Boehner made an outrageously vile comment, where are the Democrats?

[ProSense]

From Talking Points Memo:

The reason for this disparity, however, doesn't reside just within the media. Recall what happened last fall with Kerry's botched troop joke. In less than a day, virtually every Republican in public life was condemning the remark in every conceivable forum. And Kerry's gaffe was obviously a screwed up gag, whereas there's very good reason to believe that Boehner meant his remark in exactly the way it came across. A very similar Republican message eruption happened with the MoveOn ad blasting General Petraeus the other day. In both cases, the media responded in kind.

By contrast, only a single Dem -- John Kerry -- has stepped forward to condemn Boehner. We hear various Democrats are weighing right now whether to try to make an issue of his comment. But thus far, there's virtual silence. This is astonishing -- particularly because Boehner's remark captures rather nicely what's going on with the war debate. Boehner, like the White House and most Republicans, is willing to sink an untold number of American lives into the pursuit of the fantasy of a stable Middle East and into the illusion that civilization as we know it will come to an end if we don't defeat the ever omnipotent Al Qaeda.

More coverage at
Crooks and Liars...John Kerry responds to Boehner’s incredibly callous statement., The Carpetbagger Report and Time Swampland.


Where are these Democrats?

They played politics with Kerry's innocuous remark, but are "weighing" whether to respond to a vile comment by a partisan Republican.

[bigtree]

1. they were just waiting for some courageous blogger to call them out

:eyes:

[ProSense]

6. Thanks to Talking Points Memo for filling that roll. n/t

[OwnedByFerrets]

2. It might dampen the powder.........

:sarcasm:

[redqueen]

3. Busy raggin on Code Pink!

:bounce:

[babylonsister]

4. Whether to try to make it an issue? I think the Dems think too much-

they need to react to an outrage with outrage. Ridiculous that they have to weigh what to say when Boehner was clearly over the line.

Edit to add: can you imagine if a Dem made a statement like Boehner did? He'd be on them so fast...

This is so infuriating! :mad:

[niyad]

5. goes along very well with billo's comment yesterday that another 1,000 dead would be worth it

(which is why he got the worst person last night on KO)

send their loved ones over there, or STFU

[reality based]

7. Sticking their fingers in the air to see which way the wind is blowing.

They need to become the wind.

[Vinca]

8. There's a real double standard and I blame it on Dems being polite.

It's true. Dems don't like to step on toes or cause inconvenience or ruffle feathers. Every Democrat with access to a television screen should be going after Boner. His statement was truly callous and vile. Ask a Gold Star mom how small her sacrifice was.

[AX10]

9. I remember the dozens of cowardly Dems who assaulted Kerry for...

his comment, yet those same assh**les are no where to be seen or heard now that a Republican has made a truely vile comment. :eyes:

[blm]

10. Reminds me of Wes Clark's disgust after 2004 that many Dems wouldn't defend

the nominee.

Forceful backup, the way the GOPs do - fully enthusiastic, armed with lies.

It would be a simple task for Dems to show enthusiasm armed with the truth - but, they just won't do it.

Clark, Cleland, Dean, Kerry - always there to defend Dems unfairly attacked over the years.

[LeftCoast]

11. It's called the Republican Outrage Machine

Democrats don't have one.

[blm]

13. Some Dems DO find a camera to express outrage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk1k0nUWEQg

[ProSense]

14. The comment shouldn't require a machine, it was vile.

What the hell happened to decency? People are dying, lives are being ripped apart. I started my day crying yesterday at the news of the two soldiers who co-wrote the NYT op-ed being killed. Dems are giving people the impression that it's okay for Republicans to say anything, no matter how callous, while being able to manufacture outrage against Dems.

[blm]

23. that's absolutely true, but it would still be smart for Dems to at least DEVELOP a

machine that jumps in at times like this. Instead, we have teams that were developed over the years who will only come out to defend Clintons and even Joe Lieberman, with little to no knowledge of other Dem lawmakers.

That's not why I supported the Dem party over the years - but that is what I have been getting for my past support.

The GOP has a machine that comes out and lies with more enthusiasm than the Dems can muster to defend the truth.

2000 and 2004 are perfect examples. NO. Dem. Machine.

[Supersedeas]

12. the blood of mid/lower class America means nothing to the Oligarchs

[MH1]

15. What? Hillary hasn't jumped in front of a camera to declare Boehner's remark "inappropriate"?

I am so disappointed.

:sarcasm: because, it is hard to be disappointed when there is no surprise at all.

[karynnj]

17. Don't be so harsh on her, Penn is likely doing the focus group now.

when he finds that it is offensive, she'll speak out.

That is a tremendously insensitive statement.

[blm]

22. She will - her camp will read kos' piece and then pretend like she is leading

the Democratic brigades in opposition to Boehner's remarks. Her camp has a way with blogs.

[MBS]

29. I hate that pretend-leadership and take-all-the-credit-

after-I've-done-everything-I-can-to-trash-the-real-leaders kind of thing

[blm]

31. heh - perfectly said.

.

[mike_c]

16. I wish people would stop all this partisan sniping and work on substantive issues....

How much outrage will be generated over this and all the other slips of the tongue between now and, well, whenever? What good will it do?

I think we can all agree that Boehner is an asshat, so put him and his cronies on ignore.

[ProSense]

19. "Partisan sniping"? "Slips of the tongue"? How much outrage:

Nearly 4,000 dead American servicemen and possibly a million dead Iraqis worth.

He's a member of Congress, not some asshole on the street.

Bush: ‘We’re kicking ass’ in Iraq.

[bdamomma]

20. I would love to kick his (*) a$$.

[PsN2Wind]

21. This is a "slip of the tongue"

by an asshole that wimped out of Navy boot camp supposedly due to a bad back, yet has no qualms about sending other peoples kids to die or be maimed calling it a "small price to pay". Apologise for the asshole to someone else.

[TwilightGardener]

25. Yes, this was NO "slip of the tongue", but a true measure of how the

GOPers view the troops--the Iraq war to them means big dividends for a low, low price.

[blm]

32. and therin lies the difference

.

[Bluebear]

28. Calling dead soldiers an "investment" is not a slip of the tongue

rather a calculated and cynical attempt to get Americans to accept those deaths.

[Bitwit1234]

18. By saying it doesn't matter if our military is killed this republican

shows his colors, but they are peeing in their pants because Petaerus was accused of telling lies for bush. Isn't it odd the priorities they republicans have.

[VP505]

24. So true

and they deserve all of the same kind criticism that they are so quick to heap on anyone who doesn't agree with Bu$h's talking points.

[ProSense]

26. Media Matters

CNN ignored Boehner's "small price" comment after latching onto Kerry's "botched joke"

[MBS]

27. be sure also to see Daily Kos

http://www.kos.dailykos.com/
Sept. 13, 12:01 pm
"The Silence over 'Small Price'"

Where are the Democrats on Boehner's callous remarks about 4,000 dead being a "small price" to pay for this war?

As Kos notes today, not a single big news org (aside from CNN, which initially reported the remark) or pundit has murmured a word about it.

The reason for this disparity, however, doesn't reside just within the media. Recall what happened last fall with Kerry's botched troop joke. In less than a day, virtually every Republican in public life was condemning the remark in every conceivable forum. And Kerry's gaffe was obviously a screwed up gag, whereas there's very good reason to believe that Boehner meant his remark in exactly the way it came across. A very similar Republican message eruption happened with the MoveOn ad blasting General Petraeus the other day. In both cases, the media responded in kind.

By contrast, only a single Dem -- John Kerry -- has stepped forward to condemn Boehner. We hear various Democrats are weighing right now whether to try to make an issue of his comment. But thus far, there's virtual silence. This is astonishing -- particularly because Boehner's remark captures rather nicely what's going on with the war debate. Boehner, like the White House and most Republicans, is willing to sink an untold number of American lives into the pursuit of the fantasy of a stable Middle East and into the illusion that civilization as we know it will come to an end if we don't defeat the ever omnipotent Al Qaeda.

[ProSense]

30. Diary at Kos

link