More like this, please

Rep. Pete Stark, in this morning's House debate on the override vote on Bush's veto of S-CHIP:

First of all, I'm just amazed they can't figure out, the Republicans are worried we can't pay for insuring an additional 10 million children. They sure don't care about finding $200 billion to fight the illegal war in Iraq. Where ya gonna get that money? You going to tell us lies like you're telling us today? Is that how you're going to fund the war? You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the President's amusement. This bill would provide healthcare for 10 million children and unlike the President's own kids, these children can't see a doctor or receive necessary care.

I am continually amused and appalled at the timidity of our leaders around the word "lie." They have no problem calling tens of millions of their fellow citizens traitors, anti-America, pro-murder, and other vile things, but they completely loose their nerve when it comes to calling one of their own club a liar. Instead they fall back on weak-kneed circumlocutions like "misled," "misstated," or "was deliberately untruthful." Americans like plain speaking, even when it's an act. Learn the words "lie," "lied," and "liar." We'll respect you for it.