where would we get that idea?

White House ‘Cuts And Runs’ on ‘Stay the Course’

In today’s Washington Post, the White House complains that its critics use the term “stay the course” to describe President Bush’s strategy in Iraq:

Many Democrats accuse the president of advocating “stay the course” in Iraq, but the White House rejects the phrase and regularly emphasizes that it is adapting tactics to changing circumstances, such as moving more U.S. troops into Baghdad recently after a previous security strategy appeared to fail.

“Strategically, we are staying committed to the fact that this is an important mission and one that should be accomplished,” said a senior administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Democrats, this adviser said, say “we’re ‘doing the same thing over and over’ when that’s not the case.”

Where did anyone get the idea that the White House supports a “stay the course” strategy?

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow, 8/17/06: “[Y]ou…cannot be a President in a wartime and not realize that you’ve got to stay the course.”

Snow, 8/16/06: “[T]hat’s why the President is determined to stay the course.”

President Bush, 7/11/06: “As a matter of fact, we will win in Iraq so long as we stay the course.”

Vice President Cheney, 6/6/06: “[W]e have to stay the course.”

People who say the Bush administration wants to “stay the course” in Iraq are not making an accusation, as today’s Washington Post suggests. They are telling the truth.

(Think Progress)