REID'S WORDS: "As long as we follow the president's path in Iraq..."

[Hissyspit]

REID DIDN'T SAY THE WAR WAS LOST (which it is), HE SAID ESSENTIALLY THAT IF WE FOLLOW THE PRESIDENT AND HIS INCOMPETENT STAY-THE-COURSE DELUSIONAL LEADERSHIP, THE WAR IS LOST, but all day long the media and right-wing hypocrites have been misquoting him. By misquoting Reid, the media and these other idiots are actually doing what they are accusing Reid of doing, affecting the morale of the troops by making it sound like their leaders don't support the efforts of the troops. Reid was simply discussing policy and strategy, but the misrepresentation of his words implies otherwise. Here are some items from Americablog pointing out the hypocrisy of this on the part of the right-wing and media:

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2007/04/media-please-ask-every-republican.html

Media, please ask every Republican the following question: Do you think we're winning in Iraq?
by John Aravosis (DC) · 4/20/2007 04:21:00 PM ET

The Republicans are so upset, we're to believe, that Harry Reid said that Bush has lost the Iraq war. Fine. Then they've opened the gates to the question as to whether they think we've won the war, or at least are winning.

I think it's time for every Republican member of Congress, starting with GOP Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, and every senior Bush administration official from the president through the Pentagon on down, to say publicly if THEY think we're winning in Iraq. I want them on the record, publicly, in front of their voters saying that they think we're winning the war in Iraq. Then let's see if they get re-elected or laughed out of the room. They're so brave, answer the question.

A friend has compiled a list of not-so-happy quotes about Iraq from Bushies and others:

Senator Carl Levin (D-MI): Mr. Gates, do you believe that we are currently winning in Iraq?
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates: No, sir. - Armed Services Committee Hearing, 12/4/07

Debate Over Who Lost Iraq Already Begun. James Dobbins, a former assistant U.S. secretary of state and special envoy for Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan, directs the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation: "As Iraqi and American public opinion pushes the United States inexorably toward the exit, a debate over who lost Iraq is already gaining momentum." - The International Herald Tribune, 4/17/07

- snip -

Military Expert Says View Around the World Is that the U.S. Lost the War. "Military expert Anthony Cordesman concludes that even if the current U.S. troop increase is a success and creates some degree of stability and political unity, the perception of most Iraqis and others in the Middle East and Europe will be that the United States 'lost' the war in Iraq. " - Washington Post, 4/13/07

- snip -

Commander of 82nd Airborne Division in Iraq Says U.S. in Danger of Losing in Iraq. "Army Maj. Gen. Charles H. Swannack Jr., the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, who spent much of the year in western Iraq, said he believes that at the tactical level at which fighting occurs, the U.S. military is still winning. But when asked whether he believes the United States is losing, he said, 'I think strategically, we are.'" - Washington Post, 5/9/04

MORE AT LINK

ALSO:

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2007/04/in-2004-bush-said-we-cant-win-war-on.html

In 2004, Bush said we can't win the war on terror
by Joe Sudbay (DC) · 4/20/2007 09:38:00 PM ET

All the feigned outrage from Republicans (and Joe Lieberman) over Harry Reid's accurate assessment of Iraq is really beyond annoying. They're such hypocrites. The opposite of losing is winning. Yet, not one of those Republicans (or Joe Lieberman) can say that we're winning the war that Bush started.

And since we're talking hypocrisy, let's not forget that is was George Bush who said in September of 2004 that we can't win the war on terror:

Lauer: You said to me a second ago, one of the things you'll lay out in your vision for the next four years is how to go about winning the war on terror. That phrase strikes me a little bit. Do you really think we can win this war on terror in the next four years?

President Bush: I have never said we can win it in four years.

Lauer: So I’m just saying can we win it? Do you see that?

President Bush: I don’t think you can win it.

Here's a crazy idea for those in the traditional media who just parrot GOP talking points: Do some research. That statement sure gave a lot of aid and comfort to our enemies -- the enemies who actually attacked us on September 11th -- not the enemies we created with Bush's war in Iraq.

MORE AT LINK

[Fridays Child]

1. Thanks for highlighting the GOP's rank hypocrisy, regarding what Reid has said.

I'm furious about this issue. :mad:

[Hissyspit]

3. Well, clearly Alec Baldwin's personal relationship with his daughter is much more important.

I mean, what's the controversy? I would be all pissed at my daughter, too, if she kept voting for Sanjaya. :P

Seriously, thanks for kicking.

[frogcycle]

2. same thing they did with Kerry's remark

intentionally trumped it up and broadcast it, basically saying "hey troops, don't you feel demoralized?"

[Hissyspit]

4. They spread the lie far and wide and in the process... DEMORALIZED the troops. n/t

[wtmusic]

5. Where is the text of Reid's actual comment? nt

[frogcycle]

6. a link to an earlier thread on this

which in turn has a link to a yet earlier thread

there are a lot of paraphrased quotes, many with an ellipsis for the part about "if we follow bush's plan", which makes them an egregious mis-quote.
I have not seen a verbatim written transcript and only saw the clip once.

I also saw another article that seemed to be referring to a different incident, so it could be he said it more than one way.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=714359&mesg_id=714359





"“I believe ... that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything, as is shown by the extreme violence in Iraq this week,” Reid told journalists."

I watched the video, with no elipsis. I saw him say the words, unless the MSM is playing one clip but bitching about another. He very clearly stated "IF we continue on the President's course..." But that's been conveniently clipped from the quote to conflate his remarks and change their meaning.

He has nothing to apologize for. His words are accurate. He did not say "The war is lost, period."

[Hissyspit]

7. The words in my subject line are verbatim. I saw him say them and wrote them down

as he said them.

[wtmusic]

9. Thanks

for being painfully accurate in your knowledge (and any lack thereof) regarding the exact words Reid said.

As we all know a misquoted word can change the entire meaning of a statement. That ellipsis crap IMO is a red flag for a statement taken out of context or just plain misquoted.

[Hissyspit]

8. See post #7. n/t