Bush, Senate Condemn Anti-War Ad

President Calls MoveOn.org's Ad Attacking Gen. Petraeus "Disgusting"

(CBS/AP)  The Senate joined President Bush Thursday in denouncing an advertisement by the liberal anti-war group MoveOn.org that accused the top military commander in Iraq of betrayal.

The 72-25 Senate vote condemned the full-page ad that appeared in The New York Times last week as Gen. David Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq, testified on Capitol Hill. The ad was headlined: "General Petraeus or General Betray Us? Cooking the books for the White House."

The ad became a life raft for the Republican Party as the war debate kicked into high gear. With several Republicans opposed to Mr. Bush's war strategy, GOP members were able to put aside their differences and rally around their disapproval of the ad.

Sen. Gordon Smith, one of the few Republican senators who supports legislation ordering troop withdrawals, told reporters Thursday he thought Petraeus' testimony and the MoveOn.org ad were the two biggest factors in keeping Republicans from breaking ranks with the president: Petraeus' testimony because it was persuasive and the MoveOn add because it went too far by attacking a popular uniformed officer.

"It was stupid on their part and disgraceful," said Smith, R-Ore.

The resolution condemning the ad was sponsored by conservative Republican John Cornyn of Texas. Voting against it were Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Christopher Dodd of Connecticut.

Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, another contender for the Democratic nomination, did not vote, although he voted minutes earlier for an alternative resolution by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. That resolution condemned the MoveOn ad as an "unwarranted personal attack," but also condemned political attack ads that questioned the patriotism of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and former Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga., both Vietnam veterans.

At a White House news conference earlier Thursday, Mr. Bush denounced the ad as "disgusting" and said he was disappointed that more Democrats did not condemn it.

"I felt like the ad was an attack not only on Gen. Petraeus but on the U.S. military, and I was disappointed that not more leaders in the Democrat party spoke out strongly against that ad," he said.

Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

Eli Pariser, executive director of the liberal group, responded: "What's disgusting is that the president has more interest in political attacks than developing an exit strategy to get our troops out of Iraq and end this awful war."

[redhoffer]

Bush and the Repubs are becoming more and more appalling.

Why don''t we vote to condemn the Swift Boat Vets? Their ad was more inaccurate the the MoveOn ad, and had a greater impact.

I am just totally disgusted by this president and these republicans, they are vile and ill.
Somebody has to help us (Europe, Russia?) , these people are out of control and the dems are afraid of these evil republicans. That they took the time to have this vote, and it passed, is shocking. Swift Boaters are heroes I guess, MoveOn are villains?? And this war based on fake reasons goes on with no current debate?

Bush is a murderer of american troups, and those who support him support the death of americans and america.

[krj44]

it wasn`t moveon.org that came up with the moniker for gen petraus,it was the soldiers in iraq who affectionately call him gen.betrayus.

[pepperp1]

Anything to change the subject what a loser this guy is why anyone would vote for him even once. And is their really any human being on the planet that dose not see right through this RNC sound bite what was he jealous of Rudy. 16 months is a really long time. Move on and the Dems better learn to shove it down their throats and stay in their face when they pull these stunts including the General Pet stunt.

[smirk5]

Betrayus lost non-politician status when he acted as a politician in his testimony.
He was asked if Iraq made us safer.
He said he didn''t know.

Then, minutes later, he backpedals and says that it is aiding America.

So, the supreme commander in Iraq doesn''t know if Iraq makes us safer in one minute and then says it does in another minute. That''s not being straight with us. That''s being political.
Petraeus betrayed the idea that he''s above politics.
Betrayus is an apt name for him.
In fact, the Republicans should just start blaming him for the fact that the surge isn''t working. Bush put him there to take the ultimate blame anyway.

[smirk5]

This is why we won''t win the War on Terror. The Republicans are so afraid of television ads there''s no way they can face Al-Qaeda and win.

[antoniof123]

Wow, while I don''t think that this add was needed I do believe that Bush should condemn the swift boaters and if California lets them get there way then we the American people deserve what we get from this bunch. But I have a feeling that a storm is brewing and no change of subject is going to change the fact that a blood bath is in the works for the GOP. Maybe then they will learn to listen to America but I doubt it and I bet the Democrats don''t learn either. When the mood changes if the don''t then they won''t be in power either. I don''t think the Republicans understand it is not about generals or scandals it is about our feeling towards how we see things not how they want us to see or think too bad that a group can''t learn that.

[feelfree1]

Smirk5,

Re: "The Republicans are so afraid of television ads there''s no way they can face Al-Qaeda and win."

The vote was 72-25. It would appear that many in the servile Democrat Party share this fear, yet you seem willing to give them a pass. Why is that?

What a pathetic excuse for an "opposition" Party. With "opposition" like this, who needs fascists?

[samthetvcat]

The 72-25 Senate vote condemned the full-page ad that appeared in The New York Times last week as Gen. David Petraeus, the top military commander in Iraq, testified on Capitol Hill. The ad was headlined: "General Petraeus or General Betray Us? Cooking the books for the White House."

Who were the Democratic senators who signed on to condemn this ad????? Grrr!!!!

By the way, Giuliani''s dropped a whopping 5% in the polls since he started whining about the ad and going on and on about ''values'' and ''integrity'' . . . LMAO

[bruceg308]

Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military. Is this a preview of things to come if we don''t restrain the Republicans?

[bruceg308]

Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military. Is this a preview of things to come if we don''t restrain the Republicans?

[mudrose-2009]

I''m glad Bossman told MoveOn.Org. to bring it on and the smug little juveniles that they are did. What a joke. I''m glad the Sentate called them disgraceful. I just call them disgusting little pugs and my message to them is to tell George Sorass er Soros to bite me.

[bruceg308]

Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military. Is this a preview of things to come if we don''t restrain the Republicans?

[bruceg308]

Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military. Is this a preview of things to come if we don''t restrain the Republicans?

[redhoffer]

I feel that the democrats totally caved on this issue so quickly and utterly is about as appalling as having this vote in the first place.

It is disgusting that debate was held and focus was put forth on this ad while our soldiers are being killed for no reason and no benefit.

But the democrats were so silent! So subservient and sad. I just can''t see this nightmare ending now, and clearly we can''t look to the democrats to stop our international escalations or attacks on the poor and minority in the US. These repubs will lead us into a more devastating war I fear with even greater consequences, clearly there are no "checks and balances". I don''t trust the democrats, they clearly don''t have a chance it seems based on this. Things will get much, much worse it seems. I was looking to 2008 for hope, but there is clearly none to be had from the political process. The repubs are wolves, while the dems are just cows. Dead-eyed and dead. Even if the dems win the president and house, it just won''t matter since they are pathetic and powerless.

[mudrose-2009]

Posted by bruceg308

Now you know why the military votes Republican. Better watch it. Billary needs that vote and by golly she ain''t gonna get it. Please note that the very people he was implying were afraid of this little ******, are the very same that did not vote with the Senate. Bought and paid for, lock, stock and barrel.

[bruceg308]

Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military. Is this a preview of things to come if we don''t restrain the Republicans?

[jedi08]

Billary Clinton could never condem this add. Moveon.org was originated and created for and from when Bill was being impeached. Moveon.org was started to get out the message to move on and not try to impeach Bill Clinto for lying under oath about the hummer he got and rape all the rape charges against him.

THe Clintons are a joke and she is totally unelectable.

[bruceg308]

Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military. Is this a preview of things to come if we don''t restrain the Republicans?

[bruceg308]

Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military. Is this a preview of things to come if we don''t restrain the Republicans?

[bruceg308]

Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military. Is this a preview of things to come if we don''t restrain the Republicans?

[bruceg308]

Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military. Is this a preview of things to come if we don''t restrain the Republicans?

And by the way, how does disabling the Publish button allow everyone an opportunity to comment?

[bareemperor]

When Bu$h and Cheney are indicted in the WTC7 bombing, they will blame it on the Democrats...

[myidoncbs]

Recent Republican Positions:

1. Against free speech (for censoring anti-war ads).
2. Against freedom (won''t restore habeus corpus, the very basis of democracy).
3. Against our soldiers (denied sufficient rest in between Iraq assignments).
4. Against children''s health (blocking SCHIP extension).
5. Against economic stability (borrow & spend).
6. Against life (pro eternal war).

The republican party, their insane leader Mr. Bush, and ANYONE and EVERYONE who supports them in any way, is TOTALLY ANTI-AMERICAN. *** them all for eternity.

[bruceg308]

Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military. Is this a preview of things to come if we don''t restrain the Republicans?

And by the way, how does disabling the Publish button allow everyone an opportunity to comment?

[myidoncbs]

That last censored word was d-a-m-n. Apparently, eternal warfare is child-friendly journalism, but a perfectly good, useful, word like "d-a-m-n" is not. That must be because CBS is "liberal" - NOT!

[redhoffer]

I forfeit to Mudrose. His/her party clearly has teeth. They are vile, evil, and disgusting, but clearly are the winners. Let the innocent blood spill I guess, that''s the message.

Mudrose wins. Let the dead bodies pile up. It''s not going to change. Why waste key strokes on debating Mudrose when s/he clearly is the victor? Mudrose and the repubbbers care much, much more about continuing the spiralling storm of death and pain than our dems have in slowing it down. Ruthless, but the winner.
I bow to you Mudrose, you are the champ.
I see no reason to donate any money to the DNC, be more effective to stopping the war if I gave my money to Save The Squirrels. Squirrels have more strength than dems do.

[bareemperor]

Bu$h had CBS patch their Comments Computer into the FBI TIA network, causing gridlock for two days at CBS. CBS executives were paid well, and now information is flowing freely into the DNC about just who will be on the Do Not Fly lists...

[bruceg308]

To quote from your article: Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military. Is this a preview of things to come if we don''t restrain the Republicans?

And by the way, how does disabling the Publish button allow everyone an opportunity to comment?

[bruceg308]

To quote from your article: Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military. Is this a preview of things to come if we don''t restrain the Republicans?

And by the way, how does disabling the Publish button allow everyone an opportunity to comment?

[bruceg308]

To quote from your article: Mr. Bush said that led him to conclude that "most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org, or more afraid of irritating them, then they are of irritating the United States military."

As a decorated Vietnam combat veteran, I''d really like to know why Mr. Bush thinks any American should be afraid in the slightest degree of irritating the U.S. military.

And by the way, how does disabling the Publish button allow everyone an opportunity to comment?

[redhoffer]

bruceg308 - PUSH REFRESH YOU + ***! I already reported you so hopefully you get suspended from posting.

[bruceg308]

My apologies to everyone for the multiple posts. The screen prompts led me to believe that my posts weren''t getting through. I certainly didn''t mean to clog up the screen with multiple copies of my opinions.

[coffee_guy1]

People think words are bad. I got some news fer yaz. Werds ain''t bad. No matter how short or blunt. No matter how many syllables or meanings. Werds? Are butterflies wind. And only azzzholes and showboats are offended by them.

But you just wait. Yer all itch''n fer something to be ashamed of.. fer something to be disgusted in. Don''t you werries.. I''m''a gonna give it to yaz.

[sgtrds]

"President Calls MoveOn.org''s Ad Attacking Gen. Petraeus "Disgusting"

Who cares what this mass murdering piece of garbage Bush thinks anymore? An insult from that moron is a compliment to any thinking person. He''s a joke and a clown.

[mcvet]

Where was the Fuhrer and these Right Wing folks when the Generals who opposed Bush and his War were attacked by them? The Republican Party has brought the word Hypocrit to new levels. Sieg Heil Bush!!

[coffee_guy1]

Cry''n about this.. Cry''n about that. Till the technicality is king. Well.. you just wait. All these hacker attacks on my computer.. "viruses"? I don''t think so.

[coffee_guy1]

Yer justa buncha punk kids who need a azzz whoop''n.

[coffee_guy1]

And I''m just de feller to do it too.

[coffee_guy1]

mmm-hmmm..

[ababel]

MyIDonCBS ~ here, here! You said it all for me and for most of Americans who read between the bull we get from most our media services including this one. So many have betrayed us all for the name of $$$$ and kept most of the American ppl in the dark - let''s fight for freedom & speak out, protest and tell ''em to stop the war. Just today on IWT-The Real News is reporting that "The strategy is classic British imperial divide and rule. You arm both sides, you see them tear themselves to bits and you have prefect justification to stay there forever." Is White House policy fueling the civil war?

[zootallures2]

I thought that tasering of a student for asking Kerry a simple question was discusting and the whole nation should be condemed.

[coffee_guy1]

Wait till yaz see de next ******** nutjob I''m gonna elect wit just de werds: "No taxes".. hoooohohohohoho.

[forthepeopl1]

United States May Declare State of Emergency %u2013 The whitehouse government of embattled President bush said Thursday it may impose a state of emergency due to ``external and internal threats'''' and deteriorating law and order. including from Democratic presidential hopeful Barak Obama, over the possibility of U.S. military action against al-Qaida in Pakistan ``has started alarm bells ringing and has upset the Pakistani public.'''' But it appeared the motivation for a declaration of an emergency would be the domestic political woes of President bush During a state of emergency, the government can restrict the freedom to move, rally, engage in political activities or form groups and impose other limits such as restricting congress right to make laws or even dissolving congress ``These are only unconfirmed reports although the possibility of imposition of emergency cannot be ruled out and has recently been talked about and discussed, keeping in mind some external and internal threats and the law and order situation,bush told The Associated Press. ``I cannot say that it will be tonight, tomorrow or later.

[df248-2009]

forthepeopl1

Where did you get that?

I''m very interested.

Thanks

[rjstolba]

Let me get this straight. The President, Repubs in Congress, Repub Presidential candidates, FOX news, and every other conservative entity can bash Move ON, but none of these fine people opened their mouths when their hatchet group denegrated John Kerry''s patriotism or the patriotism of any of us that questioned the logic of this war. Yeh, that''s the ticket!! Makes sense to me.

[perception5]

What ever happened to the Democrat party? The party that actually stood for something. The party that got things done.

Look at them now pandering to these left-wing hate groups like MoveOn.org and DailyKos. UNBELIEVABLE!!

Ronald Reagan was right when he said "Well........ I didn''t leave the Democrat party ..........the Democrat party "left" me". And how true is that today and right now!.

It''s really sad ............

[sftodd]

Thanks to MoveOn.org for giving the people a voice. Speaking of betrayal, the democrats have betrayed us too many times now -- direct your contributions to MoveOn -- democrats have proven they are too afraid to stand up to republicans who have a stranglehold on our government.

[gkc99]

It''s Bushit and the morons who support him who are disgusting. Bushit fired every general who wouldn''t drink the Repug Koolaid, and now whines because some view General Pet as a political hack and waterboy?

I''d be laughing if I weren''t crying for what America has become--a land of fools (33% anyway) run by fascists.

[ababel]

There was more to Ronald Reagan than your gratuitous quote by him, perception5. Reagan announced that apartheid South Africa had "stood beside us in every war we''ve ever fought," Reagan sold heavy weapons to the Iranian mullahs and lied about it, saying that all the weapons he hadn''t sold them (and hadn''t traded for hostages in any case) would, all the same, have fit on a small truck. Reagan then diverted the profits of this criminal trade to an illegal war in Nicaragua and lied unceasingly about that, too. Reagan then modestly let his underlings maintain that he was too dense to understand the connection between the two impeachable crimes. He then switched without any apparent strain to a policy of backing Saddam Hussein against Iran. (If Margaret Thatcher''s intelligence services had not bugged Oliver North in London and become infuriated because all European nations were boycotting Iran at Reagan''s request, we might still not know about this.)

So by referring to MoveOn.org and DailyKos as left-wing hate groups to me is strictly conservative pandering! Moveon.org always reports the truth and Senate that has done nothing to change President Bush''s policy on Iraq. Yesterday, they couldn''t even pass a bill to give soldiers enough leave with their families before redeploying. Bashing MoveOn''s ad is a way to distract the public%u2014and intimidate war critics. Sixteen brave Americans died in Iraq in the last week.

[sftodd]

P.S. It''''s hilarious that the hypocritical repuglicans are the first to scream and cry the loudest and the longest when they get a taste of their own medicine! What a bunch of treasonous whining babies the repugnant repuglicans are!