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Issa: Attack on Blackwater is Attack on... Petraeus
It didn't seem at the beginning of this hearing that any part of Blackwater's operations in Iraq had a thing to do with MoveOn.org's "Betray Us" ad. But that impression didn't account for the vigorous argumentation of Rep. Darrell Issa.
Issa brought out a massive placard of the ad showing General David Petraeus and launched into a full-bore assault on his Democratic colleagues, who, he implied, ran the ad themselves in the New York Times. "What they couldn't do to our men in women in uniform," he said -- presumably meaning run their names through the dirt -- they'll now do to Blackwater. "I'm not here to defend Blackwater," Issa said with the utmost sincerity, "but I am here to defend General Petraeus and members of the military." (Blackwater contractors, by the way, make on average six times more than U.S. troops in Iraq.)
The hearing is simply "a repeat of the MoveOn ad," Issa says, which seems to be the line the GOP is taking. One of Issa's GOP colleagues said that the Democrats first tried to discredit the President, then the U.S. military, then the Iraqi government and "they're trying to discredit contractors now." Several GOP members of the panel moved to adjourn the hearing, for fear of slander. Some kinds of slander, anyway.
Comments (7)
Candyce wrote on October 2, 2007 11:09 AM:Outrageous. I wish Waxman would show some of the YouTube videos that Blackwater has proudly displayed. Rambos picking off people like at a turkey shoot, to use their own words. Or maybe that video of them shooting at civilians for sport.
This hearing is just going to piss me off. Patty McHenry is acting like he has a clue about anything in his defense of Blackwater.
Scott wrote on October 2, 2007 11:27 AM:The cons know the moneys too good to give up.
Bob Currie wrote on October 2, 2007 11:31 AM:Just shows how low the Republican Party has sunk. There are no boundaries to their decete, corruption nor their contempt of the constitution and the American people. It is time for a drastic change in Washington and it is up to us, not the present inhabitants of the halls of the Capitol. The Dems have about a year to show some backbone and do what is right.
moondancer wrote on October 2, 2007 12:01 PM:He has to one of the biggest a**holes since Joe McCarthy. Talk about non sequiter.
Cinderella Ferret wrote on October 2, 2007 12:04 PM:I guess Rep. Issa "forgot" to point out the Andrew Bacevich article in American Conservative magazine condemning the General. The title: Sycophant Savior. Ouch!
http://www.amconmag.com/2007/2007_09_24/article2.html
jeffgee wrote on October 2, 2007 1:20 PM:First rule of conservative discourse: Change the subject when you have no legs to stand on. Look over there- it's something shiny. Grandstand for all it's worth. Throw chaff in the air to confuse the missiles.
jimbobuddy wrote on October 2, 2007 1:22 PM:Issa should ask some soldiers what they think of Blackwater. The BW mercenaries get paid a lot more than the troops, can leave Iraq any time they want and are subject to none of the rules of engagement that the troops must follow. That's gotta stir up some resentment among the real soldiers.
Not one mention of Limbaugh disrespecting the troops whom he deems insufficiently Republican.
My disgust for Gopers continues to sink, unbelievable as it is. The Dems need to grow some balls and learn to go where the truth leads.