Karl Rove's accusation that Democrats, particularly Senator John Kerry and Congressman John Murtha, want to "cut and run" from Iraq enraged and baffled CBS's Bob Schieffer, as evidenced by how he repeatedly raised the quote on Sunday's Face the Nation. With his first guest, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, Schieffer read to him how Rove charged that "Democrats 'are ready to give the green light to go to war, but when it gets tough, when it gets difficult, they fall back on that party's old pattern of cutting and running. They may be with you at the first shots, but they are not going to be with you for the last, tough battle.'" Schieffer demanded: "What pattern is he talking about? When have Democrats been cutting and running?" Schieffer followed up: "But are you comfortable with characterizing the Democrats as people who want to cut and run?" Later, with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who appeared with Democrat Joe Biden, Schieffer again cited the quote and then expressed his displeasure: "He's talking about two men who were wounded in combat when he says that. Is that really, is that really fair?"
Schieffer ended the session with Biden and Graham by bringing up his favorite bete noire: "All right. Let me ask both of you the same question, and if you would go first, Senator Biden, on this. Tom Friedman of the New York Times was on this broadcast last Sunday, and he said Guantanamo has become the anti-Statue of Liberty. What should we do about Guantanamo, Senator Biden?"
(A year ago, Bob Schieffer touted at the top of the June 12, 2005 Face the Nation: "Today on Face the Nation, should the Guantanamo Bay prison camp be closed? And where are we on Iraq? The U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has become an anti-American rallying symbol overseas. Should it be closed and what should be put in its place?")
This item was first posted Monday as part of the MRC's CyberAlert.
Some highlights, or lowlights, from the June 18 Face the Nation:
Bob Schieffer to Tony Snow:
Tony Snow: "Well, I'm not going to, I'm not going to get into the middle of Karl's political fight. But let's talk about-"
Schieffer: "But that's, you're on the same team."
Snow: "-a couple of things. We are on the same team, but, but let's talk about some of the things that are going on on the Hill because there have been a couple of interesting votes. The Senate, for instance, voted this week on a proposal that Senator Kerry put forth to withdraw troops by the end of the year. It got six votes. I think one of the interesting things is trying to make sure that there's clarity about what the, what people want in terms of
moving forward in Iraq. What exactly do they want? The President's position is pretty clear, and I'm going to be here. I'll tell you about the President's position, but I'm not going to get into sort of the political-"
Schieffer: "But are you comfortable with characterizing the Democrats as people who want to cut and run?"
Snow: "I think what Kerry, what I'm comfortable doing is telling you what the President's position is. I'll let Karl carry the political football."
Schieffer to Senator Lindsey Graham:
"Do you subscribe to what Karl Rove is saying about Democrats, that they may be with you at the first shots, but they are not going to be with you for the last tough battle? Now, he's talking about two men who were wounded in combat when he says that. Is that really, is that really fair?"
Graham: "I don't think we should challenge anybody's patriotism because we disagree with each other on what we should do in Iraq. But I am a little frustrated with my Democratic friends who want to make a laundry list of criticism and can't see success when it's, when it's right there in front of you. Jack Murtha's a great American in the sense he's sacrificed for his country. But if you're waiting for Jack Murtha to tell you good news about Iraq, it's never going to happen. He's a stakeholder in his own criticism. He wants to withdraw from, from Iraq tomorrow. John Kerry served his country nobly and well. I like John. But his idea of withdrawing by the end of the year got six votes. It's criticism without a purpose. There's no viable alternative from the Democratic Party other than what President Bush is doing, in my opinion..."
Schieffer ended the session with Biden and Graham:
"All right. Let me ask both of you the same question, and if you would go first, Senator Biden, on this. Tom Friedman of the New York Times was on this broadcast last Sunday, and he said Guantanamo has become the anti-Statue of Liberty. What should we do about Guantanamo, Senator Biden?"
