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Anointed Democratic challenger to US Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR)also supported Iraq War
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~From KGW News (Portland, Oregon)
Oregon State Representative Jeff Merkley says he has no regrets about
his 2003 vote on an Iraq war resolution that has become an issue in his
campaign to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith.
The nonbinding House resolution, approved as the U.S. launched its
invasion of Iraq, voiced support for U.S. troops, but also praised "the
courage of President George W. Bush" and supported "the victorious
removal of Saddam Hussein."
Merkley, in an interview, fended off criticism he's gotten on the
subject from Republicans as well as his Democratic challenger, Steve
Novick.
"I wanted to stand up and say I disagree completely with the decision to
go to this war, but I honor the sacrifice and the dedication and the
courage of our troops," Merkley said Monday. But, he didn't.
The Portland Democrat also said that having U.S. troops in Iraq "is not
helping" that country and he would advocate bringing the troops home,
"starting immediately."
"I don't think our troops will or should have a significant role in the
country," Merkley said. "Our troops need to get out."
Merkley noted that even though he voted "yes" on the House resolution,
he gave a floor speech that day in which he said he was "not persuaded"
by the Bush administration's arguments that Iraq was a threat to the
U.S. or that invading Iraq was the best way to fight terrorism.
In Monday's interview, Merkley said his decision to back the resolution
stemmed in part from his experience as a Pentagon analyst in the Reagan
administration, a job he said brought him into contact with a lot of
Vietnam war veterans.
"I knew how deeply troubling it was to them to come back from that war
and not have the strong support of the American population," he said.
With the 2003 Iraq resolution, he said, "we were recognizing that our
men and women had just been sent into harm's way and were facing
something very difficult, and I thought it was important to recognize
that."
Republicans have criticized Merkley, saying the Democrat is trying to
"have it both ways" by taking Smith to task for his initial support of
the war and his shift to an anti-war stance as the 2008 election
approach. They said Merkley, despite his assertions about opposing the
war, voted for a resolution that backed the Bush administration's move
into Iraq.
Novick, meanwhile, on Monday said that most everyone "supports the
troops" and that Merkley should have been more resolute in opposing the
Iraq war by voting "no" on the state resolution.
"Are we, as Democrats, going to take the position that it is OK to
support any piece of Republican garbage, as long as it has a sentence
saying, `We support the troops?=B4 " Novick said.
But Merkley said a "no" vote right after the war started would have sent
the wrong message to troops.
"Our frustration and anger over this terribly misguided decision (to go
to war) should not be taken out on our troops," he said.
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On Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:52:38 -0700, pjberg@webtv.net (Paul Berg)
wrote:
~From KGW News (Portland, Oregon)
Oregon State Representative Jeff Merkley says he has no regrets about
his 2003 vote on an Iraq war resolution that has become an issue in his
campaign to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith.
The nonbinding House resolution, approved as the U.S. launched its
invasion of Iraq, voiced support for U.S. troops, but also praised "the
courage of President George W. Bush" and supported "the victorious
removal of Saddam Hussein."
Oh -- the removal of Saddam was a sure thing from the getgo.
But now we have an R who opposes continuing the war who used to
support it initially, and a D who used to support it initially and now
does what?
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How many people DIDN'T initially support that damned war?
Can you NAZIS CLAM UP?
Any idiot can be right for a few weeks. Any RETARD can bring it up for
ten years.
Which are you or anybody else practicing Wiccan politics out there--
consumed by absolute vomit or owning a lick of sense behind your left
ear that isn't actually a pimple?
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/But Merkley said a "no" vote right after the war started would have sent
/the wrong message to troops.
I'd guess the troops are smart enough to draw their own messages.. they
probably don't need us to worry about what message they'll get from what we
say.
Curt
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On Sep 1, 12:41 am, "Curt" <c...@hevanet.com> wrote:
/But Merkley said a "no" vote right after the war started would have sent
/the wrong message to troops.
I'd guess the troops are smart enough to draw their own messages.. they
probably don't need us to worry about what message they'll get from what we
say.
Curt
That's why it's a volunteer army and they join to serve the nation.
They don't really need any messages. OTOH a whole bunch of them have
deserted and gone AWOL.
Party on, Garth
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