It’s that time of year when bubbles burst and buzzer beaters
ring out across the land. For many, it’s an occasion for great
elation, for some, bitter disappointment. But if recent news
reports are to be believed, it is truly the month of March Madness
for Democrats.
According to Rowan Scarborough in the Washington Times, Senate Democrats are
planning to use the March congressional recess to “stage press
events with active duty military personnel, veterans and emergency
responders to bash President Bush on virtually every one of his
national security policies.”
So in order to regain their footing at the Big Dance in
November, are Democrats truly trying to convert a contingent that
voted overwhelmingly against them in 2004? Or will they simply try
and renew their efforts to paint themselves red, white and blue to
look pro-military and thus in line with the majority of Americans?
It appears the latter is closer to the mark.
In a memo provided to Scarborough by a congressional staffer
titled “Real Security,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid
encourages his minions to stage events at “military bases, weapons
factories, National Guard units, fire stations and veterans posts.”
By way of instruction, Reid demonstrates his party’s deaf ear on
events patriotic:
Ensure that you have the proper U.S. and state flags at
the event, and consider finding someone to sing the national anthem
and lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the
event.
It is unclear as to whether the “under God” clause of the Pledge
should be included; perhaps Mr. Reid should have provided the
entire text for those who might be a bit out of practice in its
recital. As for the “proper” flags, he might want to dial up a few
of his friends on the far left wing of his party who have no
trouble locating them in a flash.
Some might find it odd that Reid would expect military personnel
to criticize their Commander in Chief during a time of war, but
they need only to look to the Democrats’ last presidential
candidate to know that they think it’s just fine and dandy. But
those who might be willing to oblige are in for a nasty bit of
trouble, according to the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 88:
Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words
against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary
of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary
of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State,
Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or
present shall be punished as a court-martial may
direct.
This injunction is also extended to all active duty personnel under
a Department of Defense regulation which says they can be charged
under
Article
92, of the UCMJ, “Failure to obey order or regulation.” It will
be interesting to see how many will risk such punishment to aid a
party that has repeatedly sought to have their votes discounted,
referred to them as terrorists, and compared them to the Nazis and
Pol Pot.
And with few exceptions, veterans’ organizations will probably
also give them the cold shoulder as they did their fellow vet John
Kerry. Ditto the employees at weapons factories. It’s hard to
imagine liberals ginning up much support from an industry they’ve
disdained and voted to under-fund for years. Singing the Star
Spangled Banner and waving a few flags at them will not serve to
shorten the memories of such folks.
But the problem for these would-be patriotic Democrats is that
while they’ve been distancing themselves from Cindy Sheehan-types,
their left-wing base still embraces them with open arms. Their
dilemma is best embodied by the schizophrenic history of Kerry:
from proud naval service to contempt for the military establishment
and repudiation of his involvement in the Vietnam War and then back
to crowing about his combat experience when politically
expedient.
This blatant opportunism seems apparent to all but liberals and
their mainstream media allies. On Sunday’s Meet the Press,
Tim Russert showed John Murtha some poll results and then
plaintively asked, “Why are the Democrats at a lower trust level
than Republicans on the war?” Unable to give an answer, Murtha
issued a vague threat that Americans would demonstrate their trust
level come November.
If Russert and Murtha could take off their blinders, they might
see why Americans do not trust Democrats on national defense and
security matters. As most blatantly demonstrated by Harry Reid’s
memo, it seems that the only use they have for our brave soldiers
is as political props.
