Democrats, anti-war groups and liberal bloggers are pounding on House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) for saying U.S. military deaths in Iraq are "a small price" to pay to stop al Qaeda from carrying out more terrorist attacks and stabilizing the Middle East.
Boehner made the comments during a Wednesday interview by CNN's Wolf Blitzer (you can read the Q & A here at talkingpointsmemo.com).
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) led the charge this morning after bloggers flagged the comments on Wednesday, calling it a "stunningly cavalier statement about the lives of the young men and women who serve our country." Demmocratic Congressional Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) followed up, saying Boeher had belittled "the sacrifice of more than 30,000 brave Americans killed or injured in Iraq," and called on him to apologize to apologize to the families of those soldiers and marines. And Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Boehner's comment was "are deplorable and he should apologize immediately."
I don't have a comment from Boehner's office, but I will post it when I do.
Update: We have a response from Kevin Smith, Boehner's communications director:
Boehner Hammered Over Iraq 'small Price' Comment
/ The Politico
Democrats, anti-war groups and liberal bloggers are pounding on House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) for saying U.S. military deaths in Iraq are "a small price" to pay to stop al Qaeda from carrying out more terrorist attacks and stabilizing the Middle East.
Boehner made the comments during a Wednesday interview by CNN's Wolf Blitzer (you can read the Q & A here at talkingpointsmemo.com).
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) led the charge this morning after bloggers flagged the comments on Wednesday, calling it a "stunningly cavalier statement about the lives of the young men and women who serve our country." Demmocratic Congressional Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) followed up, saying Boeher had belittled "the sacrifice of more than 30,000 brave Americans killed or injured in Iraq," and called on him to apologize to apologize to the families of those soldiers and marines. And Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said Boehner's comment was "are deplorable and he should apologize immediately."
I don't have a comment from Boehner's office, but I will post it when I do.
Update: We have a response from Kevin Smith, Boehner's communications director:
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