House GOP Moving To Condemn MoveOn.org Ad

Comments (51)

Andy wrote on September 11, 2007 9:20 AM:

It is interesting that the Republicans are so quick destroy the very values they say we are in Iraq to defend and that they say the Islamofacists hate us for. Perhaps a refreshing look in their own cespools is in order or maybe some faith in our system?

IntelVet wrote on September 11, 2007 9:21 AM:

"Attacking" with truth?

Yeah, debate that issue, flog it in the aisles, put the fact that the Pentagon nik for Patraeus is Gen. Betrayus.

Hell, I'd love to see the truth out on that free-loader.

Bob Borden wrote on September 11, 2007 9:24 AM:

As a contributing member of Moveon.org, I would like to say that the ad sure threatened Boehner, which in itself is reason to have more of them. The General knows full well who butters his bread and on which side. His years in the Army have taught him how to posture. He is what he is, nothing more or less, ie. neither hero nor villain, just a plain ole general tryin' to make a living. All the good ones were purged long ago.

The Constitution wrote on September 11, 2007 9:24 AM:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Mellors wrote on September 11, 2007 9:25 AM:

Few things more satisfying than seeing Repukeans scream about attacks that recall the Swift Boating of Kerry.

General BetrayUs is a Caesarian epigone.
He wants to be president. His egomaniacal ambition has him sacrificing his own troops for that ambition.

anonymous wrote on September 11, 2007 9:29 AM:

So where was the GOP resolution condemning the Swift Boat Vets for Untruth?

Mudge wrote on September 11, 2007 9:31 AM:

Troops and Iraqis are dying and Boehner is all worried about a nickname, which was borrowed, not invented, by Moveon.

Protect the general, to hell with the troops.

MarkusQ wrote on September 11, 2007 9:32 AM:

Oh my. That can't be that stupid, can they?

Have they forgotten that the only reason the swift boat ads were so effective is that they became News, bringing them to the attention of a hundred million people who never would have heard of them otherwise.

And now they want to return the favour by making "General Betray Us" a household phrase?

What utter and complete Dolts.

--MarkusQ

thomas wrote on September 11, 2007 9:33 AM:

Make noise by banging a pot with a spoon, anything to take the discussion away from the fiasco at hand.

stephen wrote on September 11, 2007 9:33 AM:

Wow "Boner" is upset about Character assasination????? Does this mean that he will be introducing a resolution to condemn Karl Rove next? Oh christ he would have to propose a resolution to condemn himself at that rate? Oh and by the way "Boner"....your next resolution should be to condemn the war criminals sitting in the white house!

Xenos wrote on September 11, 2007 9:35 AM:

This is so cute!

The GOP is so off-message and off their game that they are acting like Democrats. Nothing will keep the 'Betray-us' meme going like this sort of legislation that keeps putting it back in the news and in front of the public. Each time they bring it up, the rest of us can say "remember the swift-boaters?" At this rate the "Betray-us" slur is going to stick.

Gillespie is no Rove, that is for sure.

They hate us for our freedoms wrote on September 11, 2007 9:35 AM:

House Republicans -- censoring political speech and our Constitutionally protected freedoms one ad at a time.

Remember, they hate us for our freedoms -- the terrorists and the Republicans.

Salvarsan wrote on September 11, 2007 9:39 AM:

Excellent! The GOP has just stood against the First Amendment and has left MoveOn with considerably less to do.

TheraP wrote on September 11, 2007 9:40 AM:

Yes, this news will definitely send people running to look at yesterday's Times!

I'm guessing that they told the general to expect to be greeted with flowers.... oops!

ahem wrote on September 11, 2007 9:41 AM:

I urge John Boehner to take a hike. Any Dem who co-sponsors this resolution is a pathetic enabler. A smart tactic would be to condemn every GOPwit who impugned an opponent's patriotism, including Senator Saxby Chambliss.

Hal wrote on September 11, 2007 9:46 AM:

That ad reminds me why I quit Moveon. How does that ad move our cause forward? Is anyone who needs persuading going to be converted by reading a character assasination of a widely respected man? IMHO, Moveon has become a naval gazing circle jerk, doing more harm than good by alienating the persuadable Center.

Northern Virginia wrote on September 11, 2007 9:47 AM:

We need to call it like it is: This resolution is just a bit of Republican Theatrics put on for show.

Jan wrote on September 11, 2007 9:49 AM:

Easily the most despicable political ads I've ever seen were the Republican ads directed against Senator Max Cleland.

Easily the most despicable comment I've ever heard directed at a servicemember was Republican Jean Schmidt's comment, directed at combat-decorated Marine Jack Murtha, on the floor of the US House.

I am a charter member of MoveOn.
Admiral Fallon is in General Petraeus's immediate chain of command and he represents the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the entire military.

Adm. Fallon lays out clearly why Gen. Petraeus is indeed betraying our troops.

linda wrote on September 11, 2007 9:52 AM:

House Republicans -- censoring political speech and our Constitutionally protected freedoms one ad at a time.

Remember, they hate us for our freedoms -- the terrorists and the Republicans.

oh, don't forget ike skelton's admonishment to american citizens who have the audacity to publicly -- and loudly -- oppose this war: 'they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law'.

yeah, baby, there's your democracy in action.

Mary C. McCabe wrote on September 11, 2007 9:56 AM:

I thank MoveOn.org for its full page NEW YORK TIMES ad, suggesting that Petraeus is betraying us as he testifies to Congress simply by providing White House spin. I watched the hearing yesterday with disgust - not only at him, but also at Crocker. I'm enraged when I realize that it is almost impossible to hear the truth any more - ever since the Bush administration took over the White House. It makes me unbelievably sad, also.

Louis wrote on September 11, 2007 10:02 AM:

The Betrayus slur was first used by a Republican lawmaker. I saw it on Hardball about 6 or 8 weeks ago. This guy said something like: I'll wait to see the Petraeus report rather than listen to the Betrayus warnings of the Democrats. Does anybody else remember seeing this?

And, isn't that the Fox News technique, asking a question rather than using a declarative sentence?

CalD wrote on September 11, 2007 10:04 AM:

I downloaded a PDF of that MoveOn ad yesterday and I really thought it was pretty well written overall. It's a shame that probably no one who wasn't already a believer ever read past the headline. I really can't imagine they made any new friends with that "Betray Us" line though. Leave it to MoveOn to spend $65,000 yet another "Kick Me" sign for the progressive position.

This is exactly the reason why I finally broke down and opted off MoveOn's mailing list a couple of years ago. They really need learn how to STOP providing the right wing with ready-made opportunities to divert attention from the substance of the case against them.

Anonymous wrote on September 11, 2007 10:12 AM:

This has less to do with MoveOn's ad and everything to do with Republicans taking "remember 9/11" as their rallying cry.

Tigris Lily wrote on September 11, 2007 10:12 AM:

Of course, we won't hear anything about the Swift Boaters or other Republican slanders from the Democrats on the Hill who continue to let the Republicans control Congress even though they are purportedly "the minority". The Dems will just keep cowering their way out of the majority and back into the minority.

EZsmirkzz wrote on September 11, 2007 10:14 AM:

The worst part of the whole thing is some freeper is claiming to have coined the term to describe John Murtha. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1883253/posts

GOP08_DOA wrote on September 11, 2007 10:21 AM:

This administration and its republican lackies have betrayed us once, and they'll continue to do it as long as we let them. Good for MoveOn for calling the liars liars to their faces.

fuzz wrote on September 11, 2007 10:25 AM:

I am not a political strategist. Maybe the ad was intended to provoke this sort of reaction. But it seems to me that it would have been more effective to simply state the facts without the "betray us" business. I would have like to seen the facts stated in language fit for civil discourse along with a list of carefully-worded questions for Congress to pose to Petraeus.

Evan wrote on September 11, 2007 10:26 AM:

I thought that add was worthy of another $50 donation to MoveOn. They've got more backbone than all our elected Dems combined. But I guess it is rude to tell the truth.

Anne wrote on September 11, 2007 10:32 AM:

I think if they insist on this then just about everything that comes out of Ann Coulter's mouth as well as Rush Limbaugh's and Hannity's should warrent the same treatment. If a Dem signs on to this they are simply the weinies that the Repubs say they are.

GOP08_DOA wrote on September 11, 2007 10:33 AM:

The "Surrender Monkeys" front page and the "Betray Us" ad are important political pop art. Historically they'll both have a very prominent place in the discussion of this sham of a war.

notinKansas wrote on September 11, 2007 10:40 AM:

Respect for Colin Powell did not serve this country well prior to the invasion of Iraq. He should have been challenged on the content of that UN speech. Just because Bush trots out another military person to do his bidding doesn't mean that we should repeat the same mistake made with Powell. Challenge his testimony. That means you too, John Kerry.

Doofus wrote on September 11, 2007 10:55 AM:

I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop: Joe Lieberman will come out, denounce the ad, and call on all his "fellow Democrats" to do the same. Thereby eviscerating any possible move by Dems to condone the ad by either supporting it outright, or ignoring it. If Joementum's not on Rove's payroll, he might as well be.

Dorothy wrote on September 11, 2007 11:31 AM:

Um...why on earth would Congress need to "condemn" any statement by any non-governmental authority? Why is it any of Congress's business what private citizens say?

If Petraeus believes it's libelous or defaming, he is free to file a civil complaint. If individual representatives feel it's horrible, they are certainly free to make statements to that effect.

But "legislation condemning the ad"? Why? What will that legistlation accomplish, exactly? What is it that we expect Congress to be able to do about this situation?

I think this legislation just makes it clear that some of our elected representatives think they have nothing more important to do than play traumatized drama queens and stick their noses into issues that in no way concern them or their constituents.

If they bring this to the floor, I'm going to start a campaign to "condemn" all the ads that I personally find offensive and annoying, starting with those grating "Axe body spray" ads and most beer commercials.

solai wrote on September 11, 2007 11:33 AM:

If I were the Dem Leader, I'd have every single rep add a gooper statement to the resolution for condemnation. Statements from Coulter, Hannity, Limbaugh, Drudge etc. Just keep adding and adding and adding.....

OxyCon wrote on September 11, 2007 11:45 AM:

Soldiers are being killed in a war of choice. The financial markets are on the verge of collapse. Americans are losing their homes. And all the Repubs can do is sit back and play partisan politics?

Allsburg wrote on September 11, 2007 12:02 PM:

Where was Congress when Johnny Cooper called me a "Poopypants" in first grade??

electricphoto wrote on September 11, 2007 12:31 PM:

You can't get congress to censure or make a statement against those like the Bush team who lie, who we know lie, who we catch in a lie, who send lackeys to lie... but tell the truth and back it up with facts - now there is a censure that Republicans can get behind.

It is what poker players call a "tell". It shines light on those who live by the lie. Attack the messenger....

Gota love free speach... free to attack annd smear, free to lie and never answer for it, free to use every tried and true propaganda technique to pursuade - but tell the truth - that's a threat to "the Party" that cannot go unanswered in the strongest terms...

That smell, that gasoline smell... that's freedom burning, smells like victory... go Republicans - sure there is no price to pay... keep living the lie...

Joe wrote on September 11, 2007 12:38 PM:

I agree with the comment from fuzz. I hate giving the wingnuts more "you don't support the troops" ammo. Having said that, I would like to add for the whiny Republicans: If your delicate sensibilities are hurt, why don't you put one of your Purple Heart Band-Aids on it and make it feel better?

EH wrote on September 11, 2007 12:46 PM:

Yeah, and what race are John McCain's children again?

TC wrote on September 11, 2007 12:55 PM:

It sounds like the GOP are condemning the ad because it is a silly case of name calling - which it is. I wish MoveOn wouldn't sink to Limbaugh's level, though I hardly blame them.

The lies told by the Swift Baoters were FAR MORE serious than simple name calling...

Pompano Pete wrote on September 11, 2007 1:13 PM:

We caused this much trouble with a $65,000 ad?

Time to send MoveOn another $100 and ask them to do another one. Just think what we're going to do with the next $1,000,000 we'll raise from our members.

Remember, every MoveOn member was asked to vote on this ad, and the money for it was solicited last week. MoveOn is a democracy. Who else can say that?

Redshift wrote on September 11, 2007 1:29 PM:

Doofus -- Lieberman has already denounced the ad.

Thomas Allen wrote on September 11, 2007 1:49 PM:

Don't let it go to a vote without an amendment condemning the Swift Boat folks and reaffirming the nation's praises for Senator Kerry's service to his country.

Kenji wrote on September 11, 2007 2:03 PM:

"Soldiers are being killed in a war of choice. The financial markets are on the verge of collapse. Americans are losing their homes. And all the Repubs can do is sit back and play partisan politics?"

Just remove the question mark and your statement s complete. That is literally all they can do, because they are in a global war against reason and basic competency.

Mark F wrote on September 11, 2007 2:21 PM:

That MoveOn ad was the goddamn stupidest fucking move I've ever seen in my life. Those morons are definitely not strategists.

Mark F wrote on September 11, 2007 2:25 PM:

"It sounds like the GOP are condemning the ad because it is a silly case of name calling"

No, what they're doing is exploiting a really dumb mistake by MoveOn. They'll use that ad to drive a wedge between the far left and more moderate Democrats, they'll use it to fire up their base, and they'll use it to attempt to force Democrats to take sides in a fight that MoveOn started and could end by simply admitting that they're goddamn morons.

Bill Meek wrote on September 11, 2007 4:11 PM:

How can the MINORITY party introduce any legislation? The RepubliCONs never allowed the Dems to introduce anything during the worst Congress in history, the 109th which will be known as one of the most corrupt in US history.

They need to STFU and stop acting like they care anything about America. They only want oil and money. The RepubliCON party is the party of WAR, DEATH and LYING.

John wrote on September 12, 2007 8:56 AM:

You guys are idiots.

Steve Tills wrote on September 20, 2007 4:11 PM:

The Republican party -- when will it be over? Almost eight years now, the world has suffered from these paleotytes' sociopathic, anti-social, sadistic bullying,

precisely what gives insane groups like Al Qaeda fuel to recruit, rationalization for their ugliness.

The Republicans... Could anybody like Bin Laden ask for better "enablers?"

It "takes two to tangle," as the old saying goes. Does any sane person in America truly believe that Al Qaeda and the American Republicans don't need each other desperately to survive?

Al Qaeda and the American Republican party -- flipsides of the same coin.

Al Qaeda and the American Republican party go hand in hand and will continue to do so until the figures out how reduce their numbers.

Reduce the number of Republicans in American and you will reduce the number of jihadists around the world.

Shoot, who doesn't get it yet?

Republicans EQUALS their paleotyte counterparts around the world, like Al Qaeda. The equation is so simple and so obvious. Who doesn't get it?

UCSBClassics53 wrote on September 20, 2007 11:20 PM:

House Democrats are introducing a resolution to condemn an ad that the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ran on television, falsely accusing John Kerry of lying about his service in Vietnam. The ad was frequently referred to by Democratic members at yesterday’s campaign rally in support of Kerry.

“The despicable attack the Swift Boat veterans launched against Senator Kerry should be condemned by all Members of Congress, including the Democratic leadership, and President Bush,” said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). “I urge Members on both sides of the aisle to join in support of this resolution so the House speaks with one voice rejecting the character assassination tactics employed by this extremist group.”

Oh wait, that never happened. Shows you the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans, doesn’t it?

a mckenna wrote on September 21, 2007 11:00 PM:

Shame, Shame on the Republican Party and the Dems that are wasting time on the Moveon Ad.

I am so gratefulsomeone has the guts to speak out. I fell betrayed by the Bush Admin. and anyone connected with him.

I have joined MOVEON and encourage others to do so. We are being told to sit down an shut up.

Shame on Bush and all the hawks!

Post a comment

Name:
Email Address:
URL:
	Remember personal info?
Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)