Democrats Assail Bush's 'bring Them On' Comment

AP ^ | 7/3/03 | Alex Ortolani

[Jean S]

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Democratic presidential hopefuls stepped up their criticism of President Bush Thursday, saying the commander in chief's "bring them on" comment regarding Iraqi forces amounted to taunting the enemy.

During a campaign appearance in New Hampshire, Dick Gephardt said Bush's comments were hardly presidential, and he complained that the president has not leveled with the American people about how tough the war's aftermath would be. The lawmaker argued that the Bush administration has mishandled postwar Iraq by failing to enlist the help of the United Nations and NATO, two organizations that could provide manpower and financial aid.

"We're losing soldiers every day, and he is not putting together the international help and the international coalition to deal with this problem," the Missouri congressman said. "He doesn't deal with other countries well, and there's an arrogance, there's a state of mind in thinking that drives people away rather than bringing them in to help us."

Last fall, Gephardt, then the House Minority leader, worked closely with the administration in crafting a congressional resolution that would give Bush the authority to use military force to oust Saddam Hussein and rid Iraq of its weapons.

But Gephardt has been critical of Bush since major combat ended, and took issue with the comments the president made Wednesday. Bush said American troops under fire in Iraq aren't about to pull out, and he challenged those considering attacks on U.S. forces, saying "bring them on."

"He's president - you don't taunt the enemy," Gephardt told a group of about 35 at the state library. "You try to keep our troops safe, you try to help them in what they're doing .... This phony, macho business is not getting us where we need to be."

Administration officials said Bush's tone was not meant to invite attacks on U.S. troops, but rather to express confidence in the strength of the U.S. military.

One of Gephardt's rivals for the nomination, Bob Graham, criticized Bush's remark during a campaign stop in New Hampshire. The Florida senator said the phrase "may be appropriate for a referee in a Las Vegas boxing match, but not for the man we trust to lead our men and women who are in harm's way."

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts said Bush's comment was "unwise, unworthy of the office and his role as commander in chief, and unhelpful to American soldiers under fire."

"The deteriorating situation in Iraq requires less swagger and more thoughtfulness and statesmanship," Kerry said in a statement.

AP-ES-07-03-03 1601EDT

[krb]

They're just jealous that Bush is so much like another successful cowboy president :-)

[krb]

Oy maybe it's that he reminds us of this guy:

"Bring 'em on! I prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around."

[krb]

:-)

[The South Texan]

Democrats + wimps = wussies

[goldstategop]

Its rich to hear the Democrats to be concerned about the aftermath of a war they opposed. Nothing brings liberal flies around a GOP President quite like the sight of imminent catastrophe.

[magslinger]

But Gephardt has been critical of Bush since major combat ended,

But Gephardt has been critical of Bush since President Bush's nomination as Republican candidate for president.

[Exeter]

"Dick Gephardt said Bush's comments were hardly presidential..."

Since he never complained I guess Mr. Gephardt preferred the more presidential behavior of making foreign dignitaries wait while he gets a BJ from a chubby intern a la Bill Clinton...

[John Lenin]

More proof that the demoRAT party doesn't have an issue to run on. All they can do is attack Bush over stupid stuff like this.

[Stultis]

the commander in chief's "bring them on" comment regarding Iraqi forces amounted to taunting the enemy

Uh, yeah. So what's the problem?

[mewzilla]

Here's the Dems' poster boy...

[f.Christian]

These rats will choke you with their mommies apron strings ... slit your sloat --- anything to get in and stay in office !

Bring it on !

[Backwoods Southern Lawyer]

"Dick Gephardt said Bush's comments were hardly presidential"

"Bob Graham, criticized Bush's remark during a campaign stop in New Hampshire. The Florida senator said the phrase 'may be appropriate for a referee in a Las Vegas boxing match, but not for the man we trust to lead our men and women who are in harm's way'

"Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts said Bush's comment was "unwise, unworthy of the office and his role as commander in chief, and unhelpful"

I suppose Bill Clinton getting has ---- sucked in the Oval Office by a young intern was "presidential" (Gephardt), "appropriate" (Graham), and, best of all, "wise, worthy of the office and his role as commander in chief, and helpful" (Kerry)

These wimps do not understand (or perhaps they think that we are so dumb as not to understand) that the Iraqi trouble makers do not understand anything less subtile than a 2 x 4 to the head.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

The BUSH Doctrine:

'Bringing DEMOCRACY and FREEDOM to the Common Man everywhere is Everyone's Answer'

works.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"He's president - you don't taunt the enemy," Gephardt told a group of about 35 at the state library.

Right. No president ever taunted the enemy. What an ignoramus.

[sticker]

They prefer the French battle cry, "We give up don't hurt us"

[Lizavetta]

you don't taunt the enemy," Gephardt told a group of about 35 at the state library. "You try to keep our troops safe, you try to help them in what they're doing .... This phony, macho business is not getting us where we need to be."

Look who's telling us what's presidential and what isn't...a Clinton supporter. And in case you haven't noticed, you eyebrow-challenged dork, Bush's macho business ain't phony (ask Saddam Hussein) and it IS getting us where we want to be, which is ass-kicking America status rather than wimpy pathetic Apology-Tour obsessed status.

[zoen]

Democratic men are wimps. I haven’t met one that isn’t fat and ugly that will never get a women, or nerdy pansies boys afraid to fight for there country, or limp wrist fagots that like to suck on other dems shlongs and take up they’re but, also they mutilate there bodies with stupid tattoos and all sorts of vile piercing, also they are pot smokers and addicts. They also need someone to tell them what to do and how to think.

And they're politicians are the people that engorge this behavior because they know those types of people will be easer to make subjects of rather a citizens with decent moral values who have the same thoughts of the people who founded this great country and will fight back.

[playball0]

The Dem REALLY don't have anything to say