07.25.07

John Carter Heeds Grover Norquist Talking Points

Posted in Congress, District 31, Had Enough Yet? at 4:36 pm by dembones

The Killeen Daily Herald reported today that Rep. John Carter is beginning to hint at a possible future troop withdrawal from Iraq.

Congressman John Carter, R-Round Rock, said Tuesday that if the surge in Iraq continues and leaders see success between now and the first of the year, he wouldn’t be surprised to see troops start coming home.

The story follows comments made yesterday by Carter on return from a 5-day trip to Iraq. Coincidentally, it also comes in the same news cycle as a report in The Hill with the following lede:

Some conservative activist leaders, fearing voter anger with the Iraq war, want President Bush and GOP leaders to begin emphasizing that U.S. troops will be “leaving Iraq” to give Republicans cover as they head into a tough political landscape in 2008.

To assuage an angry public, the activists argue that the White House soon needs to articulate clearly that the war will end. That tactic will help Republican presidential and congressional candidates focus on the domestic issues that could energize the base and win over independents, they say.

The timing of the two stories is probably a coincidence; however, the adjustment in Republican strategy with respect to Iraq is a hot topic at Norquist’s weekly strategy sessions.

The issue has been openly debated at a regular Wednesday morning meeting hosted by Norquist’s group and attended by conservative leaders, who fear the 2008 elections may mirror the anti-GOP backlash of the 2006 midterms. – The Hill

As the number six House GOP leader, one might reasonably conclude that Carter has attended Norquist’s meetings recently. Judging from similarities in Carter’s and Norquist’s rhetoric, it appears our Representative is taking marching orders from the most extreme fringe of the conservative movement. Take a look at some of the advice provided in The Hill article:

By talking openly about the war’s conclusion, Republicans could blunt criticism about supporting an open-ended conflict in Iraq while continuing to attack Democrats for “surrendering” by supporting a specific date for withdrawing troops from Iraq, the activists contend.

Now, re-read the Killeen Daily Herald piece:

Carter said that good will come of provincial elections, which could occur in mid-fall, and the Iraqi people are anxious to participate in them.

[...]

Carter said he was impressed to see citizens reconstructing the area by hand to continue to improve the area. Much of Ramadi’s success is due to local sheiks convincing their people to help coalition forces.

[...]

Carter said that putting benchmarks on the Iraqi government wouldn’t be a solution because the government is functioning, but it is new and still “getting their feet under them.” Carter said Congress hasn’t “got a whole lot done” this year either despite the United States having 250 years of experience.

Norquist’s suggestions to GOP leaders are subtly present in Carter’s statements. Talk about leaving Iraq, focus on post-occupation Iraq and attack Democrats for “withdrawing” and “micromanaging.”

This latest development in the evolving Carter position, one that for his entire tenure in Washington has been marked by lock-step allegiance to Tom Delay and George W. Bush, is now being marked by lock-step allegiance to Grover Norquist.

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