Washington – Republicans and Democrats tore into each other over war policy Tuesday, set off by a presidential speech the White House insisted was nonpolitical. A GOP leader said Democrats seemed “more interested in protecting the terrorists” than shielding fellow Americans.
The Democrats contended the president had used a prime-time address commemorating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to make partisan arguments bolstering support for the Iraq war.
“I wonder if they are more interested in protecting the terrorists than protecting the American people,” said House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio. “They certainly do not want to take the terrorists on and defeat them.”
Trading barbs, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, who had criticized the president’s speech as inappropriately political, called Boehner’s criticism “cynical tactics.”
“Rather than try to defend their own failed record, Republicans have resorted to the desperation politics of fear,” said Pelosi, D-Calif. “It is long past time for Republicans to be honest with the American people and stop questioning the patriotism of those who recognize that the president’s Iraq policy has not worked, is making us less safe and must be changed.”
The White House tried to steer clear of the tussle. In fact, Bush spokesman Tony Snow took issue with Boehner’s contention that Democrats may be looking out for the terrorists’ interests.
Snow said it was unfortunate but perhaps inevitable that “there will be some name-calling” in the months before this fall’s election as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of Congress.
At the same time, the White House vigorously defended Bush against Democratic charges that the president inappropriately used Monday’s televised speech, marking the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, to try to bolster support for the divisive war in Iraq.
Snow said very little of the president’s 17-minute address contained controversial statements, and that “this was not an attempt to stir the hornet’s nest.”
Democratic leaders called the speech a political argument trying to justify the war by linking it to the terrorists responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks. The Democrats contend mismanagement of the war calls for a change in congressional leadership.
