In yet another brazen display of willful spin, Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) has penned an op-ed piece in the Courier & Press attempting to explain his vote "supporting our troops and getting tougher on terrorism" (we have no word yet on whether Ellsworth also supports baby puppies and apple pie). Before the election Ellsworth said, "I'm against a drop-dead date of when to get out. I think that only would bolster the terrorists and those who are killing our soldiers and saying they ran us out and they won." Now, for reasons his column does not make clear, Mr. Ellsworth believes the exact opposite.

Of course, the biggest item in the resolution which Ellsworth voted for was a deadline and timetable for withdraw of troops from Iraq. Ellsworth, embarrassed and partially confused by the complex issues involved, avoided that detail entirely. Not one mention of the deadline or timetable can be found in his rambling, meandering column, just as any mention was conspicuously absent from his office's press release. The piece also failed to make any mention of $20 billion in pork spending for items such as a $25 million handout for California spinach farmers. When will Mr. Ellsworth come clean with the 8th district and address the real issues involved?