GOP's Cornyn: Reid's "War Is Lost" Comment Playing To "Antiwar Left"
April 20, 2007 -- 12:02 PM EST // //
One thing that's been completely missing from all the media attention being lavished on Harry Reid's assertion that the "war is lost" is that much of the American public basically agrees with Reid here.
The GOP and the wingers are out in full force denouncing Reid as "treacherous" and so forth. The logical extension of such an attack is that these good folks must also believe that pluralities of the American people are traitors, too.
Take a look at this appearance on CNN by Senator John Cornyn, in which he actually tries to float the falsehood that Reid's "war is lost" comment was an effort to play to the "antiwar left":
Here's a partial transcipt:
CORNYN: I think this is just crass politics. Senator Reid is playing to the worst elements of the antiwar left. That's part of unfortunately his political base. But I think, you know, we need to be more responsible. We need to try to not make this a partisan issue.
Actually, Reid is expressing an opinion held by pluralities of Americans. It's not easy to gauge public opinion on this question -- because few if any polls ask bluntly whether people think the war is completely lost already -- but these numbers strongly suggest that Reid's position is a far more mainstream position than the one held by Bush and the GOP:
Which comes closer to your view about the war in Iraq?Definitely win: 11%.
Probably win: 17%.
Can win, but don't think will win: 20%
Do not think it can win: 46%
Do you think the U.S. can win or cannot win the war in Iraq?Can win: 46%
Cannot win: 46%
Washington Post/ABC News poll, April 16:
Will U.S. win or lose the war?Lose: 51%
Win: 35%
Thirty-three percent (33%) of American voters believe that history will ultimately judge the U.S. mission in Iraq a success. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 50% of Likely Voters believe the mission will be deemed a failure.
Again, not perfect measurements of public opinion on the question, but highly suggestive. Has anybody seen any better numbers on this?
And why has the fact that large chunks of the American public basically agree with Reid here been completely absent from the media's discussion of this?