Congressional Democrats Tear Into One of Their Own

(Fox News) - Virginia Democratic Congressman Jim Moran is getting slammed by fellow House Democrats over comments that pro-Israel forces in the U.S., "pushed the Iraq war from the beginning."

The Politico newspaper reports Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman called Moran's remarks "deeply offensive."

A group of 16 Jewish Democrats wrote what is described as a withering letter to Moran, saying in part, "The idea that the war in Iraq began because of the influence of Jewish Americans is factually incorrect and unfortunately fits the anti-Semitic stereotypes some have used historically against Jews."

But Moran is not backing down. A spokesman conceded that the congressman's comments may have been "unnecessarily harsh," but said the criticism was directed at a lobbying organization, not a community of people.