Obama Stands On His Principles: Does Not Co-Sponsor Faulty Feingold Withdrawal Bill

[The Anti-Bush]

This position may be dangerous for Obama, but you can say one thing; he is sticking to his principles on this. Obama has said over and over that he would not sponsor any withdrawal bill that does not include a solid exit date.

This bill, which basically just allows some repugs to say the voted to end the war, has no chance of passing, and if by some miracle does pass, it is just veto fodder for Dubya.

However, I can see the next attack already...

That said... From Huff-Po

Over the past year, Sen. Barack Obama has been a vocal supporter of the Feingold-Reid Iraq legislation that sets a strict time-line for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. But when a version of that bill was introduced this past week without a final date for troop removal, the Illinois senator chose not to attach his name to the list of co-sponsors.

Yesterday, Sen. Russ Feingold succeeded for the first time in getting the Senate to begin debating his measure to begin withdrawing troops in 120 days (with exceptions for certain specified missions). Neither of the Democratic presidential candidates was in D.C. to vote in favor of cloture, which allowed the bill to ultimately come to the floor. But only one -- Sen. Hillary Clinton -- co-sponsored the legislation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/27/obama-clinton-divide-on-_n_88734.html

[rinsd]

1. Yeah let's wait until the perfect withdraw bill comes up.

Why bother trying to at least force the Republicans to take a stand on withdraw.

:eyes:

[The Anti-Bush]

2. They've already taken a stance on Iraq.

We've been there for 5 years. Did you forget that? All this does is give some of them wiggle room in the GE.

A real bill would have had a FIRM exit date. This, this is just using the troops for an attempt at political gain.

[johnnydrama]

3. sponsor vs vote

He's not sponsoring it, doesn't mean he won't vote for it. Maybe he'll sponsor a better bill.

[The Anti-Bush]

4. That's what I'm thinking.

Feingold's previous 4 all had firm exit dates. Obama voted for 3 of them, and co-sponsored one.

[jackson_dem]

7. The one he voted against was before he began running for president

He was staunchly opposed to a timetable for withdrawal until Mr. "I was always against the war!!!" began running for president. Even then he didn't take that position until Edwards basically forced him to do so.

[The Anti-Bush]

8. Um, NO. Actually he didn't vote for the other one at all.

He didn't vote either way, but nice try there. He has never voted against troop withdrawal.

That is a blatant... well you know what it is. I don't need to say the word and get in trouble.

I got it now, you are being less than truthful. And the funny thing is that if you would have clicked the link and read the whole story, you would have found that out. Amazing.

[jackson_dem]

10. That is false

He voted against troop withdrawal in the middle of 2006 when Kerry and Feingold presented the first withdrawal bill. It is stunning how many Obamites know little or nothing about their savior's actual record and beliefs...

[The Anti-Bush]

13. NO, you are wrong on this.

Feingold has 4 previous bills. Three of them Obama voted yes for. Of those three, he co-sponsored one. The other one, he missed the vote.

You are wrong. And since you have no link to back up your false statement, I don't believe you. I can back my FACTS up. You just expect me to believe you. I don't think so.

[karynnj]

16. Edwards was not for it either then

I actually would love it if our candidate was either one of the men who actually were behind this bill. They both endorsed Obama. That's good enough for me on this issue.

[karynnj]

15. Edwards was NOT for deadlines at that time - he said he was not for Kerry/Feingold

He was for a plan of his own that was less aggressive than Kerry/Feingold. It was not Edwards that pushed him to support it. In June 2006, when Kerry/Feingold was debated and voted, there was a huge organized opposition by the Clinton faction that were angry it even came to the floor. They vilified Senator Kerry to every news source in the country. Edwards did NOT stand with him then.

The forces that changed almost everybody were:
- the conditions getting worse as Kerry predicted,

- people like John Warner saying that the plan was well thought out, but it was not yet time in July - then adding Kerry's summit piece into the defense bill in September 2006 by voice vote, and then on return from Iraq in November speaking in terms that suggested that he was less firm on staying,

- the Iraq Study Group making proposals that sounded like things Kerry was proposing throuout 2004 - 2005.

and

- the 2006 election being seen as people wanting policy change in Iraq. (The Democrats may well have done worse if they couldn't counter the typical Republican smear that we didn't have a plan.)

Obama came out with his plan around that time and that is when Edwards shifted. I honestly don't remember who moved first. By February, HRC was speaking as though she hadn't led the internal fight against Kerry/Feingold.

[rinsd]

5. I realize that. And I am sure he will vote for it.

I was referring more to the tone taken at this particular bill by the OP.

[The Anti-Bush]

9. And what tone was that?

I simply stated that he is sticking to what he as said all along. You don't faulty legislature. You don't sponsor garbage just to score political prowess.

A perfect bill? There is no such thing when dealing with war. But a definitive exit date, that is not too much to ask for. Feingold's last 4 have had them.

[Straight Shooter]

6. There will never be a solid exit date.

Never. "That would embolden the terra-rists."

[jackson_dem]

11. Whose sock puppet is "Anti-Bush"?

It is funny how many sock puppets have emerged since the 3 thread rule was put into place.

[Hawkeye-X]

12. And whose sock are *YOU*?

You really have not earned the right to call out who is the sockpuppet and who you are until you release your profile. I've told you time and time again, you're very suspicious and I'm sure by next week you'll either be gone or embracing Obama.

Hawkeye-X

[The Anti-Bush]

14. Who do you think you are?

You have some nerve. Is this how new members get treated? Wow, I should have stayed on dcjunkies.