So Much For That Spirit Of Cooperation
Here’s a press released issued by the Democrats last week quoting Harry Reid as saying that the debate over Iraq shouldn’t have any “preconditions” because it is an issue worthy of bi-partisan “negotiations.” He even says that the Democrats are open to a meeting with the President and that both groups should “work together” to find a solution for Iraq.
WASHINGTON, April 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today issued the following statement, renewing their call for the President to work with Congress to ensure our troops receive the support they need, including a strategy for success:
“The American people want the President and the Congress to work together to bring a responsible end to the war in Iraq. Congressional Democrats are willing to meet with the President at any time, but we believe that any discussion of an issue as critical as Iraq must be accomplished by conducting serious negotiations without any preconditions. . . .
We renew our request to work with him to produce a bipartisan bill that provides our troops and our veterans with every penny they need, but in turn, demands accountability.”
Well so much for all that “we want to work with the President” rhetoric.
Brief transcript:
Reporter: ‘So are you going to go to the White House with some kind of proposal for the President, some kind of offer?’
Reid: ‘The offer is that the President sign our bill’
“Sing our bill” isn’t very cooperative, nor is it much of a negotiation.
If the Democrats don’t want to negotiate on Iraq with the President then fine. That’s what they should do. But they shouldn’t go around telling Americans that they want to meet with the President and “work” or “negotiate” with him only to turn around and walk into their meeting with him with a preset position of immovability. A) Doing that means they’re lying to the people about their intent on Iraq and B) without compromise they troops aren’t going to get “every penny they need” to keep operations going in Iraq.
If the Democrats keep being a bunch of stubborn rock heads and refuse to pass funding for Iraq our troops are going to start doing without the equipment, training and maintenance they need.
And I don’t think anyone wants to be stabbing the troops in the back like that. At least, the Dems claim not to want that, but you couldn’t really tell by their actions.
