When Democrats Attack

Democrats have learned the way of the instant response smackdown, the only way to diffuse the attacks coming from the administration. And the beauty is, they do it while appearing to take the high ground, and we all know, appearance makes it so. It wasn't so long ago that the Republicans would always win at these games.

Last week, at a convention of minority journalists, Kerry said this about how he would wage war:

I believe I can fight a more effective, more thoughtful, more strategic, more proactive, more sensitive war on terror that reaches out to other nations and brings them to our side and lives up to American values in history.

So Cheney responded this week by basically calling Kerry a girlie-man:

America has been in too many wars for any of our wishes, but not a one of them was won by being sensitive...A 'sensitive war' will not destroy the evil men who killed 3,000 Americans. The men who beheaded Daniel Pearl and Paul Johnson will not be impressed by our sensitivity. As our opponents see it, the problem isn't the thugs and murderers that we face, but our attitude. Well, the American people know better. ... Those who threaten us and kill innocents around the world do not need to be treated more sensitively. They need to be destroyed.

And who better than General Clark to come out swinging for Kerry:

Today, Dick Cheney took the lowest road in politics -- it was a cheap shot unworthy of the office of Vice President. The truth is that this administration has over-relied on the military in the war against terror - if we are to win, we must use all the means at our disposal - diplomacy, international law, economic development, law enforcement, and only as a last resort, military force. But then, maybe that's to be expected. Neither George Bush nor Dick Cheney has ever heard a shot fired in anger. Never worried whether he'd ever see his family again or seen the destruction caused by the weapons he's wielded. The losses of war are permanent. The consequences are unpredictable. That's why John Kerry has always said force should be a last resort.

Is it just me or does Secretary of State Clark have a ring to it?