POTOMAC JUNCTION: Byrd brain wounds Democrats

The Oklahoman ^ | 16 May 2003 | Robert L. Haught

[PhiKapMom]

POTOMAC JUNCTION: Byrd brain wounds Democrats

2003-05-15
By Robert L. Haught

WASHINGTON -- If Sen. Robert C. Byrd finds a pair of crosses burning on his lawn he might have a momentary nostalgic memory of his days in the Ku Klux Klan. But such an event, if it were to occur, more likely would be race- related only as it applies to the 2004 race for president. The Democrats who are running no doubt would like to send a graphic message accusing Byrd of a double cross. The West Virginia Democrat did his party and its candidates a great disservice by his pompous attack on President Bush for his visit to the USS Abraham Lincoln to greet homebound troops and declare a combat victory in Iraq.

Byrd took to the Senate floor to lament the anguish he felt "as I watched the president's fighter jet swoop down onto the deck of the aircraft carrier." Amid quotes from the Bible and reminiscences of "the tobacco barns of my youth," the self- styled "Dean of Congress" pulled out all the oratorical stops. He found Bush guilty of "self-congratulatory gestures," using the ship "as an advertising backdrop for a presidential political slogan" and the uniformed troops "as stage props." It was "an affront" to those killed or injured in battle, Byrd said, for Bush to "exploit the trappings of war ..."

In a classic example of pot-and-kettle rhetoric, he charged Bush with an act of "flamboyant showmanship." What gall, considering that Byrd flaunts his image as "pork barrel king" by putting his name on more highways, buildings and other taxpayer- financed projects in West Virginia than Saddam Hussein ever thought of doing in Iraq.

The dramatic fly-in by the commander in chief was so well received by the 5,000 troops aboard the ship and the public in general, Byrd had few allies by his side. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., a fellow big spender, called for an investigation into how much it cost for the president to pay tribute to the men and women who liberated Iraq in just 21 days. Another California Democrat, Rep. Maxine Waters, was outraged that Bush wore a "custom-fitted flight suit."

Byrd, who may be more comfortable in a white sheet than camouflage clothing, said he questioned "the motives of a deskbound president who assumes the garb of a warrior for the purposes of a speech." Someone should tell Byrd and Waters that Bush was dressed quite appropriately since he flew the Navy S-3B Viking jet part of the way. A former pilot in the National Guard, Bush also knows how to salute, unlike his predecessor.

Byrd calls himself a historian, but he ignores the fact that every president since John Tyler in 1844 spent time on a Navy vessel. A Democrat, John F. Kennedy, was the first to visit a carrier. Even Bill Clinton, who said he "loathed" the military, traveled on a warship from Britain to Normandy for the 50th anniversary of the D- Day invasion. Talk about exploiting "the trappings of war" for political purposes!

By his clumsy, ego-driven assault, Byrd actually did Bush and his party a big favor. Every time he or another Democrat takes a potshot, those images of a triumphant wartime leader flash across the TV screen. The stupidity of Byrd's speech drove the liberal Washington Post to editorialize about "the Democrats' tone-deaf handling of this episode."

After Byrd's jibes about "props" and "backdrops," what Democratic candidate would dare climb into a tank as Michael Dukakis did in 1988? Not even Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who wants to make sure everyone knows he is a Vietnam veteran, would be that dumb.

potomacj@hotmail.com

[PhiKapMom]

Mr. Haught tells it like it is on today's editorial page of The Oklahoman!

[PhiKapMom]

FYI! Looks like Byrd is getting nailed along with other RATS!

Note the Clinton photo-op on riding with the Navy from England to Normandy. I sure don't remember that but then I tried to ignore everything Clinton!

[Alberta's Child]

What gall, considering that Byrd flaunts his image as "pork barrel king" by putting his name on more highways, buildings and other taxpayer- financed projects in West Virginia than Saddam Hussein ever thought of doing in Iraq.

You can always identify a Third World nation by the fact that they put the names of their leaders on things like currency, monuments, public buildings, etc. without waiting until after these leaders are out of power.

[hoosiermama]

Great! Thanks for sharing! BUMP

[ken5050]

Dems always tend to overplay their hand...remember the Wellstone memorial fiasco. It wou;dn't surprise me if the current AWOL status of Texas Dems. to avoid the redistricting vote, will finally convince the Senate GOP to play hardball on the judicial nominations, and go for the nuclear option. The GOP is startingnto "get-it" that the Dems will stop at nothing.

[PhiKapMom]

Don't you get the feeling that the DNC is behind the Texas RATs as they keep bringing up Tom DeLay. And we all know who is behind the DNC -- the Clintons.

I agree with you, they are overplaying their hand and it will come back to haunt them. Byrd and his cronies went so far over the top that I cannot believe they could be that dumb!

Sure hope you are right and the Senate Republicans realize that it is time to stop the "nice guy" filibuster and go nuclear to end the sham of the RATs and their obstructionist policies.

The RATs do not do well in minority status and if they keep this up, their minority numbers will shrink even more!

[Mister Baredog]

Not even Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., who wants to make sure everyone knows he is a Vietnam veteran, would be that dumb.

That must be why he mentions it every other sentence. He seldom mentions throwing his medals away at an anti-war protest in DC.

[ken5050]

Obviously it's being coordinated at the national level. It's all about saving 5+ Dem congressional seats...and there's no way Texas Dem chair Molly Beth whoosis has the smarts to think of this by herself...maybe it's a Paul Begala strategery....(hmm?)..

BTW..have you seen a list of which House Dems endorsed Gephardt, along with Pelosi?..were any Black Caucus members there..I only saw ONE face. i wouldn't think so...so which way are they gonna go..Sharpton, or Dean...it's huge problem ( teehee) for the Dems..

[samanella]

I emailed Byrd the recent article on Clinton spending more money on travel than any other president in history. Of course, the newly college diplomaed Sen. Byrd will probably not read it (if he can read at all).

He will continue to get reelected in WV though, because his pork projects have brought in some jobs, which otherwise would not be there. Personally, as a West Virginian, I'd get rid of him on his lack of principles and vote in someone to advocate a right to work passage in the state and tax incentives to get more free enterprise business as opposed to government pork jobs......

What a hypocritical drooling, senile, blue-haired pile of poop. Let him rant....his true "colors" come shining through.

[Enterprise]

"After Byrd's jibes about "props" and "backdrops," what Democratic candidate would dare climb into a tank as Michael Dukakis did in 1988?"

Very true! What RAT candidate will pose with military personnel now without remembering the stupid comments of dirty Byrd?

[OldFriend]

Would have been nice for someone in OK to criticize the Texans who ran away to OK rather than deal with reality in their own state.

[Wphile]

Byrd is a tottering old fool. The guy has absolutely no business being a US Senator. But if bobby wants to be the front man for the democrats, I say let at it bobby! You are doing wonders for the GOP.

[Phantom Lord]

With Byrds advanced age, will the Republicans be as morbid as the RATS and start a "Death Watch" on him as they did to Helms and Thurmond?

[countrydummy]

I think the old Byrd has cooked his goose this time! Many Letters to the Editors of the local papers are giving him pure hell! So has Rahall! But let them keep on, they are winning the election for Bush and Republicans in WV all by themselves!

[samanella]

Obviously, H**L ain't ready for the likes of Sen. Byrddroppings yet....

[mombonn]

. . . and if they keep this up, their minority numbers will shrink even more!

From your keyboard to God's ears (or eyeballs)!

[mountaineer]

Amid quotes from the Bible and reminiscences of "the tobacco barns of my youth" ...

Where are all these tobacco barns in W.Va.? Or is he imagining that he's Al Gore?

[Travis McGee]

Humor ping.

[AnAmericanMother]

That old fraud . . . he's a fine one to talk about dressing up . . .

[wasp69]

He seldom mentions throwing his medals away at an anti-war protest in DC.

What's even more seldom heard is that the medals were not his.