Retired general: GOP is undermining national security to score partisan points

[NJmaverick]

n the wake of the arrest of alleged terrorist Faisal Shahzad, a number of Republican politicians have expressed outrage that the naturalized American citizen is being afforded the constitutional rights of citizenship.

Major General (ret.) Paul Eaton told MSNBC's Keith Olbermann on Tuesday, "I am a little surprised that we're here to defend our Constitution against a Republican senator and a Republican representative's attack on it."

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Representative Peter King (R-NY) have both suggested that it was an error to read Shahzad his Miranda rights and to keep him in the civilian justice system rather than immediately handing him over to the military.

"From a national security perspective, it's damaging," Eaton said of their statements. "Right now, the FBI and our police forces are looking over their shoulder every time they hear a Republican come off with a remark like that. ... Since January of 2009, we have seen a relentless attack on our FBI, on our armed services, on our policemen by the Republican Party. Any opportunity that they can find ... they have pursued. ... I want them to cut it out."

http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0505/eaton-gop-attacking-national-security/

[Sherman A1]

1. I believe that the Esteemed Mr. McCain may be in violation of his oath of office

Which reads.......

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

[rpannier]

2. It would be nice if the Democrats would make this a big issue

But I doubt they will

[NJmaverick]

3. The Dems lack the message discipline and their own media outlet

to effectively make any issue a big one.

[rpannier]

4. The message discipline is their biggest problem

No matter what the issue is, there is always a half-dozen elected officials who are willing to go on TV and take the opposite position.

In addition, there's always several who go on TV and try and have it both ways

It makes the Party look weak and divided