By Bob Geiger

In an act that would be as hysterical as Jack Abramoff lamenting the undue influence of lobbyists in Washington, the Republican party and their brain-dead shills in the right-wing blog world are all atwitter today over a video being run on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) web site. It seems those sensitive souls are upset over the fact that a tiny part of the video shows flag-draped coffins coming back from Iraq.

The http://rnc.org " target="_blank">Republican National Committee (RNC) is aghast.

"DEMOCRAT DISGRACE," screams their web site. "New DCCC Fundraising Ad Uses Images Of The Coffins Of Dead U.S. Soldiers."

"It makes my stomach turn to see national Democrats so blatantly exploit the sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed forces," says National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Reynolds (R-NY).

"Well, frankly, I think this is the most tasteless gesture I've seen in my time in politics," whines Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY).

Wow. Where to start with this?

To begin with, I guess the GOP figures they'll get more mileage out of this bogus controversy by labeling the DCCC's effort a "fundraising ad." But the fact is, in both the e-mail sent by the DCCC announcing the ad and on the organization's web site itself, donations are never overtly solicited in conjunction with the ad. The e-mail has a generic contribution link, that's at the bottom of all DCCC communications and the main message in the body of the e-mail is to "join our movement," not give money.

Similarly, the page running the ad on the web site has boxes below to join the DCCC by providing e-mail address and zip code -- that's it.

So there goes the money-for-coffins story line.

And, while I'm sure all progressives join me in grieving for Reynolds' turned stomach and the traumatic shock experienced by Congressman Davis, it's a bit hard for us to take seriously given that this is the party that threw racist Willie Horton ads at Michael Dukakis, smeared the patriotism and sanity of their own John McCain and linked Vietnam Veteran -- and triple-amputee -- Max Cleland to Osama bin Laden to win his Senate seat.

It's also the same group who more recently railroaded decorated-Veteran John Kerry in 2004 and are now trying to do the same thing to Congressman John Murtha, a highly-decorated Vet with 37 years in the Marine Corps.

Yeah, you can see how this ad would offend their sensibilities.

And speaking of that, the Wicked Witch of Monongahela, PA, Murtha opponent Diana Irey is also faking outrage and demanded in a press release yesterday that Murtha join the faux patriots in the GOP by "demanding that Nancy Pelosi and Rahm Emanuel apologize, and then insist that the DCCC forward any funds raised off this disgusting solicitation to appropriate charities.”

I truly hope Irey holds her breath waiting for that to happen.

My prediction: By the end of the summer, a desperate Irey will post a photo-shopped picture of John Murtha burning a flag with Osama bin Laden and demand that he apologize. Just a hunch.

Let's get to what they really hate about this ad. From start to finish, it highlights what a miserable time this country has had under Republican leadership -- and, yes, the sad sight of dead Americans coming home from a worthless war is a legitimate part of that picture. As are corporations having free reign to pollute the environment, devastating gas prices, incompetent response to natural disasters and corruption in the White House.

So there you have your Republican mock indignation of the day, from the same people who have used the 9/11 tragedy every day over the last five years for their own benefit. I guess when, like the folks at the RNC, you exist in a pool of slime every day, you automatically assume that everyone else is just like you.

You can reach Bob Geiger at geiger.bob@gmail.com