Posted on 04/04/2003 5:51:34 AM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Democratic Sen. John Kerry came under fire from top congressional Republicans for saying the United States, like Iraq, needs a regime change. Kerry would not back down. Sen. Bill Frist, the senate majority leader, said the statement by the Democratic presidential hopeful called into question Kerry's fitness to be the nation's chief executive. ``Free and open discourse is one thing, but petty, partisan insults launched solely for personal political gain are highly inappropriate at a time when American men and women are in harm's way,'' Frist, R-Tenn., said in a statement Thursday. In a speech Wednesday in Peterborough, N.H., Kerry said President Bush so alienated allies prior to the U.S.-led war against Iraq that only a new president can rebuild damaged relationships with other countries. ``What we need now is not just a regime change in Saddam Hussein and Iraq, but we need a regime change in the United States,'' said Kerry, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said that in the midst of war, the nation should pull together to support the troops and commander in chief. ``Once this war is over, there will be plenty of time for the next election,'' he said in a statement. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, also issued a statement, calling Kerry's words ``desperate and inappropriate.'' ``America before New Hampshire,'' DeLay said. Kerry dismissed the criticism, saying patriotism is not mutually exclusive with questioning the war. ``I don't need any lessons in patriotism or in caring for America,'' Kerry, a decorated Vietnam veteran, told Democrats at a meet-the-candidates dinner in Atlanta. ``We're fighting for the rights of Americans. ... I speak out for America, not for politics.'' Also appearing at the Atlanta forum was Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor who has been among the most outspoken anti-war candidates. He praised Kerry's service to his country. Neither Hastert, Frist nor DeLay served in the military. Kerry backed a congressional resolution last fall giving Bush the authority to use force to oust Saddam, but he repeatedly has criticized the president for failing to give diplomacy more time. Leading congressional Democrats generally have avoided criticism of Bush since U.S.-led forces began attacking Iraq. On March 17, when Bush announced that military strikes would begin against Iraq unless Saddam left the country, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said Bush's diplomatic efforts had failed ``miserably'' because he didn't secure a U.N. resolution for the war. Daschle's remarks drew a sharp rebuke from Hastert and DeLay. This week, Daschle said he was satisfied with Bush's strategy.
He's not suggesting civil war is he? This is not an attempt to rally the anti-war protestors to violence, is it? It's illegal to yell "fire" in a movie theatre, and it is illegal to send people out to commit violence. He should be careful.
(Tongue in cheek).
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