Fave Comments on the MoveOn Molehill

Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), quoted in a piece by blogger Taylor Marsh, says what I wish Democratic leaders would say:

"I commend MoveOn for their ad and for speaking truth to power," said Stark. "Up is not down, the earth is not flat, and the surge is not working. General Petraeus betrayed his own reputation by standing with George Bush in opposition to the timely withdrawal of all of our brave men and women from Iraq. I thank MoveOn for their patriotic ad and call on Petraeus to help Bush end a war the President should have never started."

And I simply love this comment left on a CNN.com news item today by an ex-military man from Lansing, Michigan:

I am an ex-military man. I do not support the sentiments voiced by the moveon.org ad. However, the following needs be said:

1) General Petraeus is a big boy; they certainly don't give four stars and a bronze star with a 'v' for shrinking violets. As any flag officer knows, life is very political at that level and sometimes people just aren't nice. They should be ignored.

2) We have something in this country - something I was proud to contribute to - called freedom of speech. I may not like what a lot of people say (I try not to think of a lot of people out there spewing their bilge, on the right just as much as the left) - but I do feel strongly about the right to say it. if you don't like it, say something back, or better still, just ignore it.

3) Hasn't the senate got anything better to do with their time? Granted, they are often inept and hopelessly divided, but I can't help thinking that ignoring this ad would have been a better use of their limited brainpower and infinite ability to keep talking.

With all this, I believe it is obvious what the proper response to the ad SHOULD have been.

Hoo-ah

Chet Morrison

Hoo-ah, indeed.

UPDATE: By the way, MoveOn.org says that it is being flooded with messages of support from members of the U.S. military and their families, and that they have raised $500,000 from 12,000 contributors to run a new ad.

Here are some of the messages:

I have given a son to this country. My brother, my father, my uncle have all served honorably and bravely. I am a loyal American. I am outraged and sick to death of the tactics this administration uses to try to silence dissent to a war that is unjust, built and maintained on lies, political power, and greed. I was content to let others fight more loudly, but no more.
–Sharyn W., NC

I am a prior soldier who served in Iraq for 13 months, and am now an expecting mom with a husband who is deployed in Baghdad. I don't think I can ever forgive the Bush administration for the lies that tricked America into this war and hurt my family so badly. I am ashamed of those American politicians who would condemn an organization for practicing the Freedom of Speech that so many soldiers have died for.
–Danielle B., OH

As a US Navy veteran and an Iraq war veteran of over a year I want to ask, What has happened to us? What has happened to our voice? Where is this country going with stopping free speech and free press? ... Every time I think of the long nights I had in Anbar remembering what I was fighting for, well here it is....
–Ahmad H., LA