by Jim Kouri, CPP
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) sent out a memorandum to Democrat lawmakers about how they should spend their spring vacations: Using soldiers, police officers, firefighters and others as props in order to demonstrate that members of his party are gung-ho when it comes to national security and to highlight their claim that President Bush is not keeping Americans safe.
According to Rowan Scarborough of the Washington Times, Senate Democrats are planning to use the March congressional recess to “stage press events with active duty military personnel, veterans and emergency responders to bash President Bush on virtually every one of his national security policies.”
The idea is to try to distance themselves from what they’ve been doing in Washington to undermine the war effort, to stop the Patriot Act, and to show the American people they are the party of strength when it comes to terrorism, war and homeland security, while continuing their insane attacks on the Commander-in-Chief in a time of war.
However, some critics say this memo may backfire since Sen. Reid, for example, is heard in a TV soundbite saying “We killed the Patriot Act,” and video footage may be used to counter his sudden pro-war, pro-military message.
In a six-page memo provided to Scarborough by a congressional staffer titled “Real Security,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid encourages his minions to stage events at “military bases, weapons factories, National Guard units, fire stations and veterans posts.” By way of instruction, Reid demonstrates his party’s deaf ear:
“Ensure that you have the proper US and state flags at the event, and consider finding someone to sing the national anthem and lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the event.”
Don’t expect the mainstream news media to blow the whistle on this sudden adoration of the military and cops for political reasons. In fact, look for their assistance in this politically motivated scam. Truth be told, had the GOP issued such a cynical memo it would be plastered on the frontpage of every major newspaper in the nation and would be the lead for every news broadcast on TV or radio.
Hopefully most clear-thinking Americans, especially in the Red States, will condemn these flagrant attempts to use America’s protectors and symbols as political props for feckless politicians who are willing to call soldiers Nazis on the floor of the senate or accuse law enforcement of torture, and then try to portray themselves as supporters of the military and law enforcement.
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) recently activated The Reid Con on an audience when she stood between a former commandant of the US Military Academy at West Point and the former commander of the US War College.
Suddenly the First Lady who didn’t want to see one military uniform in the corridors of the White House, discovered a newfound love for all things military, hoping she can wink at the antiwar left in her party just to make them know she’s putting on an act so she can con the so-called Red State dwellers into voting for her for Commander-in-Chief. She even stole a page from her husband’s playbook. While he promised 100,000 more cops on the streets, she’s promising 100,000 more soldiers, sailors and airmen.
So if your state or district is represented by Democrats in the House or Senate, be prepared to see more patriotism and flag waving than you’ve ever seen before. And remember what these people have said and done to undermine the very people they claim they support.
Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he’s a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). He’s former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed “Crack City” by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He’s also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He’s a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com. He’s also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, NewsCream.Com, MichNews.Com, and he’s syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He’s appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri’s own website is located at
