The Differences Are Real
posted by Matt Browner-Hamlin, Campaign Blogger on October 4, 2007 - 10:35am
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In 2006 Democrats gained control of the house and senate mainly because of our involvement in Iraq. First of all, why aren't the candidates who are still in office and can force a change in our Iraq war strategy doing anythnig about it? And with the exception of Chris Dodd why do they say it could be another 4 years?
In short, the answer to both your questions is "I don't know" Jeff.
I agree that Democrats were given the majority because the American public wants the war to end. But they have not done it. Worse, the frontrunners have not taken a clear position on when they'll get all US troops out of Iraq. Or at least, they refuse to get them out before the end of their first term.
That's too long. There is a real difference here and Chris Dodd is providing the leadership that America needs.
Look, when Carol Shea-Porter first offered to serve in Congress, NOBODY was talking about getting out of Iraq. Indeed, her bringing up the issue was routinely dismissed, even when John Murtha showed up to campaign by her side and echoed that we need to make an end to that misadventure.
It's my sense that her campaign was consistently dismissed because that issue wasn't in the national media script. And even when she and many others who had joined the chorus, were elected, the major media still weren't prepared to recognize that a new script had been written for them. It's just not how the news industry is supposed to work. Editors decide what's important. Period.
And they really hate being proven wrong.
So, that's the hurdle we have to overcome. Because the major media have not only been wrong, but now they feel guilty and guilt drives people and organizations into denial.
Good points Monica. That's why we're pushing Senator Dodd's message to end the war in Iraq hard in both the new media online and the traditional media offline. The overwhelming majority of Americans want to see our troops come home from Iraq and see funding cuts to end our involvement in Iraq's civil war.
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