EXCLUSIVE: Majority Leader Boehner's Confidential Memo For Iraq Debate

[kpete]

EXCLUSIVE: Majority Leader Boehner’s Confidential Strategy Memo For Thursday’s Iraq Debate

On Thursday, the House of Representatives will hold a debate on the Iraq war. Media reports say Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) “hopes to match the serious, dignified tone of deliberation that preceded the Gulf war, in 1991.”

It looks like that’s just spin. ThinkProgress has obtained a “Confidential Messaging Memo” from Boehner instructing his caucus to conduct a very different kind of deliberation. Here’s a quick summary:

1. Exploit 9/11. The two page memo mentions 9/11 seven times. It describes debating Iraq in the context of 9/11 as “imperative.”

2. Attack opponents ad hominem. The memo describes those who opposes President Bush’s policies in Iraq as “sheepish,” “weak,” and “prone to waver endlessly.”

3. Create a false choice. The memo says the decision is between supporting President Bush’s policies and hoping terrorist threats will “fade away on their own.”

Not exactly a dignified strategy. You can read the confidential memo for yourself HERE: http://images1.americanprogress.org/il80web20037/ThinkProgress/2006/boehnermemo.pdf

http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/14/boehner-memo/

[Epiphany4z]

1. 9/11

9/11 9/11 9/11 cut and run 9/11 9/11 9/11 dems are pussys..9/11 9/11 ...sigh somethings will never change. Can't wait another bumper sticker debate

[Greeby]

2. Holy Jeebus

If it weren't ThinkProgress posting this, I'd think it was the Onion. :wow:

Oh, and how dare he quote President Kennedy as a means of supporting this war :grr:

[The Deacon]

3. Those Gutless Bastards Have the GALL to Quote Kennedy!

"I knew Jack Kennedy, Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator (and Representative) YOU are no Jack Kennedy!"
*sigh* What might have been.

[originalpckelly]

4. Now let's see if I have this correct: Ann Coulter v. Rep. Boner

Widows of 9/11 husbands cannot talk about 9/11. They are enjoying their husbands deaths;

But;

When the Republicans in Congress do it, it isn't bad, in fact it is good.

WTF? Please people, call Republicans on this outright hypocrisy.

[klook]

16. Good point.

Republican logic: Cynically exploiting 9/11 for political gain is OK, but earnestly seeking answers about why the government ignored terrorist threats and allowed your loved ones to die is "self-centered."

[dogday]

5. This sounds just like them

My question is who in our party is assigned to counteracts these attacks?

[originalpckelly]

6. kick

:kick:

[xchrom]

7. kick that fuckin bastard boehner.

[originalpckelly]

8. I have a feeling that we the American people are being stiffed...

By Rep. Boehner.

[Norquist Nemesis]

9. Every Democrat should walk in holding a strawman

and every time a Con gets up to speak, hold it high and shout in unison, "STRAWMAN!"

Then each time it's a Democrat's turn to speak, walk to the microphone (strawman in hand), and say, "This represents all of the Cons so-called arguments about this side of the aisle. I'm going to save time in responding to those so-called arguments." Then promptly knock the strawman off the podium.

[berni_mccoy]

10. K&R! This should be front-page news.

[Canuckistanian]

11. Dead giveaway

It shows thay have nothing left but empty rhetoric.

It's desperation time. You can almost see the flop sweat from here.

[paparush]

12. Pure Rove...pure as snow white Cocaine...

sheeple say baaaaaaaah

[oxbow]

13. The media still have time to call them out on this

email this to anyone with a half-way decent Bullshit detector. Keith O., Lou Dobbs, anyone else who isn't a mouthpiece for the party(s).

[Idioteque]

14. I hope Murtha gets to control the Democratic time...

He did a great job when the House debated the "Murtha" (Hunter) amendment.

[MsMagnificent]

15. Forewarned is forearmed

Let's see how our Democrat politicians develop and use these talking points against them... and not just testily respond to attacks against Democrats but specifics such as Saddam posed us no threat, Republican nation-building and this so-called "victory" in Iraq (mentioned three times in memo); to name just a few.
I'd be happy with them simply pointing out that "gaining Democratic allies" would probably necessitate our not slaughtering Iraqi civilians wholesale, and chalking it up to mere, unavoidable 'collateral damage'.

God help us, they will. If they don't, it's a good indicator they've learned nothing these past 5 plus years.

[Roland99]

17. Boehner the Bonehead

[stevedeshazer]

18. Whoa. That could be really damaging.

That's gonna sting.

[ComerPerro]

19. I didn't need to read any memo to know that's their strategy

[nealmhughes]

20. I hope Conyers, Dennis and Murtha demolish them.

I hope that they pull out every straw. Either that or to have all the Democrats leave the chamber one by one if the Repubs get nasty...and hold a huge "public session" with all the press...outside would be nice.

[raysr]

21. Is this one

of those "confidential" memos that was found on the sidewalk in D.C.?

[Supersedeas]

22. Parroting the speech Rove gave in NH...lock step Repubbies