Pants on Fire: Why Harry Reid is a MINO

Yesterday, I called Harry Reid the nation’s most prominent MINO (Mormon in Name Only). I did so for a reason. While Harry Reid seems to think that polygamy is the LDS Church’s worst PR nightmare, the worst nightmare is Harry Reid.

In my view, it would be a big disservice to the Mormon Church if the public at large began to see Harry Reid as representative of what it means to be a Mormon.  Run-of-the-mill Mormons don’t lie, spew negativity, demoralize troops fighting for their country or self-obsess like Harry Reid.

Finally — again in my view — real Mormons believe, unlike Harry Reid, that the federal government has no responsibility to “protect women and children” in preference to any other group of American citizens. Real Mormons believe that the family — not government — is the fundamental societal unit and that strong nations start with strong families, not the other way around.

As to Harry Reid’s lies, Ed Morrissey, formerly at Captain’s Quarters, concisely summarized a relatively recent example, in April 2007. Expect more Harry Reid lies next Thursday when, with predictable pomp, whining and circumstance, Reid attempts to distract the nation from his Iago-like performance as Senate Majority Leader by piling on FLDS men, women and children who’ve already been ravaged by the State of Texas.

Ed Excerpts follow:

The Five Myths Of Harry

These have floated in and out of the blogosphere in various forms, but I thought it would be useful to CQ readers to see the counterarguments to Harry Reid’s assertions in one easy format. . .

MYTH #1:
General Petraeus Says The War Is A “Lost Cause”

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): Gen. Petraeus “Told” Our Troops That “They’re Fighting For A Lost Cause.” CNN BASH: “Is there something to that, an 18- and 19-year-old person in the service in Iraq who is serving, risking their lives, in some cases losing their life, hearing somebody like you back in Washington saying that they’re fighting for a lost cause?” REID: “General Petraeus has told them that.” BASH: “How has he said that?” REID: “He said the war can’t be won militarily. He said that. I mean he said it. He’s the commander on the ground there.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 04/23/07)

FACT:
General Petraeus Sees “Positive” Signs in Iraq

GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS: “While It Is Too Early To Judge The Success Of The Surge And The Emphasis On Population Security In Iraq, We Have Seen Some Positive Results – Though The Enemy Has Certainly Sought To Overshadow Our Achievements By Carrying Out Sensational Attacks.” “… Your visible presence alongside Iraqi soldiers and police has begun to restore a sense of normalcy to many areas that have seen little other than violence over the past year. Your hard work ahs also led to the uncovering of sizable weapons caches, the detentions of a number of death squad and car bomb network members, the bringing to justice of a number of militia extremists, a decrease in the number of sectarian killings, and a renewal of commerce in many markets and neighborhoods.” (Gen. David Petraeus, Letter To Soldiers Serving In Multi-National Force-Iraq, 04/14/07)

MYTH #2:
General Petraeus Does Not Know What Is Happening In Iraq

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “I Don’t Believe Him.” Q: “…General Petraeus is going to come to the Hill and make it clear to you that there is progress going on in Iraq, that the so-called surge is working. Will you believe him when he says that?” SEN. REID (D-NV): “No, I don’t believe him, because it’s not happening. All you have to do is look at the facts.” (CNN’s “The Situation Room,” 04/23/07)

FACT:

David H. Petraeus:
Four-Star General, Commander, Multinational Forces-Iraq

Harry Reid:
Senator Who Doesn’t Listen To Commanders of Military Forces

MYTH #3:
General Petraeus Says There Is No Military Solution

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “…There Is No Military Solution In Iraq. General Petraeus, The Commander On The Ground, Has Said So Himself.” (Sen. Reid, “Reid: As Situation In Iraq Worsens, America Can And Must Change Course,” Press Release, 04/22/07)

FACT:
General Petraeus Believes “Improv[ing] The Security” With “Additional Forces” Is Necessary To Achieve A Political Solution

GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS: “I want to assure you that Lieutenant General Odierno and I would not have asked to maintain the surge force levels in Iraq – a request that led to your tour extensions – if we did not view the additional forces as being absolutely necessary to our ability to accomplish our mission. That mission – to help Iraq improve the security for its population – is intended to provide Iraqi leaders with an opportunity to begin to tackle the crucial issues that must be resolved to achieve a sustainable outcome in Iraq.” (Gen. David Petraeus, Letter To Soldiers Serving In Multi-National Force-Iraq, 4/14/07)

MYTH #4:
General Petraeus Does Not Support the Surge

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “Those We Trust The Most Do Not Believe Escalation Is The Right Way Forward. America’s Generals Don’t Support This.” (Sen. Reid, Congressional Record, S. 2507, 02/5/07)

FACT:
General Petraeus Testified In His Confirmation Hearing That ‘The Additional Forces’ For The Surge Were ‘Essential’

GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS: “The additional forces that have been directed to move to Iraq will be essential.” (Gen. Petraeus, Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 01/23/07)

MYTH #5:
General Petraeus Does Not Need Immediate Funding

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): The President’s “Own Generals Have Said [Funding] Will Last Until The End Of June.” (Sen. Reid, Press Conference, 04/3/07)

FACT:
The Army Chief Of Staff Stated ‘Draconian Measures’ Will Begin Without Funds In April

ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF GEN. PETER J. SCHOOMAKER: “We are particularly concerned as Congress is set to recess until mid-April without enacting this essential legislation. Without approval of the supplemental funds in April, we will be forced to take increasingly draconian measures which will impact Army readiness and impose hardships on our soldiers and their families.” (Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, Letter To Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, 3/28/07) . . .

After basically calling Petraeus a liar and the war lost, it’s hard to see what he could do for an encore. . .

How about testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a bid to whip up a federal investigation into “crimes associated with polygamy.” What with dozens of federal judges unconfirmed, the economy on the rocks, Mexico invading by osmosis, Afghanistan flaring, Al Gore flapping his big green gums, and China and Russia flexing their military muscles, Harry Reid — the U.S. Senate Majority Leader — is busy persecuting polygamists. For shame.

The author does not represent or speak for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  The views expressed in this post are the author’s alone.