No, he doesn't, no he's not. But to judge from the diaries that've been posted (see here and here), you'd think he was Senator McCain's personal love slave, #1 concubine to the Military-Industrial Complex and all that.
So attention hand-wringers! Look past the end of your noses: Reyes's call for 20 to 30,000 more troops to Iraq "to take out the militias and stabilize Iraq" is one of the strongest anti-Iraq war statements made by a Democrat.
I know, I know, what he said, taken literally, gives the short-sighted, hand-wringing contingent among us the opportunity ...
... to rise up in righteous indignation. And I fully expect we'll see another dozen diaries calling Reyes names and blasting Democrats for, once again, providing cover for Republican efforts to send our fellow citizens off to die.
But it's OBVIOUS to anyone with a meta/framing/strategic kind of mind that every one of those diaries and comments that makes such assertions is wrong. But damn, doesn't the self-righteous indignation sure feel good!
How 'bout I make it real simple for you self-righteous bumpkins? Here's a simple example: Remember Charlie Rangel's proposal for a draft a few weeks ago? Well, Charlie was not actually even in favor of a draft! NO, not at all! He's brilliant that Charlie, devious in a good way; he actually wanted just to force anybody who advocates more troops to be forced into explaining how that's gonna be done -- with all the Iraq troop shortages and all that stuff the military Brass have been complaining about -- without re-instituting a draft! Charlie's been setting this trap, I mean 'advocating' a draft (he-he, now you're in the know too!) since 2003! But you indignant ones have all this time been clueless about Charlie's true motives? Incredible!
"But Reyes wants to send 20 to 30,000 more of our kids off to die!"
Can you believe that's an exact quote? C'mon, people, no he doesn't. Silvestre, Silver to his friends, is JUST LIKE RANGEL, he actually wants those who advocate "more troops" like McCain (and now 'himself' but not really, he-he, get it?), to be forced into explaining just how we add those troops WITHOUT A DRAFT! Isn't that great, the guy's a genius!
Let's play out a scenario, shall we? Don't worry, I won't make it too complicated:
MCCAIN: We need at least 20,000, and more likely 100,000, more troops in Iraq in order to achieve victory.
MILITARY BRASS: We have only 10,000 more troops combat-ready at present.
MCCAIN: Uh... We must send more troops, or we'll lose! And I called for more troops, but no one would listen to me! If only they would listen, we could win!
REYES: Well, John, since we don't have enough troops, I guess that means you and me think we're gonna have to restart the draft.
MCCAIN: (WHISPERING) Uh... Well... See, unlike you I wanna be President so re-instituting the draft is not something I want to... (SHOUTING) More troops!
REYES, the PRESS, MILITARY BRASS: Uh, where do we get the troops?
MCCAIN: * Cough * I got something in my throat... (QUIETLY) more troops...
Okay, so I've heard another argument condemning Reyes because of this exchange with the Newsweek reporter:
When a reporter suggested [that advocating for more troops] was not a position that was likely to be popular with many House Democrats, Reyes replied: "Well again, I differ in that I don't want Iraq to become the next Afghanistan."
Some say that suggesting other Democrats want Iraq to become the next Afghanistan is trashing the Democratic Party. But again, CALM DOWN, people!! Why can't you give this 'news' report a few days to just sit there so Reyes has a chance to correct what obviously must have been a misquote. He's ONLY HAD 3 DAYS since the story came out! PEOPLE, give the man a chance to catch his breath or something!!
Do I really have to remind everyone here that Silvestre Reyes is a "Fighting Dem" who once said, "There are many of us working hard to empower and safeguard our country, our military, and our way of life. We are trying to do so by crossing both party lines and political persuasions." Hey, he was even lead co-sponsor of the "Respect for Fallen Heroes Act" which bans anti-war demonstrations near military funerals! Can't you see how progressive Silver is? He even served in Vietnam and he's the first Hispanic to represent Texas's 16th District! IT'S OBVIOUS from all of this, and if you would just look into his heart as I have, that Reyes is a heroic fighting progressive people's Democrat.
In short, by calling for 20 to 30,000 more troops -- whatever his motivations -- Reyes is clearly PUTTING THE ONUS ON McCAIN, who ALSO is calling for more troops into the sinkhole that is Iraq, BUT McCAIN IS MUCH MORE FAMOUS and really IS EVIL unlike our Silvestre! And, in fact, Reyes is FURTHERING THE LIKELIHOOD OF WITHDRAWAL (THANK YOU SILVESTRE!) because WE DO NOT HAVE THE TROOPS to support a ramping-up of our Iraq commitment. (Well, unless we extend some of the National Guard guys' and gals' tours, but that's just so incredibly unlikely, it's only happened a little and it would upset the National Guard troops, who have major political muscle in Washington, so we don't have to worry about that messing up Reyes' and Rangel's diabolical (I mean that in a positive way, of course!) and BRILLIANT anti-McCain schemes.)
Now, I know all of this requires more than a knee-jerk reaction to Reyes's call for more troops, but now now children, maybe we can all put on our little thinking caps and go beyond the headline of the story to the crux of the matter. But in the meantime, those who are so inclined should please carry on with their "REYES WANTS TO KILL OUR KIDS!" hand-wringing.
But just be warned, and I'm now taking off my smiley face: if I see people going around sticking shivs in the backs of fellow progressives like Silvestre Reyes for no good reason, I'll call 'em on it, especially I mean even if they're dailykos nobodies.
(Thanks to "Charlie Rangel wants to kill my kids! And sink Democrats!" which helped us see the light on hand-wringing self-righteous diaries like Dear Charles Rangel, Please get a clue. And to Nancy Pelosi is EVIL! which helped us see the light on the hand-wringing self-righteous diary Pelosi Bars Labor from Meeting w/ Freshman Reps. And to The Ridiculousness & Danger That Is Lincoln '60 which helped us see the light on hand-wringing self-righteous diaries like The Ridiculousness & Danger That Is Obama '08.)