Freedom's Watch Defends Baird

By Patrick O'Connor

(The Politico)  Freedom's Watch launched the latest salvo in its televised brawl with Moveon.org over congressional support for the war in Iraq.

The recently created nonprofit unveiled an ad that will begin airing Wednesday in support of Rep. Brian Baird. The 30-second spot attacks Moveon.org, the prominent anti-war group that ran ads last month targeting the Washington state Democrat after he suggested Congress should allow the military to maintain current troop levels through the spring.

"Moveon.org is losing their battle," the ad begins, trying to paint the anti-war group as a

Baird, who opposed the initial authorization to invade Iraq, became a flashpoint in the congressional debate over support for the war last month after he said "the dynamics on the ground are changing for the better," making him the first Democrat to articulate his support for continued funding of military operations in the war-ravaged country.