Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08) voted today to condemn the slanderous personal attack of General David H. Petraeus by the advocacy group MoveOn.org in a New York Times advertisement that appeared September, 10, 2007, the same day he testified before Congress. The ad suggested General Petraeus was going to falsely testify before Congress and used a play on his last name to say he might “betray us.”

“The New York Times ad by MoveOn.org is just despicable,” said Reichert. “Every man and woman in uniform deserves our utmost respect and to impugn an Army General’s motives with personal attacks is an outrage and an affront to everyone serving the Armed Forces. Whether or not you agree or disagree with the war, it is beyond the pale to attack the members of our military for carrying out the orders they have been given.

“The ad was a clear attempt to undermine his Congressional testimony for political gain and that is an outrage. General Petraeus was confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate with the full understanding that he had a plan to win in Iraq and that he was to come before Congress and report on that plan. We have sunk to a new low if we do not condemn in the strongest terms groups that would then attack him for doing what we have asked him to do.

“We are currently at war. Young men and women are risking their lives everyday and some are paying the ultimate sacrifice because we have asked them to do so. We should support them, we should give them what they need to succeed, and we should show them respect. I am pleased that the House sent them a bipartisan message today that we do respect them and we will not allow attacks on them to go unanswered.

“I have personally met with local members of MoveOn.org in my office and listened to their concerns about the war. They have legitimate concerns and have every right to make their voices heard. But let’s leave the heated political debate for our politicians and elected leaders, not target our military personnel who are sacrificing on behalf of all of us. I will continue to meet with the local MoveOn members and I hope they will join me in saying this ad went too far and there is a better way to discuss the issues surrounding the war.”

The House resolution was introduced on September 10, but House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), during a speech on the House Floor last week, said he would not be bringing the resolution to the floor. Today, the resolution was introduced as a procedural motion and passed the House by a vote of 341-79.

The Senate overwhelmingly passed the legislation condemning the attack ad by Moveon.org, 72-25.

The resolution, included in H.J.Res.52, honors all members of the Armed Forces, civilian personnel serving in harm's way, and their families, and gives a pledge to debate any supplemental funding request or any policy decisions regarding the war in Iraq with the solemn respect and the commitment to intellectual integrity that the sacrifices of these members of the Armed Forces and civilian personnel deserve.