Posted on 01/27/2006 7:09:34 PM PST by presidio9
Years after they first fingered Iraq war foes as "French," US President George W. Bush's Republicans are now dismissing the "Davos Democrats" -- turning the Swiss resort town into an unlikely insult.
One of the first targets was Senator John Kerry, Bush's rival for the White House in 2004, who was in Davos Thursday when he urged the Senate to use a delaying tactic called a filibuster against Supreme Court nominee Sam Alito.
"It was a pretty historic day. This was the first time ever that a Senator has called for a filibuster from the slopes of Davos, Switzerland," White House spokesman Scott McClellan quipped Friday.
"I think even for a senator, it takes some pretty serious yodeling to call for a filibuster from a five-star ski resort in the Swiss Alps," added McClellan.
Kerry was not on vacation: He was in Davos at the World Economic Forum. Many other US officials, including several senators and senior Bush administration officials, are still there.
The Republican National Committee -- the White House's de facto political arm -- also assailed Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, saying his position on Alito "has more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese."
"After stating an unwillingness to support a filibuster, it looks as though the Davos Democrats were able to twist Reid's arm enough to switch him from 'filibuster ... not me,' to 'filibuster ... oui, oui,'" said RNC spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt.
Davos is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, but France's opposition to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq inflamed longstanding anti-French sentiment in the United States.
Schmitt later accused Senator Dianne Feinstein of a "Flip-Flop: Davos Style" and accused the California lawmaker of having bowed the "Davos Democrats."
Kerry spokesman David Wade, reached by electronic mail, laughed off the criticism and fired back that the White House should worry more about a growing corruption scandal tied to a prominent Republican lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, "instead of waxing poetic about yodeling."
"Pardon my French, but you'd think Mr McClellan would have better things to do, like shredding photos of President Bush hugging Jack Abramoff," said Wade.
White Flag Democrats
Davos Democrats
Too much fun!!! LOL!
Why is it that liberals talk multiculturalism but are always traveling to Europe and emulating European ideas, culture, etc.?
Note that this is AFP talking here. Is it just me, or do they seem really anxious for us to finally let France off the hook for first surrendering and then fighting against us in WWII?
Is he a Douche Bag or a dirt bag or can he be one before he was the other one?
Let's face it ... Swiss. I think not.
Might someone be a little testy?
"Kerry was not on vacation..."
Kerry is always on vacation.
Of course, Davos, Switzerland, is a more exotic vacation destination than Crawford, Texas.
I love it!
Well the Dems are speaking to their supporters - notice that their supporters are all in Europe...
Kerry will live to regret that remark. I'd bet right now at the White House they are downloading pictures of Kerry as fast as they can.
Hell, we can help them! :-)
Anyone who watches "The Tick" knows that you have to watch out for the Swiss!
The point is that you are not supposed to criticize and moralize about the President while you are overseas.
Kudos to Scott McClellan. That was a good shot!
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