Boehner Spokesman: Dems Are Criticizing "Small Price" Because They Want America's Defeat
This is fun. John Boehner's office has hatched a new explanation for why Dems and others are criticizing his "small price" remark: Because they want American troops to get defeated in Iraq.
The Cleveland Plain-Dealer asked Boehner's office about his comment, in which he said that the loss of American lives was a "small price" to pay for defeating Al Qaeda, and here's what the paper got from Boehner spokesperson Jessica Towhey:
A Boehner spokeswoman said his remarks referred to the monetary investment the United States has made to win the global war on terror and ensure U.S. security. She observed that Boehner visited Iraq this week to thank U.S. troops for their service and assess the "progress on the ground that some Democrats are so desperate to ignore.""It's apparent that some Democrats and the far-left wing of their party are deeply afraid we are winning in Iraq now, and it's clear they will do anything they can -- including making false representations -- to ensure our troops come home after defeat, not victory," said Boehner spokeswoman Jessica Towhey.
It's worth noting, of course, that Ms. Towhey is, well, not telling the truth. In fact, Boehner was answering a question that very clearly was about the loss of American lives, not just money.
It's also worth noting that Navy veteran and Republican John McCain agrees with the Dems who allegedly are only criticizing Boehner because they want our troops to lose. Just yesterday, McCain said that Boehner should "retract" is remark.
Comments (28)
HAWK wrote on September 15, 2007 11:48 AM:To a policial news junki.I am tired of reading the same old republician "TALKING POINT".
I.E;THE DEMS WANT OUR TROOPS TO LOSE.
THE DEMS ARE AGAINST OUR TROOPS.
THE DEMS DON'T SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.
so on and so on,its really sicken
It is impossible for him to have been talking about the money. We borrowed it all from the next President and probably the one after that, so no financial price has even been paid.
hadenough wrote on September 15, 2007 12:42 PM:Where does the gop find the endless stream of bitter, mean spirited spokespeople?
Ineffably Disappointed Republican wrote on September 15, 2007 12:52 PM:That's it, John, you idiot and hack, keep the story alive. Keep digging that hole. (Where are these rocks my party apparently overturns for its talent?)
If I were to believe the spin coming out of the Minority Leader's office (which I don't) - that Boehner's "remarks referred to the monetary investment the United States has made to win the global war on terror and ensure U.S. security" and nothing else - I would still want to hear what "price" the Ohian does attach to the loss of life and tens of thousands of serious injuries suffered by our military men and women thus far (and into the foreseeable future), not to mention the immeasurable decline of the nation's standing in the world. He should be forced to answer that question. Now. Is the "price" in terms of human suffering and death "small" or "big" (or something in between)? And how is it he thinks that price can be detached from, be considered in isolation from, our "monetary investment," as if it had nothing whatever to do with the overall "cost" of this moronic enterprise? Is the Congressman simply unaware that - in addition to the country's wasting hundreds of billions of dollars - thousands upon thousands fine Americans are dying or getting permanently damaged over there? It sure seems that way.
CT Voter wrote on September 15, 2007 1:27 PM:Where does the gop find the endless stream of bitter, mean spirited spokespeople?
They're probably tired of callers like me who told the person on the phone that Boehner should be ashamed of himself for making that comment. She hung up on me.
Thanks to Greg and EC for continuing to pound on this story. It's still not getting the attention it should--I couldn't find a thing about it in today's dead tree Times. Amazing. Boehner "misspoke", according to St. McCain, but Kerry's joke was "an insult to every soldier serving in combat"
While Boehner himself said, according to CNN, NOv. 1, 2006:
"These Americans who are risking their lives in the fight against terrorism in Iraq deserve better than to have their service demeaned by a United States senator," Boehner said in a statement. "Our soldiers need John Kerry's support, yet John Kerry offers nothing more than disparaging commentary."
And Boehner considers their deaths just a "small price".
The one-sidedness of the media is astounding. Truly.
Captain Nemo wrote on September 15, 2007 2:47 PM:Questions for Boehner:
1. Do you consider the American lives lost in WWI a "small price" to pay for the defeat of Facsim?
2. Do you consider the 55,000 American lives lost in Viet Nam a small price to pay for our ultimate "defeat" of Communism?
3. What if we defeat Al Qaida in Iraq but fail to capture Osama bin Laden and suffer another terrorist attack by Al Qaida on our own soil? What if we lose in Afghanistan and Pakistan? Are the lives lost in Iraq still a small price?
4. What if we attack Iran, and as a consequence lose many more American lives in Iraq? Are they still a small price to pay?
5. What evidence can you give us that we are "winning" in Iraq? How do you define victory? What are our goals in Iraq?
Richard L. Adlof wrote on September 15, 2007 3:05 PM:I don't understand all the hoopla . . . He is the Boner . . . That's what he does.
The Grand Old Party has given way to the Angry Old White Guy Party . . . As an actual angry old white guy, I'm bit disturbed that McCain is the only Republican who can smell the fart in the wind. I mean . . . When the bat-shit crazy bastard is the only one making sense . . .
KAL wrote on September 15, 2007 3:08 PM:At no time has the GOP been anything other than inerrant. They deny they have ever done anything wrong, been corrupt, lied, stolen, cheated or been sleazy.
At the same time they lack any consideration for the average American citizen. They will bury him/her under debt till kingdom come and offer lip service instead of assistance while asking for a donation to keep doing more of the same.
jeffgee wrote on September 15, 2007 3:12 PM:Cap'n:
WW1 wasn't about fascism and the US didn't get into it until the last year. We still had a lot of casualties.
WW2 was about defeating fascism.
Too bad it's rearing its ugly head in the Bush Administration.
Jeffgee: that was a typo, but since you raised the issue, we should also ask Boehner whether the nine million lives lost in WWI were a "small price" to pay for the "War to end all Wars":
World War I, also known as The First World War, The Great War and "The War To End All Wars," was a global military conflict which took place primarily in Europe between 1914 and 1918. More than nine million soldiers and civilians died. The conflict had a decisive impact on the history of the 20th century. (Wikipedia)
House Republicans are in deep trouble. Check out these House ratings!
Daniel wrote on September 15, 2007 6:19 PM:House Republicans are in deep trouble. Check out these House ratings!
Anonymous wrote on September 15, 2007 6:23 PM:John gets a boner on every time he thinks about everyone else's kids getting killed or maimed in Iraq.
Wonder how much Exxon stock he owns.
mkolb wrote on September 15, 2007 6:27 PM:CT Voter, Boehner's office didn't hang up on me, but switched me to voice mail. That's the Republican Leadership (such as it is) office at 202-225-4000.
So, I wrote to the Cleveland Plain Dealer to express my outrage and informed them that I am not a Democrat and not in on any "plot".
The Plain Dealer's Letters to the Editor address is letters@plaind.com
And a note about WWI, an area of study for me ever since GWB's "we must spread democracy" reminded me of Kaiser Wilhelm's "we must spread German Culture". Interestingly enough, Ho Chi Min spent a long time at the Paris Peace Talks in1917-8 trying to get assistance from the West in building his country. It was after he was rebuffed and ignored by the "big guys" over and over that he turned elsewhere for help eventually leading to that civil war and our first quagmire. This should teach us something.
howard wrote on September 15, 2007 8:04 PM:i actually think the time has come for the likes of clinton, obama, and edwards, to just let it go and start saying "the gop leadership is just plain nuts."
Lyna wrote on September 15, 2007 8:52 PM:GWB, neocons, and the Republicans are helping America get defeated all by themselves, without any help from the Democrats.
Since it's going so well in Anbar, how many of them will be taking a vacation there soon to help prop up the local economy?
Vietnam Vet wrote on September 15, 2007 9:13 PM:Boehner and all the chickenshit/hawk Republicans have no respect for our men and women in uniform. They consider them, to use an old expression, "cannon fodder."
He is absolute scum, a coward who wouldn't dream of putting his ass in harm's way, but has no problem dismissing the sacrifices made by our military and their families. What a hypocrite!
Ohio Proud wrote on September 15, 2007 10:36 PM:
Special election in the 5th District!
Help turn this seat Blue!
Keep talkin' John....
Mari, Mesa Arizona wrote on September 16, 2007 2:00 AM:How silly for Boehner to make the assumption that Democrats are complaining about his comments because they want us to lose in Iraq. Really???? Actually he made the comment no doubt thinking it was one of his cutzy little statements to vilify the Democrats. You can tell stuff like that really comes out of the deeply twisted thinking of this guy. So revulsion by Republicans has even been as obvious as any from the Democrats. Now instead of just admitting he did not think before saying what he did say, he seems to be trying to make the problem that of the Democrats, when actually the comments by Democrats and Republicans are about the tone of his statement. You really think this guy is so dense? Or is he just shopping for some way to sidestep his responsibility for the horrific statement he made about our military's sacrifice.
fuzz wrote on September 16, 2007 2:13 AM:I agree with howard. It's time to stop arguing with the crazy people. We need to hone everything down to a few key points and simply repeat them over and over again.
1. No Iraqi terrorist has ever attacked an American citizen outside the borders of Iraq. Iraqis only became enemies of the US when we invaded their country. Those that remain our enemies do so because we occupy their country.
2. The American presence in Iraq does nothing, zero, to prevent terrorists who wish to travel to the US to harm us from doing so. The entire notion is ludicrous.
3. Several people from Saudi Arabia attacked the United States on 9/11. Their leaders, last we heard, are in Pakistan. Neither of those countries is Iraq. No amount of "victory" or "surrender" in Iraq is going to significantly influence events in either Saudi Arabia or Pakistan. We could nuke Iraq and kill every single human being within its borders and it wouldn't affect al Qaeda *at all* except perhaps to convince more people to join.
That's it! More points could be made, but those three are sufficient.
When Boehner says "Democrats criticize me because they want America defeated" the response should be a resounding "the only enemies we have in Iraq are the ones we've created--our enemies are elsewhere and nothing we do in Iraq is going to affect them--America has already been defeated because we're in the wrong country fighting the wrong enemy--the path to victory starts with showing up to the right battle."
When Boehner says "How dare they criticize General Petraeus, the leader of our nation's fight against al Qaeda" the response should be "al Qaeda in Iraq is not the al Qaeda that attacked the United States--Iraq was an enemy of al Qaeda until the United States invaded their country. We bear sole responsibility for al Qaeda in Iraq and General Petraeus commands the force that caused the creation of al Qaeda in Iraq. General Petraeus does not--AT ALL--have the authority to fight the al Qaeda that attacked the United States on 9/11.
terrydactyl wrote on September 16, 2007 9:43 AM:Every time I see Rep. Boehner on tv with his carotene tan and rug I want to puke. The funny thing is he KNOWS the water he carries for Bu$co stinks. He always looks like he just had a big wet fart and can't wait to escape before anyone notices.
bibimimi wrote on September 16, 2007 12:46 PM:Boehner is orange scum. And when he cries, he creeps-me-the-hell out.
questioneverything wrote on September 16, 2007 2:02 PM:And Republicans are breaking the military, and they are trying to defeat the USA and bring on WWIII.
We must stand up to their lies and projections and stop this madness.
olpossum wrote on September 16, 2007 3:53 PM:I'd like to see the democrats put this piece of video to use. Everyone but the brain-dead has heard stuff like this enough to wise them up, even those, like me, hoping against hope for some sincerity. This piece of purposeful, evil, Rovian lying should be played over and over.
sheerahkahn wrote on September 16, 2007 4:55 PM:I think the good Senator Boehner is to stupid to realize he's already hip deep in the swamp, and this latest comment of his makes him look like he's looking for deeper water to drown in.
Sorry to run counter to the above comments, but I want the U.S. to lose in Iraq, and I don't believe I am alone in feeling this way.
When a country with a massive military commits a vicious armed aggression against a far smaller, innocent country, I want them to lose. Don't you think it would have been better for Germany to have lost after invading Austria or Czechoslavakia? When a country uses its military might to bully the whole world, I want it to lose. If they don't lose now, when will it stop?
I want torturers to lose. I want corrupt liars to lose. I want governments that savage the rights of their people, and anyone else who gets in their way, to lose.
Don't you? And if not, why the hell not?
Mari, Mesa Arizona wrote on September 17, 2007 1:22 AM:Hmm, it tests credulity to hear someone blame Democrats for the problems with Congressman Boehner's ridiculous statement. As usual, supporters of the far right wing just do not even intend to hold their hatchet guys accountable for the lies. No matter what their political persuasion might be, adhering to the things the far right is espousing must happen for that person to remain in good standing. Sooo a disavowal of any statement deemed the least bit critical of that group puts the person making such a statement beyond the pale. Hense, Boehner's reason, errrr excuse.
whizkid wrote on September 17, 2007 3:23 AM:Look at him.
Like Bush, he's addicted to Percocet.
Out of his tree.
