DNC Podcast: Panetta Encourages New Policy, Not New Rhetoric ** Click the links below to play the mp3 file.
<http://www.democrats.org/a/m3u/dnc_podcast_pan.m3u> <http://a9.g.akamai.net/7/9/8082/v002/democratic1.download.akamai.com/8082/audio/podcast/20061214_panetta.mp3> This week, the DNC's Podcast hosted former White House Chief of Staff and Iraq Study Group member Leon Panetta. During the interview, Panetta touted the bipartisan nature of the Iraq Study Group report and expressed concern over the President's decision to delay his report to the nation on a new strategy. While President Bush continues to distance himself from the group's recommendations, a recent Newsweek poll found that Americans back the study group's 'recommendations by a two-to-one margin.' [Newsweek, 12/9/06] "Frankly, the only recommendations that he's going to get that are truly bi-partisan come from the Iraq Study Group and I think that's why it's important to recognize that these recommendations reflect a consensus that has been lacking in this country in the war. This country is badly divided by the war in Iraq, and one thing the president badly has to do is unify the country if he's going to conduct a war. What five Democrats and five Republicans did is present to him a consensus report and hopefully he'll pay attention to it because it is bi-partisan," said Panetta. And, as the White House unveils its latest Iraq policy slogan, Americans' confidence in the President's ability to fix his broken Iraq policy is at record lows. Panetta encouraged the President to change his policy, not his rhetoric. "Too often, policy when it comes to Iraq has been reduced to thirty second sound bites. We've seen too often the use of code words to try to, in many ways, replace policy--and it doesn't work. I'm not so much interested in what words are used; I think the real test of whether or not the policy has changed is going to rest with the actions that this administration takes," said Panetta. "We're at a point where I do not think the President can underestimate the American people. The American people are concerned about what's going on, and it's reflected in the polls, and if the President is going to have any kind of successful policy there, he has to unify the country behind that policy. The only way he can do that is by being honest with the American people and by making changes that have to be made. One thing that a president can not be afraid of doing is making the changes that have to be made...I think real leadership is determined, as it is on the battlefield, by those who are willing to make changes in order to ensure that they can achieve success. That's the way he's going to restore the trust of the American people," he added. To listen to the podcast, click here.<http://a9.g.akamai.net/7/9/8082/v002/democratic1.download.akamai.com/8082/audio/podcast/20061214_panetta.mp3> The DNC's Podcast, a brief audio broadcast that listeners can download for play on portable music devices or on computers, gives listeners a chance to regularly hear from party leaders, newsmakers, strategists, policy makers, and the grassroots of the Democratic Party. Best Regard, USA Democrats Party Washington DC 20003 Contribute to USA Democrats Party Finance Chair : Philip D. Murphy E-Gold Account (www.e-gold.com) Party No Acct: 3797726 Acct Name: democrats Or, by Western Union (Confirm MTCN to email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
