"The IWR was so 2002."

[pampango]

I saw this a little while ago in another thread. It wasn't meant with malice, as far as I could tell, but just a statement of the poster's belief. While I don't agree with this, I thought it was a succinct summary of what many Hillary supporters feel about the IWR and its importance to this years nomination process.

The odd thing is that it is reminiscent of Obama's constant refrain that his campaign is about the future not the past, so from that perspective should they harp on Hillary's IWR vote? Of course, the converse is that Hillary's campaign focuses on experience, so that using her criteria perhaps we should hold her vote against her.

The irony is that some of Hillary's supporters would be comfortable with Obama's theme stressing the future (at least with respect to this one issue), while Obama's supporters would be more comfortable (again at least with this) looking in the past - the IWR vote.

Of course, neither campaign consistently follows the themes they set out to campaign on.

[tularetom]

1. The problem I have with her vote is that I don't believe it represented

her true beliefs at the time. I make no claim to clairvoyance but I think she knew damn good and well that it was all bullshit and that the administration was telling a pack of lies to get us into Iraq. But I think she was afraid to say so because Bill and his DLC buddies were telling her she would be crucified as "unpatriotic" and "soft on terrorism".

The other option is that she is so stupid she swallowed the bush line of crap. I don't believe that for a minute but if so, she is too fuckin stupid to be president.

So she is a either a moral coward or a gullible fool. There is no other explanation for her IWR vote.

I hope she is not the nominee. I will vote for her but I won't be happy.

[LittleClarkie]

2. It's just that her reasons remind me of someone I rather respect

But it was also pointed out to me that while Kerry said something when the inspectors were not given time, and we rushed to war, Hillary did not, I am told. I'd have to go back and check her speeches to be sure. So while I think Kerry was sincere in his vote, there are those who say Hillary was not.

But I still found it interesting that her reasons for voting for the IWR and his are nearly the same. I find it hard to criticize her for it therefore if I am willing to cut Kerry slack.

But even though reasons for voting were the same, their actions after have been different. Kerry apologized, Hillary never did.

It's a bit more complicated than people prefer to make it.

But I am an anomaly in your theory. I am an Obama supporter, and I just said what you quoted, and so I am looking to the future re: Hillary, not the past.

[George_Bonanza]

3. Its effects are still being felt today

It's not as if Iraq is a closed chapter.