WH "insider" tells cons: Bush backs off 'Islamic fascists'

[Rose Siding]

Tones down war rhetoric to appease Muslim groups

President Bush has toned down his war rhetoric after Muslim-rights groups complained his description of the enemy as "Islamic fascists" unfairly equates Islam with terrorism. In his speech to the American Legion Thursday, Bush backed away from the term, defining the enemy simply as "fascists" and "totalitarians." He said the war on terror was an "ideological struggle" with terrorists who "kill those who stand in the way of their totalitarian ideology," but he did not identify the source of the ideology. His only reference to Islam during the speech was in noting that the Muslim terrorists are distorting the tenets of the religion. "Free societies are a threat to their twisted view of Islam," he said. In a press conference last week, Bush also avoided repeating the phrase "Islamic fascists," reverting instead to more general language such as "extremists" to describe the threat. "This is a global war on terror. We're facing, you know, extremists that believe something," he said. "And they want to achieve objectives.".

While the White House declined to comment officially about the dropping of the term 'Islamic fascists,' a White House insider explained that the president is sensitive to concerns raised by Muslim leaders. "The president never meant to imply we're at war with Islam, but some took it that way," the official said. "It's not a climb-down as much as a recognition of the concerns of the Muslim community."

In a major rhetorical shift, Bush last month began describing the enemy as "Islamic fascists," sparking a firestorm of criticism from Muslim groups.
...
The White House insider says it's unlikely Bush will repeat the term "Islamic fascists" out of deference to Muslim groups.

That's from NRO's "The Corner" quoting World Nut Daily, via a link embedded in Wolcott's excellent blog here-

"...To the dismay of the hard nosers, Bush is also reeling back his use of "Islamic fascists", which will be interpreted as a capitulation to political correctness."

http://jameswolcott.com/archives/2006/09/five_minutes_to.php

[NewJeffCT]

1. Is this a flip-flop?

or, is he morally confused?

[napi21]

2. Hmmm, that idea wasn't winning huh Shrub?

Stuff it! they do opinion panels all the time. I guess the pollster scewed up this time huh>

[snappyturtle]

3. Too late......everytime he uses the term fascists brains will

process: Islamofascists. Once again he gets what he wants and now that he's removed the Islamo part the Muslims can't complain! Oh, he's so brillant....or Rove! :sarcasm:

[CJCRANE]

4. It's insulting

to American muslims, the vast majority who are moderate muslims...and his backers in Saudi Arabia.

[bridgit]

5. he has to utter 'christo' & 'hindu' fascist to make any of it stick imo...

but he doesn't have the guts or the game/war plan to follow up with the shit storm that would follow

[magellan]

6. It's the public acceptance of such hatred and bigotry that enrages me

Not long ago, before Bush**, no one who wanted to keep their cushy job in Washington would be caught dead saying the reprehensible things these Neo-pubs do with impunity. Racial slurs, epithets, gutter talk -- all of it hailed by the knuckle-draggers in society. I just can't believe what I'm hearing most of the time, or that the level of discourse has sunk so low without anyone calling these bastards on it.

I'm no prude. But I don't think hearing our statesmen refer to people as "macaca" and publicly expounding on their prejudices reflects well on a country that supposedly stands for equality and freedom. It's dishonorable, and shines a bright light on just how far we've deviated from those principles with the Repugs in power.

I was thinking this morning that if any Democratic rep had pulled an Allen while Clinton was president, he would have thrown them out of DC on their EAR. There have been worse instances since the GOP-cons took over. Yet Bush** has reprimanded no one. Indeed, he engages in the same divisive hate talk.

This is NOT my America. I reject it and everything the Repukes stand for.