More Dems call for McChrystal firing
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- Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., a key ally of President Barack Obama, is the first lawmaker to call either for Gen. Stanley McChrystal’s resignation or dismissal. Associated Press">AP Photo
POLITICO 44
Two prominent House Democrats are calling for Gen. Stanley McChrystal to be fired, as the top commander in Afghanistan is taking heat from both sides of the aisle for his comments in Rolling Stone magazine openly mocking the Obama administration.
Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) said McChrystal is part of a “long list of reckless, renegade generals who haven’t seemed to understand that their role is to implement policy, not design it.
“His repeated contempt for the civilian chain of command demonstrates a bull headed refusal to take other people’s judgments into consideration. That is damn dangerous in somebody whose decisions determine life and death for American troops and others in the region,” Obey continued.
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.), was the first lawmaker to call for McChrystal’s firing earlier Tuesday.
“McChrystal should be dismissed, dismissed immediately, and unceremoniously returned home. The military must know that the Commander-in-Chief is, in fact, in charge, and a lack of discipline will not be tolerated,” Jackson said in a statement released to POLITICO Tuesday morning. “A strong, successful military cannot survive without discipline in the chain of command. This is the second time that General McChrystal has crossed that line. Any teenager in a military school knows better.”
But on the opposite end of the political spectrum, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.), seemed to offer sympathy for McChrystal, a sign that this controversy could become partisan.
“Obviously a general and his top brass don’t make statements like these without being frustrated, so I hope that the president’s meeting with General McChrystal will include a frank discussion about what is happening on the ground, and whether the resources and the plan are there to defeat terrorists and accomplish our mission in Afghanistan,” Cantor said.
The general is being called into the White House for Wednesday’s monthly security team meeting to defend his comments in person.
Other members of Congress stopped short of calling for the head of the top commander in Afghanistan, saying that decision lies with the commander in chief.
But it was clear that lawmakers from both parties were rattled by McChrystal’s comments, calling them “inappropriate” and “troubling.”
Three members of the Senate Armed Services Committee issued a joint statement saying they had the “highest respect” for McChrystal’s military service but that his comments were disrespectful.
“General McChrystal’s comments, as reported in Rolling Stone, are inappropriate and inconsistent with the traditional relationship between Commander-in-Chief and the military,” said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), the committee’s ranking Republican, Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). “The decision concerning General McChrystal’s future is a decision to be made by the President of the United States.”
One top Democrat tried to downplay the McChrystal insults and turn the focus back to the 94,000 troops in Afghanistan. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he told McChrystal in a phone call this morning that the focus should be on executing a successful military policy in Afghanistan and ensuring the safety of U.S. troops.
Readers' Comments (100)
Karl from Scottsdale Party: Conservative
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Jun. 22, 2010 - 12:29 PM EST
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termlitt Party: Republican
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nvs9940 Party: Republican
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Karl from Scottsdale Party: Conservative
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Simon Lao Peng Party: N/A
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Jun. 22, 2010 - 12:45 PM EST
Who cares what some Jew hater and his criminal kid think? Stick to taking bribes and calling jews "*****s" you dirtbag pos.
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Read all 100 comments in our forumAgree 100% BUT, for voting for Obama not, for his comments.
Mr. Jackson...
The General and ALL OF US...do not care what you think. You don't matter. Servicepeople and mostly veterans will understand what this man has done...
You Mr. Jackson, and your ilk...don't know anything about it...you are a National Security Freeloading Mooch...all of you democrats are and always have been.
This man layed himself on the c-wire to call attention to what this Government has done to the command structure...and to breach the media wall protecting the ONE...
The dirty little secret: GENERAL MCCHRYSTAL DOESN'T CARE THAT THIS IS HIS END!!!!!!
That's the difference between our side and yours....YOU DON"T HAVE MEN LIKE THAT...
YOU HAVE PHOTO OP CHASING NEVER DONE ANYTHING'S!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, and you should be fired Jessie Jr. for trying to buy NOBAMA's senate seat! Unbelievable!!!
Yeah, and you should be fired Jessie Jr. for trying to buy NOBAMA's senate seat! Unbelievable!!!
Agree 100% BUT, for voting for Obama not, for his comments.
no jackson
the usurper obamao should be fired !
Big brave Jackson. Pick up a gun and fight a war, son. Otherwise shut up.
Send "Custer Eyes" (Palin) over there , cant' she do it all ? Shes' the expert on everything !
Jackson is speaking out more and more.
Is he suddenly the mouthpiece of the W.H.?
Is he shooting from the LIP and does he have ALL the information?
If not, then he should keep it buttoned and let those in the know decide.
McChrystal and the troops are far more important than Jackson ever will be.
It's been apparent that Obama leaves issues he cares little about to others.
If Obama has NOT been engaged, then part of the blame lays within Obama himself.
The General SHOULD be fired. He should be fired for putting politically correct crap above the lives of our troops.
Soldiers have been KILLED because Barry does not want to see civilian casualties. he would rather see dead Americans if need be.
As for Jesse Jr...........he should be outraged that young black men and women are put in harms way by the Golfer-in-Chief for political purposes.
Get rid of the general, the golfer and put Jesse Jr. in jail with Blago
Who the hell cares what Jackson Jr. thinks about anything ?????? 54 people shot in Chicago over the weekend...............what does Jackson Jr. think about that ?????? When is your endictment coming down Jackson Jr. ??
Well, Jackson would be the one to know, wouldn't he now!
Jackson is a ridiculous clown.
Politico printing his irrelevant opinion on this matter is an even bigger one .
Hey Jesse Junior ! Shut the hell up! Who asked for your two cents? Now you're a military expert? Crawl back into obscurity and play Chicago politics! I guess you saw an opportunity to kiss Obama's butt, give up, there are too many lips kissing it already!
Hey Jesse Junior ! Shut the hell up! Who asked for your two cents? Now you're a military expert? Crawl back into obscurity and play Chicago politics! I guess you saw an opportunity to kiss Obama's butt, give up, there are too many lips kissing it already!
Put a sock in it, Jackson. You're a bigger moron than your dad.
No one cares what he has to say, and no one cares what you have to say.
Obama must go. It's obvious we can't wait until 2012. There will be nothing left to save.
I think it's pretty obvious the military doesn't much care for this administration.
Even if General McChrystal's observations about his bosses, Ambassador Holbrooke and Ambassador Eikenberry are accurate, he has shown extremely poor judgment and must be relieved of his command immediately. This is in the best interest of the war effort and the men and women serving in his command. ~ richard allbritton, Miami, http://rallbritton.com
If this country has to be in a war, we should fight as if we mean it, like we did in WWII. Get in there, fight, get the job done and then get out. Collateral damage is regrettable, but rules of engagement that keep our troops from getting the job done, are unacceptable. A laminated pocket card with the rules for who to shoot, who not, where to patrol, where not, having to ask permission before shooting? I agree with the soldiers, what are we doing there? This is military tiddly winks.
No wonder General McChrystal starts speaking the truth. His boss is a Community Organizer thug from Chicago who doesn't want to really win a war that he doesn't want to be in. On top of that, this Community Organizer is so busy tearing down the U.S. from within, nationalizing companies and industries, undermining our liberties and freedoms, taking over our health care, that the Community Organizer can't even fight a war properly, whether the war is overseas or in our Gulf.
Then, it must really grate on the soldiers that the Community Organizer is too busy schmoozing with celebrities at the White House, going on date nights, sending $2 billion to Brazil and Soros, playing golf every weekend and flying all over the country pretending to be important, that he can't meet with the General when necessary - no wonder the soldiers wonder what the heck we're doing over there?
Would obama tell the national soccer team to play, but don't kick the ball and definitely don't make a goal? That's exactly what obama does with our military.
The Community Organizer is a disaster. Amateur Hour at the White House is killing this country. No wonder Orzsag is bailing. The boat is sinking, the rats are starting to scurry.
Wake up, America! If we don't stand up and get this CHANGEd out, we will have no HOPE for recovery from this administration's dereliction of duties, intentional trashing of our Constitution and deliberate bankruptcy of our beloved America.
Joe the Plumber was right, Joe Barton was right, Joe Wilson was right, Jon Kyle is right, Jan Brewer is right - and General McChrystal joins the ranks of the right.
McChrystal is a soldier who is always prepared, and clearly when confronted with an inexperienced POTUS who is ill prepared and incompetent then how is he supposed to handle it? Jackson Jr.'s opinion means nada to Americans, he's just an Obama hand holder.
Hillary should have been elected to run for Prez instead we got a telepromted community organizer who is in way over his head, something the Dems are now seeing for themselves. Rolling Stone could have chosen to not publish the article, they didn't. there seems to be a alot of upset Libs out there because their dear leader can't handle the position the elected him into. Jimmy 2, anyone?