From a National Senatorial Republican Committee press release:
WASHINGTON – As the Senate Armed Services Committee begins confirmation hearings for General David Petraeus, Nevadans are reminded of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) vicious politically-motivated character attacks against this esteemed military leader.
As The Hill reported today:
President Barack Obama’s nomination of Gen. David Petraeus has put some Democrats in a politically awkward position…
Reid told CNN in April of 2007 he did not believe Petraeus's claim that the surge was working in Iraq. “I don’t believe him, because it’s not happening,” Reid said. “All you have to do is look at the facts.”
At a press conference a few months later, Reid said: “For someone, whether it’s Gen. Petraeus or anyone else, to say things are great in Baghdad isn’t in touch with what’s going on in Baghdad, even though he’s there and I’m not.”
On Sept. 20 of that year, 25 Democrats voted against a resolution stating that Petraeus, the commanding general in Iraq, deserved the full support of the Senate and condemning personal attacks on his honor and integrity.
That vote came after MoveOn.org took out a full-page advertisement in The New York Times in September of 2007 attacking Petraeus as “General Betray Us.”
The three top-ranking members of the Democratic leadership, Reid and Sens. Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Charles Schumer (N.Y.), voted against the resolution. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, who were both in the Senate at the time, didn't vote on the measure.
Yet today, Reid and his Democrat colleagues have changed their tune and are lining up behind General Petraeus' nomination by President Barack Obama to oversee the nation's military operations in Afghanistan. As US News & World Report notes, "Gen. David Petraeus is now the darling of the Democrats. Having been picked by President Barack Obama to lead U.S. efforts on the ground in Afghanistan, Petraeus, the architect of the surge in Iraq, is being praised by the Democrats from pillar to post."
"Harry Reid owes General Petraeus and the American people an apology for his visceral, politically-motivated attacks against this venerated military leader. Along with so many brave men and women in our armed forces, General Petraeus has dedicated his life to protecting America's freedoms, and Harry Reid was wrong to attack his credibility and service to our country," said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Brian Walsh.
Background Information:
Twenty-Five Senate Democrats Voted Against Condemning MoveOn.Org Ad Attacking Gen. Petraeus As "Gen. Betray Us." (S.Amdt. 2934, Roll Call Vote #344: Passed 72-25: R: 49-0, D: 23-25, 9/20/07)
Sen. Harry Reid Said Petraeus "Isn't In Touch" With Reality Of Iraq. "Iraq -- I repeat -- the bloodiest three months of the war have just been completed. We're now back up to a thousand attacks a day in Iraq. And for someone, whether it's General Petraeus or anyone else, to say things are great in Baghdad isn't in touch with what's going on in Baghdad, even though he's there and I'm not." (Sen. Harry Reid, Press Conference, The Capitol, 6/14/07)
Sen. Reid Accused Gen. Petraeus Of Providing Information That "Have Not Proven To Be Factual." SEN. REID: "I first met General Petraeus when I went to Iraq. At that time he was training the Iraqi troops. He told us at that time it was going great, that they'd be able to take over the country themselves. That was three years ago or thereabouts. He's made a number of statements over the years that have not proven to be factual." (Sen. Harry Reid, Press Conference, Senate Radio-TV Gallery, 9/7/07)
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