lives of approximately 50 million Jews, Poles, Ukrainians and others, how can he effectively represent Americans descended from those demographic groups in the Senate? Obviously, he won't. Durbin admitted to the world where his extremist sympathies lay.
Many Democrats and Republicans objected to Durbin's racially insensitive beliefs.
Vice-President Dick Cheney responded to Durbin's remarks during a radio interview on WWTN in Nashville.
"Remember what's happened here," Cheney said. "These are terrorists, these are bomb-makers ... these are hard-core terrorists is the only way to describe them. They're unlawful combatants. They're out to kill Americans. And if you put them back on the streets, that's exactly what they'll do."
After dodging criticism and defending his remarks for almost two weeks, Durbin finally issued a lame apology last Tuesday.
"Some may believe that my remarks crossed the line," the Illinois Democrat said. "To them I extend my heartfelt apologies."
Is he sorry about the remarks or that some people were offended?
He also "apologized" to U.S. Servicemen. "They're the best. I never, ever intended any disrespect for them."
Gee, Dick, I guess you really didn't intend any disrespect by comparing our servicemen to Nazis.
"I made reference to Nazis, to Soviets, and other repressive regimes. Mr. President, I've come to understand that's a very poor choice of words," Durbin said.
An inappropriate word may be uttered in anger or frustration.
Durbin issued an entire statement. That was no accident. He stated exactly what he thought at the time and didn't realize both sides of the political aisle would throw him under the bus for it. Even his apologies indicate he wasn't sorry for the statement, but that so many people took him to task for it.
© 2005 IllinoisLeader.com -- all rights reserved
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Lee Enokian is a regular Sunday columnist for the Illinois edition of the Times Newspapers of Northwest Indiana. Enokian welcomes comments by email at lenokian@earthlink.net.
It seems like some of the bad guys may actually be abusers (go figure). Hard to understand how anyone can support this POS (I have no idea what that means).
What I Saw at Gitmo - By Lt. Col. Gordon Cucullu - FrontPageMagazine.com - June 27, 2005
Isn't Durbin retiring in 2006 ..??
And .. I've been noticing that those members who are retiring from some elected office appear to be the ones who are making the most outrageous statements .. because they have nothing to lose.
However, their statements are reflecting badly upon the democrat party. But .. since the democrats are known for only seeing to the end of their nose .. the dems don't realize how damaging their statements will be in 2006.
Senator Durbin does not deserve to be a senator and he sure doesnt belong in American politics any longer.
Hard to believe any dims are standing up for him. Oops, it seems more like they are trying to change the subject...
I'd love to get in line today.
He meant what he said and said what he meant. He never did apologize. See tagline.
I laid it on REAL good and thick too, and I advise anyone that's reading this that -hasn't- contacted the Senator's office to do so now. -Just click this link:
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