Clueless and Tone Deaf

Some Democrats, breaking ranks from their leadership, today said the death of terrorist leader Abu Musab Zarqawi in Iraq was a stunt to divert attention from an unpopular and hopeless war.

"This is just to cover Bush's [rear] so he doesn't have to answer" for Iraqi civilians being killed by the U.S. military and his own sagging poll numbers, said Rep. Pete Stark, California Democrat. "Iraq is still a mess -- get out."

Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, Ohio Democrat, said Zarqawi was a small part of "a growing anti-American insurgency" and that it's time to get out.
"We're there for all the wrong reasons," Mr. Kucinich said.

Officially, Democratic leaders reacted positively to the news and praised the troops that successfully targeted al Qaeda's leader in Iraq with 500-pound bombs at his safe house 30 miles from Baghdad.

Kucinich was a former Democrat party candidate for President. Stark's views are so far out of the mainstream and borders on the hysterical conspiracy mongering that infests much of the anti-war left these days.

At least the Democrat leadership in Congress realizes that this is a significant accomplishment and needs to be recognized as such - even if their caucus is split between those who support the war (Lieberman), those who oppose the war (most everyone else) and the far left who thinks that opposing the war isn't enough - cut and run is the only solution (Murtha and Kerry). That's why the Democrats spoke with so many caveats that it could make your head spin. Their constituents are so heavily invested in an anti-war position that success in Iraq undermines the political fortunes of the party.

But don't take my word for it. Visit Daily Kos, Atrios, or any of the other usual outlets for Democrats online. Kos in particular should be especially enlightening considering that they're media darlings who are going to shape political fortunes for years to come (but don't mind the perfect record of zero for 20). This is the face that Democrats are putting forth, and are skewing the party at a national level, and it undermines national security for all Americans.