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Anti-Petraeus ad by liberal group sets off political firefight
The Examiner ^ | 2007-09-11 | Bill Sammon

Posted on 09/11/2007 6:17:42 AM PDT by indcons

Democrats who had hoped to use Monday’s congressional testimony as an indictment of the war in Iraq found themselves on the defensive over an ad impugning a respected American general.

MoveOn.org, a liberal advocacy group that has become increasingly influential within the Democratic Party, ran a full-page ad in Monday’s New York Times that pre-emptively dismissed testimony delivered later in the day by Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq.

“General Petraeus is likely to become General Betray Us,” said the ad, which accused him of “cooking the books for the White House.”

Petraeus insisted he wrote his congressional testimony himself and did not run it past the White House, which denounced the ad.

“It is boorish, it is childish, it is shameful and, unfortunately, it’s predictable,” White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said.

Republican presidential candidates quickly condemned MoveOn.org, which has received millions in funding from George Soros, the billionaire political activist who spent $27 million in a failed effort to defeat President Bush in 2004.

“MoveOn.org’s latest outrageous act is an attempt to call into question the reputation and character of General Petraeus even before he testifies in front of Congress,” Republican Mitt Romney said. “This debate should be free of the kind of shameful tactics MoveOn.org has shown today.”

Republican rival Rudy Giuliani said: “The Democrats and MoveOn.org are doing a disservice to Iraq’s long-term future by jumping to political conclusions in advance of the general’s report. These times call for statesmen, not political rhetoric.”

Republican John McCain, who spent 5 1/2 years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, accused MoveOn.org of launching “a McCarthyite attack on an American patriot.”

“This is a man who has devoted his life in service to our nation and has defended America in many battles over many years,” McCain said. “Now he is the target of a despicable attack in one our nation’s most visible newspapers.”

Phil Singer, a spokesman for Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, dismissed the Republican complaints as “a political sideshow.”

“Senator Clinton is going to keep her focus where it should be, on ending the war,” he said.

Sen. Barack Obama’s spokesman, Bill Burton, said the question is not about Petraeus’ patriotism. “It’s about his logic. There’s no evidence that this surge is producing the political progress needed to resolve the civil war in Iraq or that it will be accomplished through more of the same,” Burton said.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: democrats; gendavidpetraeus; hillary; iraq; iraqhearings; moveonorg; movon; paulestinians; petraeus
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Excerpt: Phil Singer, a spokesman for Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, dismissed the Republican complaints as “a political sideshow.” “Senator Clinton is going to keep her focus where it should be, on ending the war,” he said.
1 posted on 09/11/2007 6:17:49 AM PDT by indcons
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To: indcons
MoveOn.org, a liberal advocacy group

MoveOn.org, a liberal IDIOCY group........there, fixed it......

2 posted on 09/11/2007 6:21:48 AM PDT by Red Badger (ALL that CARBON in ALL that oil & coal was once in the atmospere. We're just putting it back!)
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To: indcons
“Senator Clinton is going to keep her focus where it should be, on ending the war distancing herself from her major contributor, Norman Hsu,” he said.

There, I fixed it.

3 posted on 09/11/2007 6:24:57 AM PDT by bcsco ("The American Indians found out what happens when you don't control immigration.")
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To: indcons

Looks like the Dems are trying to discard the fiction that they are patriotic.


4 posted on 09/11/2007 6:25:40 AM PDT by Brilliant
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To: indcons; Red Badger

Gee, two fixits in the first two replies. I guess we’re doing the job American liberal news editors don’t want to do.


5 posted on 09/11/2007 6:26:50 AM PDT by bcsco ("The American Indians found out what happens when you don't control immigration.")
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To: Red Badger

MoveOn.org, the propaganda “arm” of al Qaeda.

When will the Republicans demand an investigation to determine the extent to which MoveOn.org (and Soros himself) are funded by jihadist petrodollars?


6 posted on 09/11/2007 6:29:42 AM PDT by pfony1
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To: indcons
“Senator Clinton is going to keep her focus where it should be, on ending the war,” he said.

Looking to America to end the war is rank stupidity. America did not start the war. The war is not under America's control, therefore America can NOT stop the war by unilateral action (except through victory). I doubt that Hillary means to 'end the war' by winning it. Her husband, who was President, while Hillary ran the country as First Lady (after all her 'experience' comes from this), let this war continue with attack after attack on the United States starting with the first World Trade Center attack.

The Jihadists started their war centuries before Columbus discovered America, much less the founding of the United States. So, how can America be responsible for starting the war?

7 posted on 09/11/2007 6:36:03 AM PDT by Jabba the Nutt (Just laugh at them!)
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To: kristinn

Can this be linked to the Triad?


8 posted on 09/11/2007 6:37:36 AM PDT by Travis McGee (--www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com--)
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To: indcons
The Democrats have a credibility problem. I hope they keep up their attacks on our military.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

9 posted on 09/11/2007 6:42:47 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: indcons
Again and Again, Hildebeast shows her true colors. She cares little for our nation’s military, its honor or anything more than her own political career.
10 posted on 09/11/2007 6:47:37 AM PDT by GeorgefromGeorgia
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To: indcons

Why no mention of Fred Thompson’s excellent slam of this crap?


11 posted on 09/11/2007 6:48:26 AM PDT by dynachrome (Henry Bowman is right.)
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To: indcons

“Sen. Barack Obama’s spokesman, Bill Burton, said the question is not about Petraeus’ patriotism. “It’s about his logic. There’s no evidence that this surge is producing the political progress needed to resolve the civil war in Iraq or that it will be accomplished through more of the same,” Burton said.”

Oh, Obama, the military is expected to have a military effect.......doh!


12 posted on 09/11/2007 6:56:52 AM PDT by Stashiu (RVN, 1969-70)
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To: indcons

I wonder which Democrat rep or senator handed out passes to the hearings to the Code Pink disruptors?


13 posted on 09/11/2007 6:57:03 AM PDT by Voltage
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: dynachrome

Oh! Where can I find it?


15 posted on 09/11/2007 7:01:12 AM PDT by MJemison
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To: Red Badger
MoveOn.org, a liberal advocacy group

MoveOn.org, a liberal IDIOCY group........there, fixed it......

MoveOn.org, a Communist IDIOCY group......now, that's much beter.

16 posted on 09/11/2007 7:02:55 AM PDT by WashingtonSource
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To: Voltage
I wonder which Democrat rep or senator handed out passes to the hearings to the Code Pink disruptors?

All of them.

17 posted on 09/11/2007 7:03:21 AM PDT by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: MJemison

Here ya go!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1894339/posts


18 posted on 09/11/2007 7:03:25 AM PDT by dynachrome (Henry Bowman is right.)
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To: indcons

Thank you to MoveON !!!!


19 posted on 09/11/2007 7:05:52 AM PDT by drzz
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To: indcons
The only one relieved from the results of this ad must be Senator Lautenberg who in his opening statement said essentially the exact same thing.

He is getting full cover today, and not the deserved coverage.

20 posted on 09/11/2007 7:06:06 AM PDT by kAcknor (Don't flatter yourself.... It is a gun in my pocket.)
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