Matthews' Message to Pelosi: Don't Fund Surge

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

As a former aide to Tip O'Neill, Chris Matthews is accustomed to offering advice to Democratic Speakers of House. With President Bush's announcement of a surge apparently imminent, Chris Matthews made clear his marching orders for Nancy Pelosi this morning: don't fund it.

Interviewed by Meredith Vieira on the "Today" show, Matthews opined:

"She better have, it seems to me, a strong voice about the war. And that's not just putting Jack Murtha out there to lose. And she's gotta get out there and win on this argument. This is going to come down to funding, whether anybody like it or not. The purse strings are now controlled by the Democrats; they cannot abdicate that. They have to choose, whether they're for the president's position with this new escalation that seems to be coming or they're not with him. They can't fall back and tut-tut and hiss the president. They've got to do something about it."

View video here.Matthews' earlier remarks left no doubt as to just what that "something" is that he demands Democrats do:

• "[The surge] runs completely against American public opinion . . . the American people aren't going to like it."
• "The American people want to leave Iraq and [Pres. Bush] is taking us deeper into it."
• "For the president to go Wrong-Way Corrigan on this thing and increase the number of troops, take us deeper into Iraq, would be to reject the opinion of the American people."

Alright then, Speaker Pelosi; you heard Chris. How about it: will Democrats have the courage of Chris's convictions?

Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Today show ping.

[BenLurkin]

SO HE IS GIVING OPEN AID AND COMFORT TO THE ENEMY.

[AZRepublican]

Yeah Nancy, don't fund the surge, take chrissy's advice.

[Chi-townChief]

Wasn't Matthews one of the lefties oinking about how we didn't have enough troops there a few months back?

[Mr. Mojo]

Of course Chrissy doesn't want the surge to be funded -- it would succeed in killing many of his comrades.

[RexBeach]

Every time Ms. Pelosi speaks against the war, she elates terrorists and deflates the morale of our soldiers.

[Miss Marple]

governs, you need to get a copy of Imus this morning. PJ says that Imus and Matthews were fantasizing over how members of the administration would react when hanged.

PJ alerted me to this, and I think it is something that needs to be widely discussed.

[Redleg Duke]

Butt-boy wants to pull a "Vietnam" on the Iraqis!

[AdvisorB]

The left wants to lose this thing as much as they wanted to lose the Viet-Nam war. They have been thinking about the scenario of Congress defunding this war, and have enjoyed the reminders during the Ford funeral of how the left wing Congress elected in 1974 cut off all weapons, ammunition, and spare parts for the South Vietnamese Army insuring the defeat of the anti-communist forces in South Vietnam. Tens of thousands of summarily executed South Vietanmese, hundred's of thousands of South Vietnamese boat people, and millions of murdered Cambodians haven't deterred these leftist p*icks in the least. No, their blood lust for innocent men, women, and children has no limits.

[theDentist]

HE IS GIVING OPEN AID AND COMFORT TO THE ENEMY.

It's not like a Republican is going to call him on it. Wusses.

[Mo1]

This is going to come down to funding, whether anybody like it or not. The purse strings are now controlled by the Democrats; they cannot abdicate that.

Chrissy wants to relive the Vietnam days

[Carolinamom]

Military and political advice from Mathews, who bragged about having a 'grand time' while he was in the Peace Corp during the Vietnam war, teaching English to some island natives and 'riding around" on his bike" No Thanks.

[Mo1]

yes

[Mo1]

PJ says that Imus and Matthews were fantasizing over how members of the administration would react when hanged

OMG .. are you serious?

[Kozak]

Make sure you take it to a vote so you can all go on record. Get Reid to do the same in the Senate.....

[Just A Nobody]

"[The surge] runs completely against American public opinion . . .
the American people aren't going to like it."
"The American people want to leave Iraq and [Pres. Bush] is taking us deeper into it."
"For the president to go Wrong-Way Corrigan on this thing and increase the number of troops, take us deeper into Iraq, would be to reject the opinion of the American people."

YOU do not speak for me Hissy!

I am sick and tired of these mediots telling me what the American people think and feel.

Two short years ago, the American people came out in massive numbers to keep President Bush as Commander-in-Chief! It is HIS call...not some mediots decision to make. Well

[bushfamfan]

The GOP is good at fundraising. Why doesn't it start a fund to start it's own network and boycott ever appearing on these sham networks that offer up Demonrat propaganda?

[tobyhill]

The "Surge" is already funded through the General Defense Budget but any funding beyond that would have to go through supplemental funding which is at least a year away even though there's been a request for $100 billion already. The Presidents have gotten a lot smarter than the Vietnam days to assure Congress can't just cut funding and make an immediate impact.

[beyond the sea]

Matthews' Message to Pelosi: Don't Fund Surge

My message to Chris Matthews: Stick a Sock in It