(CNN) – For years, Democrats who voted against President Bush's defense budgets had to contend with Republican ads that accused them of failing to support the troops. Now the Democratic National Committee is releasing a new ad hurling the same politically toxic charge at the GOP.
"How far are Republicans willing to go to protect the insurance industry and block health reform?" asks the narrator in the 30-second spot. "Far enough to deny funding and equipment for our troops in harm's way.
"Republicans are so desperate to block health reform and protect their special interest friends that they delayed funding for our men and women in uniform. Then they voted against it. Tell Republicans to stop playing politics with health care. And to stop playing politics with our troops."
An effort by Senate Republicans to filibuster the defense appropriations bill to stall action on President Obama's health care plan failed Friday, when three GOP senators - Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas - voted with Democrats to end debate and vote on the measure.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee immediately slammed Chuck Grassley, David Vitter and Richard Burr – all senators up for re-election in 2010 – over the vote, accusing the lawmaker of "put(ting) partisan politics above funding our troops…"
The new ad will run on cable nationally and in Washington, D.C. starting Monday.
Update: National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brian Walsh said the ad showed Democrats were "desperate to shift attention away from the higher taxes and cuts to Medicare which fund their politically toxic health care bill."
"Poll after poll shows that the majority of American people not only don’t support it, but that they are prepared to hold the Democrats accountable for it in next year’s election," he said Friday. "However, if they are seriously seeking a debate over which party has been more committed to supporting our troops over the years, then by all means let’s have that debate. We would welcome it.”
From CNN Politics
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Darn it...it is about time the democrats got the gonads to sock it to the republicans. It seems like the minority republicans think they are still the majority republicans. Course that's cause the Democrats have let them get away with all this crap. I think it is time the knuckled down and rolled right over the republicans. HEAR THAT MEDIA....GET YOUR BUTT IN GEAR AND TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT THE REPUBLICANS ARE DOING.
and thus the rush limbaugh party is aiding the terrorists by doing this.
It is one thing for the GOP to obstruct in the congress and do nothing for Americans, but to vote to send troops to Afghanistan, and then filibuster against the defense appropriations makes the republicans about the sickest bastards we have ever elected. I am sorry our troops have to be pawns in the republican efforts to destroy Obama and America.
haha...stepped in that, did you GOPers? oops
Party over country though, right?
Let's face it...these are the same guys who sent our troops over seas to "fight to defend our freedoms and beliefs" while abandoning those beliefs here at home via torture, etc., thus hollowing the claim.
this doesn't change a thing... Republicans will never learn... Republican voters that is.mm
Politicians playing politics?
Thank God there are 3 republicans who have removed their head from their butts to help our troops. You right wingnuts are the lowest form of life.
Ain't that the truth. The son of guns started this war along with GW and was all crawling up his rear to give him everything he wanted and now they are giving this president a hard time. It all boils down to President Obama's color. There I said it. All this nonsense going on is for that reason alone.
The Dems wanted this done quickly because they wanted to plan their rape of America, the passage of the Marxist Medical sham, to occur on Christmas Eve. No doubt CNN will cancel any Christmas related programming on the night of the 24th so they can broadcast live the fulfillment of Obama's fascist takeover of medical care.
About time someone stated the obvious!!! Republicans are doing more harm than good... As the once famous Rodney King stated, 'Can't we all just get along'? What Rodney should have finished the sentence with is: 'Can't we all just get along and fund the troops, while agreeing on Healthcare Legislation?" Thanks Crackhead Rodney...
It's time we all say NO to the paryy of NO! It's time for the GOP to start caring about the American people instead of the same old party politics. Enough is enough.
Looks like McCain voted against our troops again.
The party of no has become the party of "No shame" I hope it is the end of the right-wing strangle-hold that grips this once proud party.
From what I see in polls most people do not want the Obamacare, so what right does the liberal left wing have to force their bankrupting garbage on Americans??
Here is the party of no putting our troops in jeopardy again. Our military protects the rights of these communist right wingnuts to attack government and trash the constitution, yet won't support them.
Yeah right. Getting to be typical Democrat method, call your opponent what you yourself do. As we see time and time again.
And of course, As Obama is being outted for doing it yet again.
Obama threatens our country and national security by warning Senator Nelson of Nebraska that he will close Ouffatt Strategic Command in Nebraska if he doesn't vote for his special interest laden, insurance, Big Pharma and AMA giveaway bill on our taxpayers back.
Nice. Sacrifice thousands of jobs, national security, military and our tax dollars to close such a vital security, where Bush was during 9 11, as a gambling chit.
Flush the toilet....it's starting to stink.
I don;t care why Republicans tried to block the latest defense bill, they are right! We have to get our troops out of these areas where we are killing and beign killed, and wasting 10 BILLION a month doing it!
"Air Force Cargo Aircraft: $674 million, not requested, for three additional C-17s"
That's from the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill. It’s a $636 billion spending bill that is billions over the requested amount.
This is why they tried to stop the bill. $674 million to build plans the pentagon never asked for and doesn't need. Pelosi's state needs the jobs so she just penciled herself $674 million. Must be nice.
Bet you libs didn't know that, did you?
Not only are libs a waste of space....they are a waste of tax dollars.
And you want them running health care....good move.
I can hardly wait to see the crazy right wingnuts justify this inane political stunt.
Republican's trying to PROTECT THEIR SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS?? Are U FOR REAL!??
I think you are mistaking the Republicans for Dems! They are the ones who's special interest groups are DICTATING what they should do..Republicans are trying to PROTECT Americans..from Socialized Medicine! Get your Facts straight and stop writing hog wash like this!
The Democrats are getting so desparate they are THREATENING senators to vote for it or ELSE! Keep up will ya!?
The party of 'NO' will do ANYTHING, ANYTHING to impede any type debate in order to help their big pocket buddies in the health care industry.... Next thing will be GOP senators sitting on the floor of congress, stomping their feet, holding their hands to their ears in diapers chanting 'I'm NOT LISTENING !!, 'I'm NOT LISTENING !!, 'I'm NOT LISTENING !!, 'I'm NOT LISTENING !!, 'I'm NOT LISTENING !!, ..
It sounds like the ad hit the nail on head. Who or whom does the republican leadership represent. It appears to me it is corporate america. The republicans taught the democrats well on how to make a nasty political ad that gives the biggest wallop, only this one actually hits close to home compared to some of the past republican ads. It appears to me that the republicans have gone to new limits to obstruct and damage the Obama's administration. It appears more important to destroy Obama and regain power than to support efforts to help people that they supposely represent. It is definitely their party before the welfare of the country!
Republicans have always caused our troops to suffer. They have consistantly opposed our brave men and women that wear the US Uniform. From voting against better benefits for veterans, to denying them better equipment and gear in combat, to diverting them from worthy causes to ridiculous pursuits of imaginary wmd's.
Republicans never have been, currently are not, and never will be looking out in the best interests of our troops. From Cheney dodging the draft five times, to McCain actively partaking in anti american broadcasts for the enemy, republicans and their elected representatives have consistantly acted as Benedict Aarnolds for their entire existanse. They are the domestic terrorists that we know are among us. They are not a party, but a domestic terrorist cell with voting rights.
99.9999% of politicians are one notch below child molesters. How stupid can we be to let these morons ruin the future of our country. If anyone is reading this please make sure that when you vote next time make sure you vote against these bums. The Congress and Senate need a clensing. Both parities are corrupted to the bone.
As a Democratic Party member, albeit with an eye to the exit these days, the ad spots are embarrassing and disgraceful. The issues should be handled separately. it is dishonest for the Party to combine and commingle them and for the White House to tolerate the misbehavior. There are no excuses. The Party and Obama were placed into service to move the governemnt away from such nonsense, not perpetuate it. The Beltway insiders remark regularly that the people are offended by Congressional and White House antics. Unfortunately, they fail to comprehend the basis for the citizenry's disdain and mistrust.