Republicans are a bit upset over comments Stark made, like,
"You don't have money to fund the war or children," he said. "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."
On Fox Noise, John Gibson writes,
"Stark ought to be condemned. He ought to be turned out of office. Someone should inquire if he were under the influence of something at the time he uttered this horrible charge. Maybe it's time to think about afternoons at the dog track for Stark.
Americans getting killed for the president's amusement? And you wonder why political discussion has become so rancorous in this country?
The problem is that Stark isn't the only one who feels that way. It's just that his saying what he said where he said it gives the go-ahead to otherwise marginalized loony Americans to take center stage with the same such garbage
House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio said Stark should apologize, saying,
"Pete Stark's statements on the House floor this afternoon crossed all lines of decency and decorum. As a member of Congress, he should be ashamed. But as a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee - and the current chairman of its Health subcommittee - the Democratic leadership ought to be ashamed as well.
"To claim our men and women in Iraq are serving there for the president's own personal enjoyment - and worse, to suggest he's actually 'amused' by the image of soldiers being killed - represents a crass appeal to the worst, most base elements of our population. It dishonors the continued sacrifice of our troops in the field, and disrespects their family and friends at home who pray for their safe return. The Democratic leadership should denounce these comments immediately, and Mr. Stark should apologize for making them as well."
Associated Press, being a bit less than unbiased, mentioned that Stark was the first member of congress to declare himself an atheist.
Politico reports that, responding quickly, the National Republican Congressional Committee declared he had "trampled on the sacrifice of our troops."
Breitbart.com, associated with thedrudgereport.com, called Stark "Stark Raving Mad."
Left wingers reportedly clapped their hands and smiled. DLC democrats are believed to be smugly whispering about driving progressives out of the Democratic party. (this paragraph is satire.)