On September 18, the Politico reported that "[t]he Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee [DCCC] sent supporters an e-mail Tuesday criticizing House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) for his 'small price' comment last week about the war in Iraq's cost in dollars and lives." The article uncritically quoted Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith falsely accusing the DCCC, the campaign arm of Democrats in the House of Representatives, of using Boehner's comments to raise money. According to the article, Smith said: “It's particularly despicable that Democrats would deliberately distort the Leader's remarks during his visit to thank our troops in order to raise money when money and support is what they have been unwilling to give our troops all year.” In fact, the DCCC email to which the article referred did not ask for contributions.

As the article noted, the DCCC email “encourages its supporters to sign a petition linked in the e-mail demanding that Boehner apologize for his remarks,” which were made on the September 12 edition of CNN's The Situation Room. But contrary to Smith's claim, the email from the DCCC did not ask its recipients for a donation, but rather asked them to "[j]oin our call in demanding Congressman Boehner apologize to our men and women in combat and their families for his insensitive and hurtful comments." The email links to a petition on the DCCC website that requires signers to submit their email addresses, but, like the email, the petition does not request donations.

Further, Smith was quoted saying the Democrats “deliberately distort[ed]” Boehner's comments. The DCCC email said: “To belittle the sacrifice of more than 30,000 brave Americans killed or injured in Iraq as a 'small price' is reprehensible.” As Media Matters for America documented, on the September 12 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, Boehner said: “the investment that we're making today will be a small price if we're able to stop Al Qaeda here”:

BLITZER: Mr. Leader, here's the question. How much longer will U.S. taxpayers have to shell out $2 billion a week or $3 billion a week as some now are suggesting the cost is going to endure? The loss in blood, the Americans who are killed every month, how much longer do you think this commitment, this military commitment is going to require?

BOEHNER: I think General Petraeus outlined it pretty clearly. We're making success. We need to firm up those successes. We need to continue our effort here because, Wolf, long term, the investment that we're making today will be a small price if we're able to stop Al Qaeda here, if we're able to stabilize the Middle East, it's not only going to be a small price for the near future, but think about the future for our kids and their kids.

This is a very important effort on the part of the United States to secure our national interests and to secure our security interests, especially when it comes to Al Qaeda, who has been our number one enemy here in Iraq.

From the email (full-size image):

On Wednesday, House Republican Leader John Boehner claimed the loss of American life in Iraq is a “small price.”

We have a message for John Boehner -- the loss of a single American is NEVER a small price.

Join our call in demanding Congressman Boehner apologize to our men and women in combat and their families for his insensitive and hurtful comments.

Demand Republican Leader Boehner Apologize

To belittle the sacrifice of more than 30,000 brave Americans killed or injured in Iraq as a 'small price' is reprehensible. Clearly, John Boehner and his Republican colleagues will say anything to justify President Bush's stay-the-course approach, but this damaging rhetoric has no place in the debate about the New Direction needed in Iraq.

Mr. Boehner owes our military men and women and their families an apology for his hurtful comments that minimize their tragic loss.

Demand Republican Leader Boehner Apologize

Our brave American service men and women are sacrificing daily for President Bush's 10-year occupation of Iraq. They deserve our deepest thanks and gratitude for their service to America, not thoughtless comments by the likes of John Boehner.

Instead of minimizing the sacrifice of our soldiers, airmen and Marines, John Boehner and House Republicans should honor their service by voting with Democrats who are demanding a New Direction that will bring our troops home from Iraq.

Thank You,

Brian Wolff
Executive Director

From the September 18 article in The Politco:

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee sent supporters an e-mail Tuesday criticizing House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) for his “small price” comment last week about the war in Iraq's cost in dollars and lives.

The campaign committee encourages its supporters to sign a petition linked in the e-mail demanding that Boehner apologize for his remarks, which were largely overlooked despite multiple Democratic attacks.

“The loss of a single American is NEVER a small price,” DCCC Executive Director Brian Wolff wrote in an e-mail Tuesday. “Join our call in demanding Congressman Boehner apologize to our men and women in combat and their families for his insensitive and hurtful comments.”

Boehner made the “small price” comment last week on CNN during an interview from Iraq in response to a question about how long Americans will allow the U.S. to conduct a war that costs taxpayers $2 to $3 billion a week and an even greater toll in lives.

“Wolf (Blitzer) asked about the money spent in Iraq, and that's what Mr. Boehner was referring to when he said our troops' efforts are critical to the safety and security of our country,” Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith said.

“It's particularly despicable that Democrats would deliberately distort the Leader's remarks during his visit to thank our troops in order to raise money when money and support is what they have been unwilling to give our troops all year.”