Right Side of the Rainbow

Washington Post:

Democrats fumed last week at Vice President Cheney’s suggestion that criticism of the administration’s war policies was itself becoming a hindrance to the war effort. But a new poll indicates most Americans are sympathetic to Cheney’s point.

Seventy percent of people surveyed said that criticism of the war by Democratic senators hurts troop morale — with 44 percent saying morale is hurt “a lot,” according to a poll taken by RT Strategies. Even self-identified Democrats agree: 55 percent believe criticism hurts morale, while 21 percent say it helps morale.

The results surely will rankle many Democrats, who argue that it is patriotic and supportive of the troops to call attention to what they believe are deep flaws in President Bush’s Iraq strategy. But the survey itself cannot be dismissed as a partisan attack. The RTs in RT Strategies are Thomas Riehle, a Democrat, and Lance Tarrance, a veteran GOP pollster.

Their poll also indicates many Americans are skeptical of Democratic complaints about the war. Just three of 10 adults accept that Democrats are leveling criticism because they believe this will help U.S. efforts in Iraq. A majority believes the motive is really to “gain a partisan political advantage.” [Emphasis added.]

Well of course it hurts the morale of our troops to say they’re fighting for a lie and should be withdrawn immediately. And of course the Democrats are leveling their “criticisms” for political reasons. They want to wound this president, and they don’t care what their calls for surrender mean to the troops, the Iraqis or U.S. security.

Politically, the Democrat Party is as serious as cancer. But morally, it is no longer a serious party. The American people know this, which is why, disgusted as they are with the Republicans, they will not turn the Congress over to the Democrats.