Jake Tapper, liberal reporter extroidinaire at ABC, actually stepped up to the journalist ethics plate and asked Harry Reid a direct question on Iraq: (h/t Ace of Spades HQ)
TAPPER: Senator Reid, what do you say to critics who say, "Look, the Senate voted, including two of you up on the stage, to authorize the president to use force in Iraq. Is there not a moral obligation of the United States to make sure that the Iraqi people are safe before the U.S. withdraws"? It’s very clear that withdrawing U.S. troops might make U.S. troops safer, but it won’t necessarily make the Iraqi people safer.
Reid’s response:
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER HARRY REID, D-NEV: As reported in the news this morning, 69 percent of Iraqis feel they are less safe because of the presence of Americans; 21 percent of the Iraqi people feel they’re safer. That’s pretty clear that American troops who are over there protecting the Shias, the Sunnis and the Kurds — they’re not welcome. That’s the reason that they’re doing a good job of protecting the Shias, Kurds and Sunnis, but they are all trying to kill our soldiers. That is a recipe to bring our troops home. And that’s why the Levin-Reed amendment is so critically important. …It transitions the mission within 120 days, and by the first day of May of next year, our troops will be out of there, our combat troops will be out of there. They will be left to do counterterrorism, training the Iraqis — continuing to train the Iraqis and protecting our resources. That’s what the Iraqi people want and that’s what American people want.
Typical of what we get from Reid, Pelosi and the rest of the cowards….a non-answer. Now at this point most in our MSM will not attack. Oh sure, they attack any Republican who dares answer a question with a bunch of mumble-jumble, but with their fellow compadres in the liberal klan they usually nod their head in agreement and write a spin piece.
Amazingly, Tapper does the opposite here:
TAPPER: I’m sorry, if I could just follow up very quickly…Do you think the Iraqi people will be safer with U.S. troops out?
REID: It is clear that the Iraqi people don’t want us there. It is clear that there is now a state of chaos in Iraq. And it is up to the Iraqi people to make themselves safe….We can’t do it. It’s time the training wheels come off and they take care of their own country. We have spent billions dollars. We’re now spending $12 billion a month on Iraq. That’s enough. In the last six months of the surge, six months, 600 more dead Americans, $60 billion more of American taxpayers’ money. We, Democrats, unitedly believe that’s enough.
TAPPER: With all due respect, Senator, you didn’t answer my question.
REID: OK. This is not a debate.
TAPPER: Will the Iraqis be safer?
REID: We’re answering questions. (calling on someone else) Yes, young man? Anyone else have a question?
I’m really floored here. It’s kinda sad when your floored at a reporter that actually does their job but there it is. Tapper writes many pieces with a liberal bent but at least today, he didn’t throw the soft ball.
So for that I’ll give him a big thumbs up, but with a heavy heart since I know his bosses back at the office have Reid’s back. They will not let a shred of anti-Democrat news into their newspapers, nor into their news shows. So while Tapper does a good job as a journalist today, only those who read blogs and pay close attention to politics will ever know.
Just as our MSM wants it.
UPDATE
Funny stuff: (h/t Newsbusters)
The truth hurts
UPDATE II
I think I’m in the twilight zone here. CNN, of all propaganda machines, airs a segment in which they allow a Iraqi family to tell the truth, America needs to stay to finish what they started: (h/t Hot Air)
I just picked myself off the floor once again.
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Seems like a few liberals do remember what happened when we pulled out of Vietnam.
I wonder if they realize the rest of the World won’t hold back and laying the blame for the mess at our feet.
The question is will liberals accept the blame or try to blame Bush for being their in the first place? As if it was OK to let hundred of thousands or millions die to teach GW a lesson.
I support having the Iraqis vote on it. If they say ‘leave’, we leave. If they say ‘stay’, we stay.
This doesn’t happen too much … Reid taken to task by what he perceives as a friendly. And, CNN not editing out positive news. Unfortunately, this is a one day only occurrence.
That’s just plain pathetic. The question Tapper asked is relevant, appropriate, and should be well within the means of being addressed by someone who is a leading war critic, not to mention the Senate Majority Leader. Does Harry Reid really think that there will be less violence in Iraq and that the country will experience less conflict aftr a precipitous withdrawal? Reid and Pelosi have a vested political interest in seeing the war ended immediately; they’re evidently ok with advancing that interest without any regard for the consequences both to U.S. national security and the security of Iraqis.
Reid is an unprincipled coward.
I’m just waiting for the next full moon when Reid gets asked another question. Will he put his hands over his ears, close his eyes, and hum? My 2 year old has more courage that that panderer.