Emanuel Statement on Bush, Rumsfeld and Boehner

George W. Bush on Cheney and Rumsfeld: “Both those men are doing fantastic jobs and I strongly support them.” [AP, 11/1/06, LINK]

Republican Leader John Boehner: “Let's not blame what's happening in Iraq on Rumsfeld…But the fact is, the generals on the ground are in charge and he works closely with them and the president.” [CNN, The Situation Room, 11/1/06]

“President Bush used to say that he would listen to the generals. Today, he says he’s happy to listen to Secretary Rumsfeld while his lieutenant in Congress, John Boehner blames the generals on the ground for the chaos in Iraq. President Bush may have stopped using the slogan ‘stay the course,’ but it’s clear he’s still headed in the same bad direction following the same bad advice that Donald Rumsfeld is giving him,” said Congressman Rahm Emanuel, Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “More than a dozen generals have called for Rumsfeld’s resignation and today generals at the Pentagon said Iraq is collapsing into chaos. It’s clear to everyone but the president, it’s time for a new direction.”