Sound familiar? A similar phrase echoed throughout the 2000s, led by cheerleaders Karl Rove and President Bush, painting democrats as week on national security. Now, as congressional republicans work to block a nuclear arms pact with Russia and fight to remove the body screeners at our nation’s airports, it is time for democrats to call out the fact that republicans are truly putting politics before policy while our enemies enjoy the show.
Dana Milbank reminded us today in the Washington Post that the GOP doesn’t seem to remember 9/11. She cites the nuclear treaty vote and airport screeners as prime examples.
First, the nuclear treaty, which expires in December:
“…there’s a risk Russia will retaliate by removing its logistical support for the U.S. war in Afghanistan, abandoning its cooperation in preventing nuclear proliferation, and thwarting U.S. efforts to keep Iran from gaining nuclear weapons.
“But don’t take his word for it. Listen to Richard Lugar, top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations committee and one man who still puts the national interest above political considerations. ‘We’re talking today about the national security of the United States of America,’ he pleaded on Wednesday. ‘[T]his treaty must be ratified and be ratified in this session of the Congress…. We’re talking about thousands of warheads that are still there, an existential problem for our country. To temporize at this point I think is inexcusable.’”
As for the airport security backlash over the imaging screens and pat downs, GOP leaders claim it is a violation of civil liberties. Are you kidding me? Our enemy is obsessed with getting bombs on our planes and taking them down. Remember the Christmas Day bomber last year? The intelligence is real and I would rather have more safety measures in place than risk another 9/11.
Apparently the GOP doesn’t seem to care about national security.



