The Gut Primary: It’s Safe To Go In The Water

8:08 pm EST August 22nd, 2005 | Democrats | 1 Comment

It is not often that the politically smart thing to do lines up with the morally correct idea to support. But it’s happening now, and Russ Feingold is making it clear

Steve: In your announcement this week you spoke about the “taboo” of suggesting withdrawal. Has the administration been effective in framing the Iraq issue as a matter of patriotism, and in turn, make overt opposition muted and tentative?

Senator Feingold: Unfortunately, until very recently, they have been extremely effective. I mean, we could have won that election in 2002. We were way ahead on domestic issues, but the Democratic Party and Democratic leaders decided to take a pass on the Iraq war. They decided to defer to the President, and I have to tell you many Democratic leaders knew better. This was a bad idea, but they allowed the Bush administration to brilliantly intimidate them into not standing up and saying this doesn’t fit in with the fight against Al Qaeda and the terrorists that attacked this country on 9/11. Of course, I didn’t buy into this and I voted no, but I was even in the minority among Democrats in the Senate. And now were making the same mistake, now that it’s clear that the administration took us into Iraq under false premises. We have a situation where they are doing a terrible job managing this war. They are doing a terrible job of having a plan to win the war and win the peace. Yet, Democrats are allowing the President to set the terms of the debate. If somebody says “what about a plan to bring the troops home”, the President labels it cut and run. Democrats have become silent, so I do think perhaps that we have allowed this to become a taboo. My purpose this week is to break that taboo, let other Democrats know it’s safe to go in the water. It’s safe to talk about how we can succeed and bring our troops home. Why shouldn’t we Democrats be talking about that?

No reason at all, Senator. And it’s about DAMN time.

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One Response to “The Gut Primary: It’s Safe To Go In The Water”

Oliver Willis » The Anti-Anti-War Movement Is Underway says:

August 25, 2005 at 11:08 am

[...] r protests, and by people with keyboards. At some point people need to be led. Related: The Gut Primary: It s Safe To Go In The Water Democrats: Ti [...]