Some observers have said MoveOn.org's New York Times ad backfired.
But MoveOn.org isn't backing down. Check out these excerpts from a (lengthy) e-mail sent today to supporters, accusing Gen. Petraeus of stretching the truth and urging like-minded anti-warriors to "send a letter to the editor":
From: Nita Chaudhary, MoveOn.org Political Action
[mailto:moveon-help@list.moveon.org]
Sent: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:34:44 -0400
Subject: General Petraeus and the Truth
Dear MoveOn member,
Yesterday, General David Petraeus misled the country.
He used faulty statistics and cherry-picked intelligence to argue that American troops should stay in Iraq for the foreseeable future. The general said we're making major progress -- and we have to stay the course. Sadly, independent assessments show that things in Iraq have gone from bad to worse.
Some of you have emailed to say it reminds you of the day four and a half years ago when President Bush sent General Colin Powell to the U.N. to make a trumped-up case for war.
Powell's WMDs helped justify the invasion of Iraq, and Petraeus' version of "progress" -- if it goes unchallenged -- will justify keeping troops there for years. Can you take a few minutes to write a letter-to-the editor reminding folks that the "surge" didn't work -- and that the responsible thing to do is bring our troops home?
Today is the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in American history. The wounds of 9/11 are still fresh for many of us. After 9/11, President Bush used fear, lies and trumped-up intelligence to stampede us into Iraq. Now, America is bogged down in an unwinnable civil war, and Al Qaeda has regained enough strength to once again menace the United States.
It would be a tragic irony if, six years later, the administration used skewed intelligence to head off the growing momentum for an exit strategy from Iraq.
Please write a letter reminding America and Congress not to fall, ever again, for White House lies -- we need a timeline to bring our troops home.
Thanks for all that you do,
-- Nita, Karin, Laura, Eli, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team, Tuesday, September 11th, 2007
P.S. Yesterday, MoveOn members sponsored an ad in the New York Times debunking Petraeus' claims.
The ad stirred a controversy on Capitol Hill -- it accuses Petraeus of "cooking the books." And it charges that Petraeus is betraying the American peoples' trust by spinning the facts to support the White House. Some Democrats were uncomfortable with such strong language, and Republicans attacked MoveOn.
We're sure if we'd run an ad debunking Colin Powell's testimony in 2003, they would have done the same thing -- but sometimes it's important to set the facts straight.
-- David Eldridge, managing editor, WashingtonTimes.com
Comments (12)
These people will stoop to any lie to try to discredit a man with more credibility than all of them together have.
In looking around today though, I see they have lost supporters because they crossed a line.
Good.
Posted by spree | September 11, 2007 6:36 PM
traitors
Posted by Juke | September 11, 2007 8:38 PM
The views of the military from Kennedy (torturers), Murtha (murderers) and Durbin (Nazi'z), indicatte the Democrats have written them off as an instrument of foreign policy. Therefore, Moveon.Org is not going to let up. There hate propaganda is attempting to dismantle any integrity they oppose through lies and innuendo. Their tactics are right out of the 60's, Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals, RULE 5: "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon." There is no defense. It's irrational. It's infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions. (Pretty crude, rude and mean, huh? They want to create anger and fear.)
Posted by Larry Stone | September 12, 2007 1:04 AM
Perhaps one of us bloggers should do a post on which members of Congress have taken Moveon.org money and call their offices to see if they are returning it?
Posted by Mike's America | September 12, 2007 2:33 AM
General Petraeus is a great leader and a man of integrity. It is true that he is optimistic in face of great adversity... a trait that is beneficial for and exactly what I want in a General Officer. These people (moveon.org) don't know him, have never met him and certainly haven't served with him. I am only certain of two effects for this add. #1. Terrorists will view this a validation that they were right.... we are weak and divided.
#2. My voting record is pretty much split 50/50 down the parties... but I will not vote for ANY politician of ANY party that does not publicly and loudly condemn these loons. If moveon had "bought" the Democratic party... then they can have it. But it won't be worth much when they realize that a majority of Americans don't hate their country...
Posted by Brad | September 12, 2007 7:06 AM
Nice one Brad; btw; what planet are you on? How many of your dead troops will satiiate your desire to rule the planet? W. Africa next huh? Whaddaya bet?
Posted by His Wholiness Bob the Blob | September 12, 2007 12:14 PM
We are divided...that goes with the territory of democracy. But we are not weak. And Moveon.org's ad only supports the idea of free press as ensured by the Constitution.
Debate over this issue is healthy and long overdue. If we all agreed on everything (or were forced to believe/agree everything)then we would not be living in a free society. Our freedoms (including freedom of speech) are our greatest weapons against terrorism and rule by the few.
We would be weak if our freedoms were denied. And just because someone does not agree with you...does not mean they "hate our country". In fact, those who deny free expression of opinion are the ones who "hate" our democratic principles...and ultimately are the ones who hate.
Posted by Steve | September 12, 2007 12:16 PM
Deporting these people is a wonderful idea. Let's get to it!
Posted by Rufus | September 12, 2007 12:17 PM
>>Yesterday, MoveOn members sponsored an ad in the New York Times debunking Petraeus' claims.>>
In fact, so sure of their position were they, that they wrote the "debunking" even before the claims were made.
Always nice when you can decide the case before it's made.
Posted by suek | September 12, 2007 12:49 PM
don't read these comments go to Moveon.org and read them directly with links to back up (or not) what the are saying. you decide after you get your information direct.
Posted by chris blanchard | September 12, 2007 2:18 PM
Let's see now, "Move on" (or whoever uses them as their mouthpiece) has claimed to have "debunked" the collective assessment of the entire military staffing involved in the war effort, as the general was "not out there all by himself" in giving his testimony.
I just have one thing I think may be worth considering folks, and that is that I'll bet good money the DOD knows more about what's going on on the ground over in Iraq than "move on" will ever have a clue about.
Posted by Eric Jette | September 16, 2007 1:02 AM
Cool topic! ;)
Posted by Kilkoi | December 23, 2007 1:55 PM