Cornyn seeks Dem support for measure blasting MoveOn

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) will put Armed Services Committee Democrats on the spot Tuesday, asking them to condemn publicly a MoveOn.org ad that referred to Gen. David Petraeus as “General Betray Us.”

{mosads}The Texas lawmaker introduced a resolution calling it “abhorrent” for the activist group to say that “the four-star general leading the fight against al Qaeda in Iraq has ‘betrayed’ his country.” Cornyn plans to ask Democrats on the panel to criticize MoveOn later today, when Petraeus testifies before the committee, for publishing the ad.

“This is an important moment for the Democratic leadership,” Cornyn said when introducing his resolution. “Will Democrats in Congress stand by and say nothing as their liberal allies attack the patriotism of our military commander in Iraq, or will they condemn this disgusting personal attack?”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the Cornyn resolution is “an opportunity for Senate Democrats to have their reputation restored.”

Republicans have tried to make the ad a major issue and link Democrats to it, with several GOP lawmakers bringing it up at a Monday hearing on the situation in Iraq.