Note to Democratic Hill Aides: Stop Trying to Help

Roll Call reports that House Democrats are going to hold a formal caucus to discuss their position on the Iraq War. That's a good thing - but what isn't is Democratic aides going around babbling to reporters about how the party doesn't have a position on the war. Could these idiots be any more stupid?

The story specifically notes that one Democratic "leadership aide" said "it remains to be seen" whether House Democrats can agree on one Iraq stance,because some believe supporting an exit strategy or timetable for withdrawal "is not the right place politically to be."

Here's a note to Democratic "aides" and "strategists" who just love to get quoted in Capitol Hill rags, and who definitely think they are really doing a great job when stories like these are written: you only hurt your cause by going out and making statements about how Democrats only consider politics when addressing issues of war and peace. Furthermore, you only reinforce the stereotype of Democrats as having no backbone when you continue to get these stories placed about Democratic disunity. In other words: shut your yappers, you aren't helping.

As Jack Murtha showed everyone last week, the way to start creating Democratic unity on Iraq is for leaders to just go out there and start advocating a strong, concrete position. And no matter how many self-important aides, operatives, and underlings in the Washington, D.C. bubble want to "strategize" and overthink things, the reality is just that simple: when Members of Congress take a strong position and lead, the country will follow.

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