Santorum Critical Of Bush, War In Iraq

CBS 3 ^

[Sub-Driver]

Santorum Critical Of Bush, War In Iraq

(AP) PHILADELPHIA Sen. Rick Santorum took a rare swing at President Bush, saying the war in Iraq has been less than optimal and that some blame for that lies with the White House.

Santorum, a conservative Republican and usually a strong Bush ally, said the unpopularity of the war should be shared between the White House and the media.

“Certainly, mistakes were made,” Santorum said of the war’s conduct. “But that’s a criticism you can make of every conflict.”

The comments, made after a Veterans Day speech at the Union League in Philadelphia on Friday, came at the same time the Pennsylvania senator stressed he wasn’t trying to distance himself from the president, who spoke moments earlier about 80 miles away at the Tobyhanna Army Depot.

Bush’s poll numbers are the lowest of any time during his presidency, in part due to the climbing death toll in Iraq. He is also blamed by some for the loss of the Virginia governor’s race, in which he appeared with Republican candidate Jerry Kilgore the day before the election. Kilgore lost.

[Pietro]

I wasn't aware of his vote today. It sounds like all of the GOP senators, or most, are taking a posture for public consumption. I agree that its disgusting and disheartening.

How is it that the base remains solid and the leaders have turned tail and run. I can't recall a more cowardly demonstration than what the gop politicians have been up to lately.