GOP tries to drum up support for war

Remember the Republican outrage that Jim Doyle's campaign was asking Doyle supporters to write letters to the editor? The GOP said poor poll numbers were behind it.

To wit:

"An e-mail sent by Doyle's campaign pleaded with donors to write positive letters to the editors about Jim Doyle to state newspapers. The e-mail even linked to talking points making it easier for donors to find something good to say about the governor."

How, then, does the GOP explain its e-mail to Republican activists, asking them to write letters and call talk radio to support the war in Iraq? It seems the war had some bad numbers recently, too -- and not just in polls but at the polls in 24 communities which voted to bring the troops home.

Conveniently, the e-mail includes some talking points, starting right out with how we are in Iraq because of 9/11. (Wiley forgot to include the evidence that Iraq had anything to do with the attack.)

This is not about "supporting our troops." It is about supporting the President. Here's the e-mail:

We are a nation at war. This war came to our shores on September 11, 2001, and ever since that day, our troops have fought this war heroically on foreign battlefields, so we will not have to face this threat at home. Iraq is a central front in this War on Terror.

Recently, a small handful of communities have begun to question their commitment to the security of the United States. This is a dangerous message to send to our enemies. We must not allow the voices of a few to drown out the overwhelming number of Wisconsinites who support the troops and their mission.

Stand with our Troops. Submit a Letter to the Editor of Your Local Paper in Support of Their Mission.

Any artificial timetable for withdrawal would only motivate our enemies and increase the threats facing our troops. President Bush will not give the terrorists the comfort of an artificial timetable; under his leadership, America remains dedicated to defeating the terrorists and bringing freedom to Iraq.

Support our Troops. Call your local talk radio station today.

Our troops are serving honorably for the safety and security of the American people. Do your part to make sure that they know that Wisconsin stands squarely beside them.

Sincerely,
Rick Wiley
Executive Director, Republican Party of Wisconsin

POSTSCRIPT: As the war hawks try to spin the referendum results, I've suggested a statewide referendum to settle the question of what Wisconsin thinks. Jay Bullock has found evidence in two recent polls that voters statewide want the US out of Iraq.