Sigh. In a New York Times story today about George Voinovich, the Ohio Republican who helped cut a deal on judicial nominees, a conservative reverend is quoted endorsing the anti-democratic principle that opposing the President undermines the war on terror:
In a news conference on Tuesday, the president affirmed his commitment on both fronts, mocking the judicial compromise and castigating the Democrats for delaying Mr. Bolton's nomination. And in Ohio, where a social conservative groundswell helped Mr. Bush win the 2004 election, the rebellions of its senators combined to draw considerable ire from Mr. Bush's conservative base.
"Criticizing and undermining the president weakens the war on terror," said the Rev. Russell Johnson of the Fairfield Christian Church in Lancaster, a leader of the Ohio Restoration Project, a conservative advocacy group borne out of the last election. "The two senators from Ohio have become the poster boys for the foreign press to beat up our president."
By this principle, no one could ever oppose Bush without hurting the country. Sadly, this is part of a long pattern of attacks on dissent since 9/11. It's especially sad to see from a religious official who's not a professional pundit or politician.
PS The Note highlights a great quote from the story that I had missed:
In the interview, however, Mr. Voinovich said he supported the rest of Mr. Bush's foreign policy and had his interests at heart in his opposition to Mr. Bolton. "It is like kids," he said, laughing. "You do some stuff for them, and they don't want you to do it, but you do it anyhow."
There's nothing better than comparing the administration to children when you're trying to win back conservative support!
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