I have to call bullshit on this:

Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, said her party has “never questioned Democrats’ patriotism,” but she added: “We do question John Kerry’s motives, considering his eagerness to engage in political theatrics as he ponders a presidential run.”

As I’ve noted before, there is a long list of statements in the public record in which Republicans suggest that Democrats who question the war or the president are essentially committing treason (“aid and comfort,” etc.). I believe the public interprets those statements as attacks on patriotism; if someone is siding with the enemy, what inference are we supposed to draw?

Recently, Republicans have gotten even more explicit. Ken Mehlman stated in March that “Democrats should to be focused on winning the War on Terror, not undermining it with political axe-grinding of the ugliest kind” and claimed that “Democrat leaders never miss an opportunity to put politics before our nation’s security. And now, they would rather censure the President for doing his job than actually fight the War on Terror.”

(Note: As a commenter on this site previously noted, a number of prominent Democrats overtly attacked Republican patriotism in 2003-2004. I’m of course offended by those statements as well.)