Republicans have pounced on Pete Stark’s diatribe, demanding that he apologize. Here’s what Pete Stark said yesterday:

“I’m just amazed that they can’t figure out…the Republicans are worried that they can’t pay for insuring an additional 10 million children. They sure don’t care about finding $200 billion to fight the illegal war in Iraq.”

If you think that’s bad, brace yourself. As you’ll soon see, it got much more ridiculous. Here’s the most bombastic of Stark’s statements:

“Where are you going to get that money? Are you going to tell us lies like you’re telling us today? Is that how you’re going to fund the war? You don’t have money to fund the war or children. But you’re going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president’s amusement.”

Now Republicans are demanding Pete Stark apologize:

“Congressman Stark’s statement dishonors not only the commander in chief, but the thousands of courageous men and women of America’s armed forces who believe in their mission and are putting their lives on the line for our freedom and security,” said House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio. He called for Stark to retract his statement and apologize.

I wasn’t surprised when Stark didn’t apologize:

Instead of retraction or apology the statement Stark issued in response to Boehner just offered more criticism of the “chicken hawks in Congress who vote to deny children health care.” Stark did also express respect for the troops.

He’s one of the strangest, most out-of-control people in the House. (It isn’t surprising that he’s from the San Francisco area.) Here’s a blast from Stark’s past:

On one occasion in 2001 he and then then-Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma had to be
separated after Stark claimed all of Watts’ children were illegitimate. In fact only two of Watts’ six children had been born out of wedlock.

It’s obvious that Stark isn’t in control of his emotions or thoughts. He’s one sick puppy. Here’s the results from the Gallup poll on this subject:

37. (Asked of a half sample) As you may know, the Democrats want to allow a family of four earning about $62,000 to qualify for the program. President Bush wants most of the increases to go to families earning less than $41,000. Whose side do you favor?

President Bush 52%
Democrats 40%

Fortney Pete Stark went on a harsh diatribe. He very much represents Democrats’ thinking on SCHIP, though I’d doubt that they’d make their argument in the emphatic manner that Rep. Stark made his argument.

I don’t think that this issue is a big election year winner for Republicans but I’m equally certain that it isn’t a big winner for Democrats. That must be discouraging for Democrats, who invested their efforts in making the most emotional of pleas for overriding President Bush’s veto of this bill.

Technorati Tags: SCHIP, Pete Stark, San Francisco, Polling, John Boehner, Iraq War, President Bush, Election 2008

Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog

1. [...] Original post by Gary Gross and software by Elliott Back [...]

   Pingback by Republicans Jump On Stark’s Statements at Conservative Times--Republican GOP news source. — October 20, 2007 @ 6:43 pm

1. Lets hope they keep up the heat.

   I’ve always thought that because they always overplay their hand, when all the lies, deciet, faulty rational and obfusction of the leftists catch up with them, they’ll go down like the Hindenberg.

   Comment by T. A. Gray — October 19, 2007 @ 9:49 am

2. For having such a horrible week the Demoncraps can take solace the MSM has all but ignored most of it.

   Comment by Mitch the Bitch — October 19, 2007 @ 11:44 am

3. Why do republicans hate sick children?

   I’m sure you’re all rubbing your hands together in glee over Rep. Stark’s comments. Michelle Malkin is already hard at work thinking up the pithy label, and OxyRush is ready to pounce (now that the pesky “smear letter” is sold). Enjoy it… because the republican’s hatred toward children just lost them the suburban women vote (any guesses as to who’s going to get it?).

   Comment by Rocky — October 19, 2007 @ 5:40 pm

4. Rocky, obviously you can’t differentiate between rhetoric and reality.

   “Hatred toward children” doesn’t translate into “if you don’t like socialism you hate children.”

   But, on the bright side I can see why you would want this: it’s not that much of a stretch to think you could force Congress to extend the bill in the next session to cover people who THINK like children, and then all the donks and libs and moonbats would be covered.

   Comment by Carlos — October 20, 2007 @ 7:03 am

5. What I do hate is the government making a play to control even more of our lives, and making parents less and own children.

   I, not the godamn governemnt, will decide how much, when, and with who I will insure my chidren.

   Go ahead send me your national health care ID card. I cant wait to piss on it!

   Comment by T. A. Gray — October 20, 2007 @ 11:53 am