FROM FDR TO NED LAMONT: THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S TRANSFORMATION FROM STRENGTH TO WEAKNESS
Yesterday’s Democrat Leaders Promoted The Doctrine Of Peace Through Strength:
JANUARY 1945: President Franklin D. Roosevelt: “We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our well-being is dependent on the well-being of other nations, far away.” (President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Inaugural Address, Washington, D.C., 1/20/45)
JANUARY 1945: President Franklin D. Roosevelt: “We Americans of today, together with our allies, are passing through a period of supreme test. It is a test of our courage, of our resolve, of our wisdom, of our essential democracy. … As I stand here today, having taken the solemn oath of office in the presence of my fellow countrymen, in the presence of our God, I know that it is America’s purpose that we shall not fail.” (President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Inaugural Address, Washington, D.C., 1/20/45)
MARCH 1947: President Harry S Truman: “[I]t must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” (President Harry S Truman, Address To Joint Session Of Congress, Washington, D.C., 3/12/47)
JULY 1952: Gov. Adlai Stevenson (D-IL): “The ordeal of the twentieth century, the bloodiest, most turbulent era of the whole Christian age, is far from over. Sacrifice, patience, understanding, and implacable purpose may be our lot of years to come. Let’s face it. Let’s talk sense to the American people. Let’s tell them the truth, that there are no gains without pains, that there – that we are now on the eve of great decisions, not easy decisions, like resistance when you’re attacked, but a long, patient, costly struggle which alone can assure triumph over the great enemies of man – war, poverty, and tyranny – and the assaults upon human dignity which are the most grievous consequences of each.” (Gov. Adlai Stevenson, Acceptance Speech At Democrat National Convention, Chicago, IL, 7/26/52)
JANUARY 1961: President John F. Kennedy: “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge – and more.” (President John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Washington, D.C., 1/20/61)
JANUARY 1961: President John F. Kennedy: “In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility – I welcome it.” (President John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, Washington, D.C., 1/20/61)
AUGUST 1968: Vice President Hubert Humphrey: “Across America – throughout the entire world – the forces of emancipation are at work. We hear freedom’s rising chorus: ‘Let me live my own life. Let me live in peace. Let me be free,’ say the people … And to speed this day, we must go far beyond where we’ve been, beyond containment to communication, beyond differences to dialogue, beyond fear to hope.” (Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Acceptance Speech At Democrat National Convention, Chicago, IL, 8/29/68)
JUNE 1977: Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-NY): “[President Carter’s foreign policy] is as if with no further consideration we should divert our attention from the central political struggle of our time – that between liberal democracy and totalitarian Communism – and focus instead on something else.” (Richard Pyle, The Associated Press, 6/9/77)
JULY 1979: Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson (D-WA): “I believe that international terrorism is a modern form of warfare against liberal democracies. I believe that the ultimate but seldom stated goal of these terrorists is to destroy the very fabric of democracy. I believe that it is both wrong and foolhardy for any democratic state to consider international terrorism to be ‘someone else’s’ problem. ... Liberal democracies must acknowledge that international terrorism is a ‘collective problem.’” (Sen. Henry Jackson, Address To Jonathan Institute, Jerusalem, 7/79)
FEBRUARY 1980: Sen. James Exon (D-NE): “As long as the Great Bear remains unfriendly, the U.S. will neither feed him nor supply him with fertilizer to help grow his own feed.” (Jane Seaberry, “Soviet Phosphates Embargo Extended,” The Washington Post, 2/26/80)
MARCH 1986: Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-TX): “[I]t seems to me that we have a clear choice to make. We can turn our backs and turn away and allow the final consolidation of a totalitarian regime in Managua, complete with its Soviet and Eastern Bloc advisers. And in doing so give the green light to subversion across Central America.” (Mike Robinson, “What Some Senators Say About Aiding the Contras,” The Associated Press, 3/26/86)
MARCH 1990: Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA): “We must recognize that the collapse of Communism does not mean the end of danger in the world.” (Robin Toner, “Eyes To Left, Democrats Edge Toward The Center,” The New York Times, 3/25/90)
OCTOBER 1996: Sen. Howell Heflin (D-AL): “With my own experiences in World War II and observations since that time, I have felt compelled that we must at all times endeavor to obtain lasting peace, and that the primary road to achieving this goal is through military strength.” (Sen. Howell Heflin, Congressional Record, 10/1/96, p. S12077)
OCTOBER 1996: Sen. Howell Heflin (D-AL): “Generally, I have been proud of the Senate for rallying behind the American President whenever he has determined the necessity of using our Armed Forces ... I have been consistent in embracing the philosophy of supporting the Commander in Chief, regardless of the party or what I might have felt personally could have been done differently or better.” (Sen. Howell Heflin, Congressional Record, 10/1/96, p. S12080)
AUGUST 2006: Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT): “[I]f we leave [Iraq] tomorrow it’ll be a disaster for the Iraqis, for the Middle East and for us.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 8/6/06)
But Today’s Democrat Leaders Have Chosen To Cut-And-Run From The War On Terror:
SEPTEMBER 2001: MoveOn.Org: After 9/11, MoveOn collected signatures for statement calling for “justice, not escalating violence that would only play into the terrorists’ hands.” (Tony Pugh, “Against Tide, They Clamor For Peace,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/21/01)
APRIL 2004: Daily Kos Founder Markos Moulitsas Zúniga Denounced Four American Contractors Who Were Mutilated By Terrorists In Fallujah, Iraq. Markos Moulitas Zúniga: “I feel nothing over the death of merceneries [sic]. They aren’t in Iraq because of orders, or because they are there trying to help the people make Iraq a better place. They are there to wage war for profit. Screw them.” (“Murderous Rhetoric,” The Spectator, 4/10/04)
SEPTEMBER 2004: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): “This war has been a grotesque mistake that has diminished our reputation in the world and has not made America safer.” (Elizabeth Wolfe, “Pelosi Calls Iraq War ‘Grotesque Mistake,’” The Associated Press, 9/25/04)
NOVEMBER 2005: Rep. John Murtha (D-PA): “I believe we must begin discussions for an immediate re-deployment of U.S. forces from Iraq. I believe it can be accomplished in as little as six months …” (Rep. John Murtha, “Congressman Murtha Calls For Redeployment From Iraq,” Press Release, 11/17/05)
DECEMBER 2005: DNC Chairman Howard Dean: “[The] idea that we’re going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong.” (San Antonio’s WOAI’s Website, www.woai.com, Accessed 12/5/05)
DECEMBER 2005: Sen. John Kerry (D-MA): “There is no reason … that young American soldiers need to be going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children ...” (CBS’ “Face The Nation,” 12/4/05)
MARCH 2006: Senate Candidate Ned Lamont (D-CT): “All they know is, A, I’m not Joe [Lieberman]. And, B, I’m against the war.” (Mark Pazniokas, “Lamont Campaign Builds Step By Step,” The Hartford [CT] Courant, 3/13/06)
JUNE 2006: Senate Candidate Ned Lamont (D-CT): “I think it’s time for us to take our front-line military operations and start bringing those troops home now.” (Susan Haigh, “Iraq War Key Topic Of Senate Race,” The Associated Press, 6/17/06)
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