Will Democrat Senators Use the Wounded Troops as political Cover?

Posted By Blackfive

You usually don't come here for commentary on the Supreme Court (right?).  While this post is related to Justice Alito's confirmation, that's not what this post is about.

Here's a case where Demorcatic Senators may use a visit to wounded troops at Walter Reed as political cover.  At first, I didn't pay attention to this event as I didn't think it would gain much traction (afterall, what kind of person would use troops like that?...especially, a US Senator?).  But it may yet happen...we'll see this afternoon who abstains from voting on Alito's confirmation and just happens to be at Walter Reed...

A few days ago, I received this from a reader - from Democrats.com:

...Original Post:

We need to stop George Bush from getting 60 Senators to end the filibuster on Monday at 4:30 p.m.

That means we must convince 41 Senators to either support a filibuster or stay away from the Senate on Monday, preferably by visiting maimed soldiers at Walter Reed Hospital.

Below is a list of 44 Democrats, 1 Independent, and 3 Republicans whose support is possible - the "Alito 48."...

Kathryn Jean Lopez at the Corner shares this today.

SECOND, call the "URGE ABSTENTION" Senators identified immediately below and do the same -- say that you hope they vote NO on cloture this afternoon but if they can't, urge them to ABSTAIN from the cloture vote by visiting wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital at 4:30 p.m. Doing so will be just as good as a "no" vote but will give them political cover with their conservative voters back home. Again, call their DC AND District offices. And again, if their staff will commit to a position on cloture and/or abstention, please post a comment here.

Again, until some Senator actually abstains from the vote and visits troops will you know if they are truly using them or not.  We'll see in a few hours.

I sincerely hope that they do make a visit to our wounded soliders...tomorrow.

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Comments

[saoirse]

Okay, I read this three times. WT?

How dare they even suggest such a thing? Its bad enough the politics have gotten particularly rotten in washington these past years. But then to purposefully try to use our wounded. To show democrats are more then willing to sink to the lowest levels...

They should visit those people who have been victimised by the eminent domain issue, the supreme court approved. That would make a clearer statement and make more sense. We should be carefull who gets in...

[Mike O]

The troops at Walter Reed MUST be informed of this possibility BEFORE 4:30pm. They themselves could help exact a payment for such political gutlessness, especially if cameras were there. (How about holding up a sign 'We did our duty; don't you DARE use us to avoid doing yours!')

ALL the blogs on both sides should be made aware of this and have postings prior to that timeframe so as much of the world as possible knows about it.

Whether Alito should be approved or not, or filibustered or not, doesn't matter; this tactic would just be WRONG on so many levels.

[al]

There is a blog linked via instapundit that is advocating the same action. They are starting to get a bit of, um, attention from those who think the act of visiting troops today rather then vote on a Supreme Court nominee is rather low. The blog owner has even been deleting comments rather than explain why they are advocating that senators hide rather than vote.

[antimedia]

Yeah, conservatives are so stupid, no way would they ever see through this. (The cravenness of the left knows no bounds, I guess.)

[brian]

How about this:

"Abstaining from the cloture vote is a way that a senator can support the filibuster without actually casting a vote that can be held against him. But then, the out-of-state astroturf groups will hammer on that, asking, "Where Was Senator So and So When This Vote Occurred?"

"Since ALL Senators regularly visit their wounded constituents at Walter Reed, wouldn't the cloture vote be a good time to do it? Not to make a special visit, but to make a visit they periodically make anyway, at this particular time? Then at least they have an answer to the "Swiftboaters": they'll say, "Yes, I missed one vote because I was visiting wounded soldiers."

"I don't see that as crass or immoral. I see it as fighting back against unfair attacks. If folks disagree and think it's immoral, I have a great idea: vote Republican."

"'Nuff said. I've let a lot of these "chickenhawk" posts stay on the thread, but I'll start deleting any new ones. Your point's been made, but we have work to do."

Wow. What a couple of losers. Check out the writers blog profile....http://www.blogger.com/profile/14307739
Blogger: User Profile: Thersites_T2

[brian]

The above excerpt came from the comments section of this blog:
http://vichydems.blogspot.com/
Vichy Democrats

[brian]

The most excellent Ed from CQ weighs in:
http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/006241.php
Captain's Quarters

[brian]

The lovely Alexandra at ATB just lays it down for us...hehehe

http://www.allthingsbeautiful.com/all_things_beautiful/2006/01/in_search_of_th.html
All Things Beautiful: In Search Of The Alito Eight

[brian]

As a bonus, Sen. Kennedy really lost it for an extended meltdown, dare I say a Borkgasm, on the floor of the Senate. Looks like it's all for nothing, though. I don't think enough Dems took the bait.

[brian]

More from the genius of modern politics:

"Hi, gang. It looks like we're not going to win this round: there are too many defections on our side. I'm following on C-Span and will put up the totals, and the breakdown, as soon as they're available.

I can't pretend I'm not disappointed (I already have a martini firmly in hand.) But I always wanted the filibuster, even when it looked like a completely unthinkable task, to separate the sheep from the goats in the Democratic Party. At that, we're succeeding admirably. There clearly are Senators who responded to us, and should be rewarded. And there clearly are Senators who told us to go to hell, and they will pay. We, the People run this country, and we stage a revolution every second November. I couldn't think of a better test to decide where to focus our resources.

So: I'll keep you informed as info comes in. And I truly, truly hope you'll keep coming back here to help develop a strategy for winning back our party from the Vichys without giving up the simultaneous goal of winning back a majority in Congress.

Stay tuned. I ain't even close to done yet."

Oh, I think you are quite done, jackass.

[Andi]

This is simply outrageous. At this point it doesn't matter if they do or don't, or did or didn't. The mere face that they would consider using our wounded troops to further a political agenda is morally reprehensible.

This is an election year, and I'll not soon forget this and I hope that nobody else does either.

These troops deserve sincerity, love and respect. This type of political maneuvering is wholly obscene.

Were the Democrats planning on staging photo ops at the hospital where are heroes are healing?

These are the tactics of Code Pink, and now the Democrats are swimming in the same swamp. What a disgrace.

Guess who was at Walter Reed on Saturday, showing his gratitude and respect in a quiet, dignified manner? Secretary Rumsfeld. No agenda, no entorage and no cameras.

That's how it's done.

[Kris, in New England]

Just when you think politicians can't sink any lower.....I hope it's all just Blog Hype.

[night heron]

Its just as bad as when they held a big time election promotions during the funeral of paul wellstone shameless jackjasses