Republican’s broad stroke pisses off The Phillipines and Thailand
A recent survey put out by the the Republican party in the National Republican Congressional Committee’s Ask America 2004 policy survey (something included in Republican literature to “gather opinions” while asking for money) asked recipients, “Should America broaden the war on terrorism into other countries that harbour and aid terrorists such as Thailand, Syria, Somalia, the Philippines, etc?” (click for story).
First of all, that’s the political softball equivalent of asking, “When are you going to stop beating your dog?” It’s a horribly misleading question.
But the Thai and Phillipine governments immediately took issue with the question. It was justified as a mistake on the part of the researchers by the Republican party, and they agreed to remove the question.
Meanwhile, Phillipines President Arroyo took it as a slap in the face. As one of the first World leaders to offer aid to the United States after the September 11th attacks, and as a Nation, the Phillipines being most cooperative with the US in rooting out terrorists, it most definately was.
Our Republican leaders are misleading and lying to the Nation, and using whomever they choose as scapegoats, until called on it. Leadership by fear is NOT leadership.