Steve Israel: “Republicans began this week when one Member accused the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), me, and Democrats in…”

“Republicans began this week when one Member accused the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey), me, and Democrats in general of being anti-Christian. The gentleman retracted his comments. They are ending this week with Karl Rove characterizing Democrats as weak in responding to 9/11 and endangering our troops. He needs to retract his remarks. My district is 40 miles from Ground Zero. Democrats and Republicans died in that rubble. Democrats and Republicans are fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Rove dishonors them by politicizing 9/11. He dishonors our troops by dividing them at a time of war. Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago or 3 weeks ago we had the Armed Services markup on the defense authorization. Democrats offered amendment after amendment to strengthen our troops, better force protection, deeper investments, better quality of life for their families. Republicans opposed those amendments because we could not afford it. They said that the tax cuts that Mr. Rove engineered were more important. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Rove must repudiate his comments. The President must ask Mr. Rove to repudiate his comments. This is the first administration that I know of that is every day seeking to divide the American people during a time of war. ____________________”