Americans have the impression that Democrats are the AntiWar Party

From Eric Dondero:

During the 2008 campaign, at the height of American concerns over winning the War in Iraq, and well into 2009, the two parties were completely tied on the polling question which party is better able to handle National Security. Now a brand new poll released Monday, shows the GOP has opened up a "massive gap," over the Democrats on that same question.

From the Washington Times, March 8:

On the national security front, a massive gap has emerged, with 50 percent of likely voters saying Republicans would likely do a better job than Democrats, a 14-point swing since May. Thirty-three percent favored Democrats.

"The erosion since May is especially strong among women, and among independents, who now favor Republicans on this question by a 56 to 20 percent margin," the pollsters said in their findings.

A May 2009 survey by the pollsters found the public saw the Democratic and Republican parties as equally able to handle national security (41 percent trusted Democrats more, and 43 percent trusted Republicans more.) On conducting the war on terrorism, the two parties were tied at 41 percent.

The poll finds other devastating news for the Democrats.

In the wake of the Ft. Hood shooter, and the Christmas Day bomber, and growing concerns among Americans over Islamic Terrorism, the poll finds, an even wider gap.

"Keeping America safe": Democrats now trail by 13 points (34 percent to 47 percent.) The gap was just 5 points in July 2008.

Gays in the Military has become a cause celebre' among Democrats. The Obama administration has recently allowed female sailors on Navy submarines. Under Obama, "multiculturalism," and recruiting and retaining Muslim recruits is now amongst the highest of priorities of the Armed Services. And now these same poll numbers show Americans believe the Obama administration and Democrats to be less friendly to the US Military, than Republicans.

And the margin isn't even close.

"Ensuring a strong military": Democrats trail by 31 points (27 percent to 58 percent.)

Dems take classes to learn how to "Talk Tough!" on Terror

So how are the Democrats in Congress reacting to the harsh news of this new poll? They're sending some of the members in tight races to a "National Security class," to learn how to "talk tough" on terrorism and on other key national security issues. The "Third Way" class is being run by national security moderate Rep. Jane Harmen of California, along with consultants and pollsters. Ironically, Harmen had been shunned by the administration and leftwing Democrats in 2008 and 2009 for views judged "too rightwing," on foreign policy matters.

Attendees to the class learn how to use key phrases that will win swing voters concerned about Defense-related issues.

For example, Democrats learn how to say "I’m going to fight for American interests abroad." Whereas a Republicans would generally say, "I’m going to fight to defend American values."

Responds Ken Spain, communications director for the National Republican Congressional Committee in Politico:

"The fact that Democrats have to train their own candidates on how to talk about defending America is an indictment not just of their candidates but of their policies, as well. Our candidates’ message is simple: Stop treating terrorists like common criminals, don’t import terrorists into our communities and listen to our military and intelligence officials instead of attacking them."