GOP botches Iraq debate answer

To: GOP
Fr: John Fricke
Re: the media IS NOT your friend

Dear GOP, you screwed up last night and you need to fix it... now!

You played into the hands of a media giant that is so far left it couldn't see the center with a telescope.

There is a correct answer on the leading question asked by NBC news about whether the war in Iraq has been worth the blood and treasure it has cost.

The answer is.  "Don't know yet".  Because, we don't.

I used to work for an NBC affiliate in the early 90's, at that time NBC was kicking everyone around the block in the ratings.  All was well until someone decided to take Bill Gates' money and create a cable channel dedicated to the destruction of middle America.   Digging that cable channel to depths never explored led to dragging NBC news on the hold rope into the hole and the spiral hasn't stopped.

Now they have done their level best to drag you into that pit.  You are close to the edge so hold on tight.

NBC news wants to leave Iraq and leave now. They are not unbiased on this issue.  They are not journalists with a calling to report the news, they are advocates on a mission to destroy the legacy of a man sitting in the White House whom they can never forgive for winning an election eight years ago.

Their weapon of choice.  Bait.  They will bait you at every opening and last night they did and you nearly swallowed the hook.

The rigged and leading question was whether the "war" in Iraq (it's really just one front now on the U.S. military actions around the globe and not a separate standing 'war' - which you need to start pointing out)  has been worth the cost.

All of you answered the question incorrectly. Here is how to answer that question.

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Q - "Has the 'war' in Iraq been worth the blood and treasure we have spent on it and was the decision to go to Iraq the correct one"  (side note - any version of this sounds like a legitimate question from a serious member of the media, when in fact it is nothing more than a leading question designed to trap you into an answer that will give the Democrats an edge - it is a talking point question from the PR wing of the Democratic party).

A - "I reject the premiss of that question.  That question assumes we can possibly know the answer, which we can't.   Not yet anyway.  If we turn tail and run as the Democrats (and at least one Republican here on this stage) suggest we do.  Then no.  It was not worth the blood and treasure.  So the question will actually be right, it was NOT worth the blood and treasure if we quit now.  Quitting now, as the Democrats suggest - heck campaign to do - guarantees what we have given will be in vain and a total waste.  Guarantees it.

Let's understand that arguing about whether we should have opened a new front on the war in Iraq as we did is a moot point.  That argument means nothing right now, not a blasted thing.  It's irrelevant.  We are there, so what do we do now?  Our choices are simple.  Quit and lose and let Iraq descend into a genocidal hellhole or fight to prevail.

I am talking now directly to all of the mothers and fathers and family members of our great and brave American soldiers. To all of you who have given so much to this country in making the ultimate sacrifice to be heroes, I will not abandon you!  I will not allow what you have given this country to be in vain.  To all Americans who have given their money to this cause, I will not abandon you and make all that money you spent to have gone down the drain in vain.

Your question was from a poorly worded poll.  It asked wether this has been worth it which assumes we can know the answer and thus answer the question - which we don't and can't, not yet.   If we prevail and we are able to see a stable and thriving Iraq, a country that becomes a leader in the region, a leader for commerce and human rights.  Then we will see a return on the investments we have made with American blood and treasure.

So our choices to answer that question are:  Guarantee it wasn't worth it or stand tall to see that we can lead a new beginning.

If world opinion of the United States has been diminished because of the actions taken in Iraq - and it's apparent to some degree it has, then it becomes even more important that we see this through.  To come to finish what we started.

Here's the question you should ask.

"Given how we left millions of South Vietnamese to slaughter when we abandoned them without backing up our word and winning that war. Would anyone ever trust us in any place in the world, ever again, if we do the same and stamp the death certificates of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis."  The answer to that question is frightening.

I will answer the question you just posed, but not until I pick up the pieces of what I will inherit and lead all of us in an effort to bring as close to a normal and thriving life to the people of Iraq as I can. Your question needs another line.  Will it be worth the blood, the treasure and the trust of America and the responsibility of America.

Wether we should have gone to Iraq or not is not the question.  It's what do we do now.  And what we do now is do everything we can to make sure we don't turn tail like a bunch of quitters and we live up to our word.

Yes it will be tough, on all of us, but given that choice there is no choice.  We will stand strong and we will prevail."

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NBC news was gleeful at your answers last night.  Chris Matthews was smiling ear to ear at the the thought of being able to pigeon hole Mitt or McCain or Rudy on their answer during a general election debate.  The NBC news 'analysts' ought to go back and watch the tape of their post-debate show.   One would hope they would see the embarrassment of their glee.   Of course they wouldn't because - they see their glee as being correct.   Yes they are that blind.

I have no issue with analysts on either side of the aisle expressing glee or joy in the mistakes of the other side. But those are 'analysts' and are identified as such. NBC news puts forth 'journalists' as though they were neutral. 

You can argue the Democrats were smart in not accepting the Fox News debate.  In reality NBC is farther left than Fox is right but given that both have a slant we can accept that the Dems made a calculated choice that might benefit them.   The GOP did not by stepping into the other side's PR wing and then, and worse, not being ready for a baited question.

That was a gaffe by the handlers of each candidate, by the GOP at large and mostly by the candidates themselves.  Because now you cannot even clarify your response.  You are stuck with the "yes" answer and you will be beaten up by NBC, the NY Times, CNN, Time, CBS, The LA Times, 500 other newspapers, etc.. etc.    All of whom are against you and for the Democrat candidate.  The NY Times even said that directly in its endorsement yesterday - that it endorsed McCain (sorry John, bad news for you) because it had to endorse someone on the side they stand against.  Guess that's pretty clear from the Times.

Mr. GOP candidate you must now spin out of your answer.  You must make any answer about Iraq one about what the end result will be and try to run from your "yes".    Because, since we don't know the answer yet, you let NBC bait you and you got hooked.

Might I suggest getting someone on board who knows what the media will try to do to you (not that I can think of anyone off hand with 30 years  experience in national media and the vision to see what they are going to do - ahem) and that you also practice your answers! Good grief, you want to believe that you can wage a straight forward campaign, but you cannot.  Because while Obama is finding out it's hard to wage a campaign on two fronts you will have to wage it on three.

Hillary, her husband and her back-up singers dressed in suits and ties and carrying a media badge.