Daley's sabotage of Durbin is merely the latest example of the Dems' tendency to shoot their own in the back when they come under fire. While I saw no problem w/ Durbin's comments, I respect the views of Dems who might feel otherwise. I don't, however, respect the way that Daley handled the situation.
Daley could've indicated his disagreement w/ Durbin's comments while still supporting Dick Durbin the person. He could've said that Durbin has been a fine senator for the people of IL and that, while he disagreed w/ Durbin's analogy, he's concerned about conditions at Guantanamo as well. Instead, he left a purported ally to twist slowly in the wind while Rummy compared said ally to Hanoi Jane Fonda.
We saw the same thing w/ Howard Dean's remarks about the Rethugs. Biden, Ford, HRC, et al could've said nice things about Dean the DNC Chair while distancing themselves from his remarks. Instead, they also chose to let Dean twist slowly in the wind as the GOP vultures circled.
This isn't Ronald Reagan's famous 11th Commandment. This is basic political self-preservation. Every pol who plans to spend a number of years in public office must expect that they will come under fire at some time. If members of a party won't stand up for other members when those members are under fire, then they can't expect the favor to be returned for them when they're under fire.
I didn't see anyone in the GOP distance themselves from Cheney's comments when he exchanged pleasantries w/ Pat Leahy on the Senate floor last year, nor did I see the Rethugs question Biggus Dickus' assertion that the Iraqi insurgency is in its death throes. They sure as hell wouldn't dream of distancing themselves from Cheney the man. Dr. Frist's video house call on Terri Schiavo has basically escaped comment by the Rethugs. It wasn't until a net-fueled firestorm enveloped around Lott that his colleagues thought that openly supporting segregation wasn't such a hot idea.
We will continue our long losing streak as long as the Dems fail to support their own.