Australian Prime Minister John Howard made remarks to a television station recently insinuating that the Democratic Party- and Barack Obama in particular- were terrorist sympathizers.
"I think he's wrong," Mr Howard said yesterday. "I think that would just encourage those who wanted completely to destabilise and destroy Iraq, and create chaos and victory for the terrorists to hang on and hope for Obama victory. If I was running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and pray, as many times as possible, for a victory not only for Obama but also for the Democrats."
(VIDEO HERE)
Obama's camp has hit back, relatively hard, with a call for John Howard to put his money where his mouth is and send more troops to Iraq.
But Democrats would be foolish to let this gift-wrapped opportunity to stand up to the bullying of George Bush's "deputy sheriff" end there. Nancy Pelosi must introduce a resolution before the House that denounces Howard's comments and all Australian attempts to interfere in the internal politics of the United States.
The Australian election is due this fall, and unlike in years past Howard is facing a very stiff challenge from the new Labor party leader Kevin Rudd- a Mandirin speaking former career diplomat.
Polls currently have Rudd seven points ahead, and if this lead holds until election day it will be Labor's first win for more than a decade.
Although often credited with providing Australians with 16 years of record economic growth, Howard's positions are Iraq and climate change are reaching a breaking point with the Australian public. His conservative government is vulnerable.
The Aussie media is all over the Obama story. Its the front page of Murdoch's The Australian, the more platable Sydney Morning Herald , and every newspaper in between.
The focus so far has been less on Iraq per se and more on how Howard's stupid comments have damaged the all important US-Australia alliance. This puts Labor in the unique position of being able to critize Howard for being both too close to America on Iraq (which is hugley unpopular there), and too estranged from the broader, bipartisan America (which is in equal measure popular). Ad-hoc polls have confirmed that huge majorities disaprove of the Prime Minister's words.
The Labor Party is tabling a motion of censure againgst Howard, a symbolic measure yet potentially a significant one in an election year.
The Prime Minister is not backing down, however, reafirming his statements to the Australian media.
The worst thing John Howard needs right now is for this diplomatic spat to escalate- and that's exactly what I propose we do.
Hitting John Howard while he's down not only aids our Australian Labor allies, its an easy way for Democrats to show that we won't be bullied anymore the way John Kerry was in 2004.
John Howard's comments should not only offend Barack Obama, but every American who lived through the events of 9/11, and every American who has lived through the Iraq war, and especially those of us who have lost someone in those two tragic events.
I want to see Jim Webb on television threatening to kick John Howard's ass. I want to see John Murtha on the floor of the House denouncing the fact that a leader of another country has compared his political party to terrorists. I want see a protest at the Australian embassy. And most of all, I want to see a resoulution intoduced by Murtha denouncing John Howard's comments.
And why stop there? John Cornyn of all people has expressed regret at Howard's comments. Lets get both Houses to pass resolutions condeming Howard.
The fuss this would kick up in Australia would be close to unprecedented, and it'll score easy points at home.
Some people will say that Democrats should be "above" the "pettiness" of all this. Fuck that. These are the same people who said John Kerry should just "turn the other cheek" with the Swiftboaters. Rule of thumb: when a head of state implys that your party is weak on terror- you fight back. Whether he's speaking from Tehran, Paris, Washington or Canberra, you ignore a head of state's fightin' words at your own peril.
John Kerry learned that the hard way in 2004, and no matter who your candidate is in 2008- lets not let one of our own go down the same way.
Stick together Democrats, don't let Obama field this one alone. Call C-span. Call your senator or rep. Call Jim Webb. Call Nancy Pelosi. Call Steny Hoyer. Tell them Democrats don't take shit from nobody.