NRSC Calls On Dems To Return MoveOn.org Donations

Senate Republicans are calling on Democrats to return political contributions they received from MoveOn.org after the anti-war group took out an ad in the New York Times calling Gen. David Petraeus "General Betray Us."

Sen. John Ensign, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, attacked Democrats for not failing to condemn the ad.

"Democrat front group MoveOn.org is calling a unanimously confirmed United States General a liar and betrayer of the public trust," the Nevada Republican said in a statement. "Apparently the prospect of campaign funds is enough of an incentive for Senate Democrats to stand idly by while a respected general is maligned before he has even presented his report to Congress.

He went on: "If Senate Democrats are serious about moving our country forward, they will denounce this outrageous ad and return the campaign funds MoveOn.org has lavished on them as well as the donations made through MoveOn.org -- the choice is theirs."

A Democratic aide responded: "There’s a reason Senate Republicans’ electoral prospects are rapidly fading and it’s not just because of a bathroom in Minneapolis or a whorehouse in New Orleans. Instead of playing politics with national security, they should join Senate Democrats who are working to end the war in Iraq and bring our troops home."