Model Behavior
Investors Business Daily 3-21-03
Politics: Britain’s Conservative Party conducted itself with loyalty and patriotism in Tuesday’s historical Iraq vote. Contrast with the cynicism of our Democrats.
Of the 165 Conservatives in Parliament, 150 voted with Prime Minister Tony Blair to join the U.S. in banishing Saddam Hussein from the world stage. They did so even as 139 in Blairs Labor Party-more than a third- rebelled against him.
In other words, at the moment Conservatives had their best chance yet to damage and embarrass Blair, they put aside politics, stood with their leader and voted on principle.
Contrast that with how leading Senate Democrats have behaved as we headed toward war. Have they acted as a loyal opposition, supporting the president despite doubts? Or as principled opposition, making a strong, moral case against war and voting their conscience?
Sadly, no.
Last presidency, when a Democrat occupied the White House, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, joined a unanimous senate in backing the Iraqi Liberation Act, making the ouster of Saddem Hussein an official U.S. policy goal. In October, he helped give President Bush authority to wage war.
On Monday, he said: “I’m saddened, saddened that this president failed so miserably at diplomacy the we’re now forced to war. Saddened that we have to give up one life because this president couldn’t create the kind of diplomatic effort that was so critical”
The same goes for Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, a leading Democrat for president. In the last presidency, he too voted to oust Saddem. In October, when he also voted in favor of the Iraq war resolution, he said: “By standing with the president, Congress will demonstrate that our nation is united in its determination to take away Sadem Hussein’s deadly arsenal, by peaceful means if we can, by force if we must.”
Last week, principle went on holiday: “In the first few days, America needs to band together and be supportive of the troops, This is not going to take long, and I think anybody who knows anything about this knows there will be plenty of time to be cynical.”
Some Democrats have reached the point where cynical political calculus has forced them to abandon the most core values, It’s a crass maneuver that could doom a prescription drug benefit for needy seniors, Bush has proposed one- but he’s conditioned it on free-market Medicare reforms that Republicans favor. So Democrats aren’t interested.
Not every Democrat is taking a low road. Unfortunately, those who are, are the leaders; they set the terms of debate for Democrats and are the ones who’ll seal the party’s fate again in 2004.
