GOP Caught In Their Own Trap

06/26/2006

Paul Munnis

The GOP is coming unraveled and unhinged in its efforts to win the 2006 election.

Last week they spent a lot of Senate time setting a trap for Democrats. By forcing non-binding votes on Iraqi withdrawal they managed to paint Democrats as supporting a plan for a timed and phased withdrawal from Iraq and label us as favoring a policy of “Cut and Run.”

The GOP took the position: “No timetable for withdrawal. Stay the Course. Only the President can decide when to bring home the troops.” Then the GOP propaganda machine kicked into high gear. All was fine until reality set in.

First, the head of the Iraqi overnment: al-Maliki indicated that a time-table is needed for withdrawing American troops from Iraq and it is a pre-condition to political settlement with the insurgents.

Next, Gen. Casey announced he will be down-sizing American troops this Fall.

Then al-Maliki talked about amnesty as a condition of political settlement.

It is clear that the Administration is in phase with al-Maliki and General Casey.

By the time this was all on the table, the GOP trap for Democrats had sprung and rebounded onto the GOP as a transparent political ploy unworthy of a party in power. The GOP dirty tricks department was unmasked for all voters to plainly see. It should help to seal their fate come November.

As if all of this wasn’t enough, the GOP is totally out of phase with the American people who indicate that they want a resolution in the outcome of the Iraqi War. Thus not only did their dirty trick fail them but they were pushing a foreign policy program that voters do not support. Voters want Washington to resolve the Iraqi War pronto.

Rep. Jack Murtha must be feeling good this week. He has been fully vindicated by the events of this past week.