Hastert Slams Biden for 'Comforting Our Enemy'

NewsMax.com/Roll Call ^ | Thursday Oct. 25, 2001; 11:40 a.m. EDT | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[Jean S]

House Speaker Dennis Hastert slammed Sen. Joe Biden Wednesday for remarks that he said "may bring comfort to our enemies" in the U.S. war in Afghanistan.

Biden had warned after a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations Wednesday, that continued bombing of Taliban targets and Osama bin Laden's encampments made the U.S. look like "a high-tech bully."

Hastert called the remarks "completely irresponsible," according to Roll Call, then added:

"After losing close to 5,000 fellow citizens to terrorist attacks over the last month and a half, the American people want us to bring these terrorists to justice. They do not want comments that may bring comfort to our enemies."

Roll Call

Heard on the Hill

He Said It. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph Biden (D-Del.) caught hell yesterday from both Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) for suggesting that the United States could end up branded a "high-tech bully" for bombing Afghanistan.

In a statement released by his office, Hastert called Biden's comments, which came after a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations, "completely irresponsible." He added, "After losing close to 5,000 fellow citizens to terrorist attacks over the last month and a half, the American people want us to bring these terrorists to justice. They do not want comments that may bring comfort to our enemies."

Davis, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Biden's comments were "outrageous and negligent," but claimed he saw them coming.

"I think we all feared here would come a time when some Congressional leaders would start to cut and run from the President and undermine our national-unity front," Davis said. "I am disappointed in Senator Biden's remarks and hope that he can clarify them and support our troops."

[elfman2]

Boom! nice work…

[DouglasKC]

Good for Hastert!

[what's up]

Biden is and always has been a jerk. Hastert is right to give it to him and to all the Senate jerks who spoke out against the House closing last week (like McCain).

[jedi150]

Somebody NEEDS to put a sock in Bidens mouth! (preferably soiled)

Another fine example here http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/521565/posts

[FR_addict]

Bump for Hastert!

Jane Fonda award for Biden.

[Saundra Duffy]

Did Biden make similar statements when Clinton was waging his Kosovo wag the dog war? For victory & freedom!!!

[DiamondDon1]

Nice post. Finally something good for OUR side...

[TADSLOS]

Biden deserves it. He usually has his mouth engaged and his brain distracted. How people like him attain office and remain there is truly incredible.

[jb54tx]

Biden needs to be removed from office.... this is boarderlining on Treason!

[jackbill]

What will it take for the people of Delaware to finally become embarrassed with this idiot and throw him out?

[rintense]

I swear that Biden fool has no idea that those words WILL come back to hanut him during the next election- especially WHEN we are successful in nailing the Taliban.

[Ward Smythe]

In related news, GOP Congressional Leadership appears to have located their spine.

Search for the GOP Senate Leadership spine continues...

[SGCOS]

Biden had to make those remarks. He hasn't been on any Sunday talk shows in almost a month.

[boycott]

I now have more respect for Hastert.

I remember when that idiot Biden was running for president. He had to bow out in disgrace because he was using former politician's speeches. He was a fraud and still is.

How could the people of Delaware give the nation such a fraud?

[FresnoDA]

ALERT, BIDEN PLUGS POP OUT!!!

Joe Biden, Demorat (Delaware)

[b4its2late]

Biden is an idiot, I expected no less. He probably represents more democrats than we'll ever truly know.

And it's great to see two guys letting him know how they feel about his stupid remarks....

[KeepTheEdge]

Biden is on C-Span now, trying to 'clean' and wash the story.

Also, 'hair transplant not yet finished, dome still shining through.'

[1rudeboy]

Was Biden the guy who ripped on our foreign policy (re: Kyoto) on Bush's first trip to Europe?

[agave]

Thank God in heaven that the real decisions regarding the prosecution of this war on terrorism are being made by patriotic Republicans in the Bush Administration who are way above "upper G.I." Joe's "pay grade." What a weiner!