Armed with their latest polling statistics, liberal Democrats
frequently take to the talk shows and editorial pages to proclaim
this or that anti-Bushism with steely confidence. In an effort to
discredit them, many on the right then try to point out the
questionable methodology used in producing such polls.
But rather than list the various ways pollsters frame their
questions and over-sample Democrats to produce the results desired
by those who hire them, the surest proof of the charge that
mainstream media polls are phony is to watch the actions of
Democrats, who often run away from their conclusions.
A case in point is the allegation that the American people are
turning against the war in Iraq. Countless polls have been produced
to support this claim, yet why did House Democrats vote
overwhelmingly against last month’s resolution to immediately
withdraw our troops, as per the pleadings of John Murtha?
If the polling data is accurate, why are most Democratic
candidates for the presidency in support of the war? Can it be that
they know that their precious polls aren’t really representative of
the people who really count — that is, those who vote?
Even some left-wing pundits agree. Try this from liberal doyenne
Helen Thomas, wringing her hands over Hillary
Clinton and other top Democrats who distance themselves from the
Murtha mantra:
Clinton is a leading contender for the Democratic
presidential nomination, which might explain why she’s busy
pandering to conservatives instead of staking out a leadership role
on more important issues.
The Democrats’ lack of political courage has left voters with
the choice of Republicans who call themselves that — and
Republicans who call themselves Democrats. The result: The GOP gets
a free ride.
Can Helen read between her own lines to discover why Clinton and
others are “pandering to conservatives”? If we are to believe the
media polling propaganda that the majority of Americans are in
lockstep with liberals in disdaining the president, why then the
need for pandering to the enemy?
Because they know deep down that the majority of Americans do
not agree with them. And they also know that their current strategy
isn’t working so it’s time to cut and run; from themselves. Howl
against the president as they might — and they do so mightily —
Democrats are having a hard time running away from their own votes
and words, especially on Iraq.
The notion that the president dragged them hogtied and
blindfolded into war is laughable. But even if we ignore the fact
that Democrats warned of Iraq WMDs while George W. Bush was still
the governor of Texas, why should the American people trust a party
of witless dupes?
Add to that the recent defeatist comments by the party’s
national chairman, shake in a smoldering accusation of U.S.
military terrorism by its 2004 presidential nominee, and you have
the perfect recipe for permanent minority status, courtesy of the
white flag wing of the Democratic Party.
That is why their latest Fitzmas wish is a two-fer: the hope
that liberal bogeyman Donald Rumsfeld steps down in favor of the
irksome Joe Lieberman who, post-Al Gore, has returned to his senses
and is therefore of no further use to Democrats.
But Democrats say they have a new plan for the nation. Former VP
candidate, John Edwards told delegates at a weekend convention of the
Florida faithful that Americans would come together behind a leader
who asks people to sacrifice for the common good: “There is a
hunger in America, a hunger for a sense of national community, a
hunger for something big and important and inspirational that they
all can be involved in.”
This statement illustrates a classic Democratic disconnect. In
case Edwards hasn’t noticed, there’s already “something big and
important and inspirational” going on; it’s called the War on
Terror and it’s not only protecting Americans at home. The
sacrifices of our troops and those who support them are helping to
create a new paradigm of freedom for millions of people across the
Middle East and around the world.
The Democrats’ tin ear in matters of war and national defense
notwithstanding, other issues loom on the horizon; issues they also
misunderstand. For all their outward talk of reaching out to
“values” voters in red states, their actual agenda betrays them. So
watch the polls closely, but watch their actions closer.
