Kerry: GOP should condemn comments from Boehner
Kerry condemned comments from Rep. John Boehner.
(CNN)–In the same week that partisan debate has raged over an ad Moveon.org published regarding General David Petraeus, the top American military commander in Iraq, Senator John Kerry says people should be equally outraged by comments this week from House Minority Leader John Boehner.
In an interview with Boehner this past Wednesday, CNN's Wolf Blitzer asked Boehner how much longer U.S. taxpayers would have to endure the cost of the war, as well the loss of American soldiers. "We need to continue our effort here," the Republican from Ohio said, "because long term the investment that we're making today will be a small price if we're able to stop Al Qaeda here, if we're able to stabilize the Middle East."
Kerry seized on those comments before reporters following his appearance Sunday on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' "The Republicans seem very quick to jump on that [Moveon.org ad] and many of us have expressed our disapproval of it," the Democrat from Massachusetts said. "But they completely avoid the comments of Representative John Boehner who says that for our troops dying in Iraq is a small price to pay for what we might gain in the long run.
"Assure him that for any parent, it is not a small price for any community in America that's been attending those funerals, it is not a small price, and I'd like to see the Republicans show the same kind of outrage that they seem to reserve for partisan purposes for as outrageous a comment as that, that suggests dying in Iraq is a small price." He said.
A spokesman for Boehner said the comments were being misinterpreted.
"Wolf asked about the money spent in Iraq, and that’s what Mr. Boehner was referring to when he said our troops’ efforts are critical for the safety and security of our country," Kevin Smith, a spokesman for Rep. Boehner, told CNN on Sunday. "There isn’t a Member of Congress who appreciates the sacrifices of our troops more than Mr. Boehner, and that’s why he visited Iraq last week to thank our troops for their service on behalf of our country."
Kerry was the 2004 Democratic nominee for president.
- CNN Political Desk Editor Jamie Crawford
Related story: Kerry: Move.org is 'over the top'
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House Majority Leader? Since when did the House become Republican controlled again?
Well said John Kerry... the price may seem small for those sitting around in Washington DC, but it is not small for those over there proudly service. John Boehner should be ashamed of himself for letting their political strategy cloud their judgments about the reality of Iraq, which is that it is less stable, no political progress has been made, and it is NOT where Osama Bin Laden is. John Boehner's fear card words and support of a failed policy has actually assisted Bin Laden indirectly by not focusing a primary strategy on killing Bin Laden and Al Quada in Afghanistan.
"We need to continue our effort here," the Republican from Ohio said, "because long term the investment that we're making today will be a small price (if) we're able to stop Al Qaeda here, (if) we're able to stabilize the Middle East."
I agree with John Kerry....the lives of our brave military members and innocent civilians are certainly not a small price to pay for...... the mere (IF'S) that Republican Boehner is stating as a plan to stabilize the Middle East!
It becomes more apparent every day that the Iraq War was built on one Huge Lie and has been sustained on Thousands of IF'S. I would suggest that it is way past time that the Bush Administration and the IFY Republicans begin to implement strategies based on proven, workable military tactics!
What an insult to Americans, Nato Allies, and more importantly and preciously, our active military members in Iraq and Afghanistan!
The Republicans are a disgrace and should have been forced to impede their mission long ago.
It sounds like Boehner was talking about the cost as in economic price. I'm sure if Blitzer had asked a follow-up comment, he would have clarified, not realizing that implication had been made. It's funny that this was just like Kerry's botched joke, when he said that Soldiers are stupid. If Kerry can make a slip like that why isn't Boehner? Being a hypocrite must be a really hard thing for Kerry to live with all the time. I feel bad for him.
moveon was over the top and Kerry is right to express his disapproval, however he should also ask those that express disapproval of moveon why they didn't express the same disapproval of swiftboat ads that disparged his service also for his country
Condemnation for comments made by politicians has caused the widespread distrust and untruths spoken by politicians in general. The press and the public at large must allow our elected representatives be uman beings first and politicians second. I detected no malice in Boehner's statement and neither should have anyone else. The war is a huge price to pay by any measure yet if it repelled future attacks, who's to say what price is too high???
With an all volunteer army, it's always a small price for republican leaders like Boehnor or chicken-hawk war cheerleaders like Bush, Cheney or Limbaugh.
Their kids or grandkids won't ever do the dirty grunt work on the ground in Iraq as we occupy it for the next few decades as Bush suggests.
If we didn't invade Iraq on false pretenses and simply continued the pursuit of al-Qaeda where they existed (not in Iraq but along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border) we wouldn't have wasted the 500 billion so far (and more to go) as well as thousands of dead (and more to come till every republican is voted out) and thousands more in lost body parts.
spoken like a true republican, they only throw a fit if it is something against their party. but if it is againdt democrats they cheer it on. i wonder how much money he is making off this war. the bush family along with the cheney family and no telling how many other republicans are part of the carlile groub that are making billions off of the war.
These statements, while not true (any loss of life is a huge price to pay) are NOWHERE near as offensive or damaging as those contained in the MoveOn.Org ad.
The American people need to hold MoveOn.Org and its executives accountable for their grossly inappropriate conduct that amounts to a slap in the face of all our hardworking troops and their families.
DEPLORABLE!
Tell it to FOX News Boner. I'll bet you'll put a smile on Rupert's face.
I cringed when I heard "a small price to pay" and am glad Kerry made public note of it. I also thought the moveon.org ad was disrespectful and it certainly prejudged, as it was published before Petraeus testified.
While I am not certain of other comments made by Mr. Boehner, it is very clear that here he was speaking about the financial cost of the war in Iraq and nothing else. For Kerry to imply that Boehner’s comments were reflective of how he felt about American’s dying in Iraq is absolutely pathetic. Kerry’s comments go to show you just how inept some politicians can be and how irrelevant Kerry has become. Shut up John… You’re not helping your party!
I don't think we need a draft, I think we should require a minimum of one year of military service from everyone. Following their 18th birthday or upon high school graduation, everyone should take a year of their lives to serve America.
Greg,
So it is alright for someone to say that it is OK for a soldier to die but not OK to express a thought that the General may be misrepresenting the facts of the war. We have had a President lie to us the entire time. All of the Republicans and Conservatives need to give me a break and come back to reality.
Chris, of Boston, I believe Wolf Blitzer's question was if the cost was worth it in our blood and treasure. (read "loss of American soldiers" in the article.) According to my understanding blood means lives and treasure means money. The question was not only about the economic cost.
I don't know what it means to "hold MoveOn accountable" for their ad. The way the SwiftBoaters were held accountable for doing almost exactly the same thing? They have all said they did not approve of the ad. What else would you have them do? I believe the Republicans excuse was they were entitled to their right of free speech. As far as I know that is still a basic right under our Constitution.
Mrs. America, the reason that Petraeus's report was "pre-judged" was because it was "pre-ordained".
It was no surprise. Bush pretends to "listen to the military" but he shuffled and "retired" every general that didn't tell him what he wanted to hear before.
The purpose of the "surge" was to avoid admitting his mistake and to buy time to this September so we can go back and "stay the course" (circa 2004, 2005, 2006) thru to 2008 and beyond and pass this catastrophe onto the next administartion and then blame them when it invariably fails.
This is a republican partisan political consideration that will cost mens lives, legs and other body parts.
Petraeus was hired to keep things going. His job was dependant on it. There was no surprise.
General Petaeus is now the shield that Bush, McCain, Guiliani and the republicans are hiding behind. He's an image, a uniform, and that's why they keep mentioning his name and puffing him up because in the end they know he's almost an empty a suit as each one of them are.
There are plenty of discarded and retired generals who don't agree with Bush
Boner must be getting his material from Limbaugh and Hannity. They think it's no big deal how many kids die over there.
Come on Ralph from San Diego, you are implying that Boener meant economic cost. You guys know how to spin. Remember Republicans will lose presidency for a long time to come, not to mention congress due to their arrogance, self righteousness, apathy for others with different views. You should remember that this illegal war is not fought by elitist Repubicans in blood. Shame on you and your ilk.
Mr. Kerry,
Please consider not doing the wimpy John McKain thing.
Boehner is a crass idealogue -don't waste time asking for an apology – go after him, man!
Ok, just for the record, since CNN itself didn't include the information, I'm going to post the question (emphasis mine):
""How much longer will U.S. taxpayers have to shell out $2 billion a week or $3 billion a week as some now are suggesting the cost is going to endure? The loss in blood, the Americans who are killed every month, how much longer do you think this commitment, this military commitment is going to require?"
So those of you claiming that Boehner was "clearly" talking about money and not lives "clearly" didn't read the actual question, which "clearly" contained the words "blood" and "lives".
ing on MoveOn.org's comments. If this is all the Republicans can grip about lets be for real. Down with the Disruptive Republican. If the Disruptive Republicans would goet out of the way. The rest of the Republicans and the Democrats can finnally moveIn.and Clean up this distruction that is going on around the world. Alosp the Democrats know they can not bring trops home Tommorrow, BUT THEY CAN STOP THIS UNGODLY WAR tommorrow. Or when they finnally win the White House and Legislative offices. SO GET OUT OF THE WAY YOU SELFSUPPORTING REPUBLICANS and let the rest of Americans good to work reassuring and reastating UNITY. Goodbye Giuliunta. The only Republican Canidate is McCann.
While I'm a liberal and I side more with Moveon.org politically, I have to admit that Boehner's comment was not in the same class as Moveon's antics. Boehner was obviously talking about the financial cost of the war. He should have phrased it differently for sure and for that he should apologize. But Moveon's add wasn't a misplaced word it was a slanted personal attack, which democrats were right to distance themselves from. I sure wish Kerry would just go away, he's an embarrassment more often than not.
Its not a matter of spin Prabhu. He was responding to a question regarding how long the "taxpayers" would have to endure the cost of the war. If you read his complete comment its even more clear he was speaking about economics.
Why do we have to spend so much time criticizing politicians on the minutia of their sentence structure when we should be criticizing them on their voting records and performance. Just because CNN chooses to fill their ticker with pettiness, doesn't mean you have to go along with it.
Come on Prabhu from La Jolla – where are your beloved Liberals in condemning Moveon.org and their deplorable statements? It is clear they simply do not have the courage to do so. How can we ever trust them to stand up against real threats to our national security? We can't – no spin, just plain and simple.
John Kerry is irrelevant, immaterial and farcical to watch/listen to. Prettier hair than Hillary's though.