The Innocent Bystander Fable

The innocent bystander fable was coined by David Sirota earlier this year to describe the behavior of democrats who don't have the courage to do what is necessary to end the Iraq war, so instead they rely on the myth that they are helpless to change any aspect of the policy. He recently wrote an update on this phenomenon which includes a youtube clip of it in action, here are his words on how this tactic is so misleading:

"And again folks, claiming Democrats have no power to stop the war or that they need any more than 41 Senate votes to stop the war is a lie - and a deliberate one coming from people who are "experts" and who thus know precisely how the Congress works."

Of all the recent speeches on the war, I expect this level of lying and dishonesty from Republicans, especially on the war, but it is much more infuriating when it comes from the party who is our only hope to end it.

Update: Wow, both Obama and Clinton repeat this myth while answering the first two questions of the debate tonight. Not a good sign of things to come.