Gotcha Moment: Ratner Admits Dems Hide Real Iraq Views for Political Purposes

It was a classic "gotcha" moment.

Ellen Ratner, the short, liberal side of The Long & the Short of It on Fox & Friends Weekend, just let the liberal cat out of the bag. Discussing the Democrats' approach to Iraq withdrawal proposals, Ratner admitted:

"If you got [Dem leaders] in a room off camera everyone agrees, but people are trying to look tough on security so the Democrats can win the House back in 2006."

Jim Pinkerton, the long, conservative side of the equation, pounced on this rare bit of Dem candor:

"Viewers should note that Ellen basically said that Democrats will think one thing and say another."

Host Julian Phillips, who moderated the debate and is hardly a Bush administration shill, scored the point for Pinkerton:

"Ellen, Jim has something on you on that one."

Continued Phillips: "I've got to agree with [Pinkerton] on this. I've been talking about this for the last month or so: the Democrats really don't have a viable plan for what to do with Iraq."

Phillips' assessment - that the Dems lack a plan on Iraq - is part of an emerging media theme that, surprisingly, has even turned up here , here , and here on the Today show in recent days.

Could the Bush administration be turning a media corner on Iraq, as Dems are increasingly portrayed as cynical opportunists?