Bush hammers Dems on MoveOn.org ad

President Bush said Thursday that he has reached the conclusion that “most Democrats are afraid of irritating a left-wing group like MoveOn.org.”

{mosads}Bush said the MoveOn.org ad describing Gen. David Petraeus as “General Betray Us” was “disgusting,” adding he was disappointed that more Democratic leaders have not spoken out against it. 

"That was a sorry deal ," Bush said.

The ad, which many Democrats have publicly criticized, drew a strong response from Republican leaders and presidential hopefuls.

During a White House press conference, Bush weighed in on the issue for the first time. The president said it was one thing to attack him but indicated that he would not stand for attacks on Petraeus or the military.

He added that he was disappointed that not more Democrats spoke out against it, saying it shows that they are more worried about alienating left-wing groups than the military. 

MoveOn.org reacted to Bush’s statement with an attack of its own.

“What’s disgusting is that the President has more interest in political attacks than developing an exit strategy to get our troops out of Iraq and end this awful war,” said Eli Pariser, the executive director of MoveOn.org Political Action Committee.