Editorial: Attacking vs. answering

Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005 | 8:01 a.m.

With polls showing that a majority of the country's residents are criticizing President Bush's leadership, it is only natural that those same criticisms are reflected in the words of their representatives. Members of Congress, mostly Democrats but including Republicans as well, are now stepping up their criticisms of Bush's policies, particularly his handling of the Iraq war.

Reasons that Bush cited for going to war have turned out to be unfounded and many of Bush's critics, including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., want to know whether the administration manipulated now-discredited intelligence reports.

Bush has long preferred attacking his critics' patriotism over engaging in dialogue. His administration has also preferred disingenuous retorts, such as repeating years-old anti-Saddam comments made by Democrats. Many were made in support of continuing sanctions against Iraq, not in support of invading the country. Others were in response to the administration's own flawed intelligence.

In recent days, Bush and his top staff have stepped up their attacks. The White House had these choice words Thursday following a call by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., for withdrawal of our troops from Iraq within six months: "It is baffling that (Murtha) is endorsing the policy positions of Michael Moore and the extreme liberal wing of the Democratic Party."

The White House did not note that Murtha served a total of 37 years in the Marines (counting active and Reserve duty) and was twice wounded in Vietnam. It did not note that in his 31 years in Congress, Murtha has earned respect as a military expert and is the top Democrat on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee. It did not note that Murtha voted for the war and now feels we have accomplished our original objectives.

A White House spokesman hollowly noted on Friday that, "We have nothing but respect for Congressman Murtha's service to his country." Meanwhile, on the same day, the Republican National Committee announced a new television attack ad on Reid and other Democratic senators.

We call upon Bush to answer his critics, not by attacking them, but by honestly addressing their legitimate concerns.