The Democratic Party is fearing a backlash from embarrassing positions on the war--so much that a number of them are distancing themselves from the mainstream Dems of John Kerry, Howard Dean, and Nancy Peolsi. From the Washington Post:
Strong antiwar comments in recent days by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean have opened anew a party rift over Iraq, with some lawmakers warning that the leaders' rhetorical blasts could harm efforts to win control of Congress next year.
Several Democrats joined President Bush yesterday in rebuking Dean's declaration to a San Antonio radio station Monday that "the idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong."
The critics said that comment could reinforce popular perceptions that the party is weak on military matters and divert attention from the president's growing political problems on the war and other issues. "Dean's take on Iraq makes even less sense than the scream in Iowa: Both are uninformed and unhelpful," said Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.), recalling Dean's famous election-night roar after stumbling in Iowa during his 2004 presidential bid.
Read the whole thing. The Democrats should have seen this coming. Telling America that we cannot win in Iraq isn't going to win anybody's vote when we're in the middle of a war except the hardcore antiwar (who, by the way, lashed out against Hillary Clinton). People have every right to oppose the war; in fact, it's good insofar that it will encourage debate on the direction of the war. But the vehement attacks on our troops, our President, and the supporters of the war does nothing (especially when you once supported action against Saddam for the same reasons we went to war).
In related news, RNC Chairman Ken Mehlmen has responded to John Kerry and Howard Dean.
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