Democrat disgrace

NY Post Editorial:

Rep. Peter King, the Long Island Re publican, got it exactly right yester day.

"Never before in our history has Congress attempted to control or restrict strategic battlefield decisions. It is wrong as a matter of policy, and it will haunt us for years to come," said King - as the House of Representatives dishonored itself with a non-binding resolution expressing disapproval of President Bush's strategic plan for Iraq.

...

It is an initial step by newly empowered congressional Democrats to completely undermine the war by limiting funds - to deny the troops the beans and bullets they need to win, and to broadcast to America's enemies in the Middle East and around the world that the United States has lost the will to protect itself, and its friends.

Again.

Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania let that cat out of the bag with a videotape message to MoveCongress.org, a fellow-traveler of the hard-left MoveOn.org.

Murtha, who has become Speaker Nancy Pelosi's enforcer on contentious issues, said: "The real vote will come on the legislation we're putting together."

That would be the $93.4 billion supplemental war-spending measure that the appropriations subcommittee on defense will take up next month.

Formerly that committee's ranking member, Murtha notoriously used his influence to sprinkle goodies on cronies and campaign contributors.

Now he's in charge, and he intends to attach so many restrictions on the funding that it will - in his own words - "force the administration to consider alternatives instead of escalating."

And once the so-called "escalation" is pushed back, the next target will be ongoing operations.

So, this vote puts the lie to the Democrats assertion that they "support the troops while opposing the mission."

Yet, as Rep. King also said yesterday:

"[Talk] is cheap, and actions have consequences. You cannot support the troops if you are undermining their mission and challenging their commander in the field. By opposing this new policy, the supporters of the resolution are clearly undermining our new commander in Iraq at such a vital time in the conduct of this war."

...

This irresponsible action by Democrats and a few White Flag Republicans is the most shameful conduct by a legislative branch during a time of war in the history of this country. All those who supported it should be the subject of campaigns for their well deserved defeats in the next election.