How does Edwards' apology for his IWR vote

[ProSense]

stand up to concerns like this?

Never mind that Bush lied, does Edwards' and Clinton's non-apology matter?

Is the vote by Edwards and Clinton a plus for Obama?

[Bandit]

1. The thing is, it wasn't just a vote, he co-sponsored the thing

Plus he emphatically defended it for many months after the invasion..At the very least it brings into question his motives...

[ProSense]

3. Thanks for responding. n/t

[Emit]

4. Didn't he co-sponsor Lieberman's 2002 Iraq War Resolution

the one that never got voted on?

[ProSense]

2. Kick

for comment!

[ProSense]

5. Where is

everyone? No comment?

[alfredo]

6. It was authorization to use force, only after several conditions were

satisfied. The big mistake made by Edwards, Clinton and others was believing bush would be a man of his word. That's how they should be framing their response to questions about their vote.

The threat of force can be useful to bring a party to the table, but as we knew, bush had no intention to use non violent measures to get his way.

The Iran vote has been criticized, but there would have been no money available for any military adventure by bush. That way the senate had it both ways. They sent a message to Iran, and a message to bush that if he wanted war, he would have to have a bake sale to finance it.

Not everything is black and white, especially in the Senate. Too many compromises need to be made to get anything done in the Senate. That is why Senators have such a tough time running for president. I'm sure Obama, Edwards, or Hillary's record will be used against him in the general.

We need to find any potential controversial vote, go beyond the sound bite and distill a good, simple response.

[Emit]

10. Well said, alfredo.

:thumbsup:

That being said, however, there were others who knew bush would not be a man of his word.

[alfredo]

16. That's what bothers me. We knew not to trust him, why not them?

[Emit]

22. I wish I knew.

That one question has bothered me for years and will bother me 'til my death, likely. Years from now, I hope good books are written to disclose more info of what was really going on behind the scenes. I can recall reading Byrd's book, Losing America, where he discloses some insight (not enough, IMO). I cried after reading that book and called his office at 4 am to thank him for writing that book.

edit typos

[alfredo]

23. Corruption and cowardice. They knew he was untrustworthy.

They either agreed to his agenda, or was too yellow to speak up.

[Emit]

7. He wrote, "I was wrong..."

The Right Way in Iraq

By John Edwards
Sunday, November 13, 2005; B07



I was wrong.

Almost three years ago we went into Iraq to remove what we were told -- and what many of us believed and argued -- was a threat to America. But in fact we now know that Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction when our forces invaded Iraq in 2003. The intelligence was deeply flawed and, in some cases, manipulated to fit a political agenda.

It was a mistake to vote for this war in 2002. I take responsibility for that mistake. It has been hard to say these words because those who didn't make a mistake -- the men and women of our armed forces and their families -- have performed heroically and paid a dear price.

The world desperately needs moral leadership from America, and the foundation for moral leadership is telling the truth.

~snip~

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/11/AR2005111101623_pf.html

[FrenchieCat]

8. That's 3 years after his wrong vote.....

and a mighty long time to get an epiphany. That's not the kind of learning curve we need in a President. It's one thing to figure out the truth shortly after the fact, it is quite another to continue to hold on to a lie for 3 long years....and then apologize right before running for office....again. Makes one wonder why one would want to reward that kind of slow motion "coming to".

[LibraLiz1973]

15. So you would rather he never admitted he was wrong?

[ProSense]

9. Kick! n/t

[harun]

11. Have any of the candidates or other Senators at the time

given a good response why they ceded their (Congress's) power to declare/go to war to the President instead of doing what the constitution says?

And no, giving the president the ability to make him appear stronger to get action is not a good reason, it is a cop out, which is what this bill was, a cop out.

[ProSense]

12. So you support a person who in your judgment is a "cop out"?

Is it the apology?

[harun]

13. The action was a "cop out" not the person

and Congress has been doing it since the end of WWII.

I don't hold John Edwards action on that legislation against him because I believe what he has said since.

It is clear now to everyone that Iraq was a war of choice and B*sh knew it was a war of choice. Some in the Senate probably knew it was a war of choice but thought it was going to be easy enough that "heck, why not". Some probably felt that there was a chance the authorization would make it so they wouldn't have to go to war, I do not believe these people were being honest with themselves or others by taking this position. B*sh was going to war period if they passed that legislation, and they did. Of course there were other reasons as well.

So right now I am between Obama and Edwards. I like them both. I would like to know which one would restore diplomatic relations with Cuba if elected president, but I know they cannot answer this while campaigning.

[ProSense]

14. That could be

part of Edwards' agenda now, but it wasn't before: He voted yes on a motion to table an amendment to terminate prohibitions and restrictions on travel to Cuba.

[harun]

17. Thanks for the info

Too bad he voted that way, even 10 Repukes voted the other way on that one.

Who do you think would do more to lift restrictions on Cuba Obama, or Edwards?

[Marrah_G]

18. Not in my book.

Since he was not in the senate to vote it cannot be compared. If he gets the nominee I will work to get him elected, but frankly he does not inspire me or instill in me any sort of hope that he can turn things around.

[Blue_In_AK]

20. I agree with you...

I'm so afraid that Obama will not be able to deliver on all of his promises and that people will be mightily disappointed. I'm not saying that people shouldn't hope, but only that expectations maybe should be lowered a little. When I see Obama fans weeping like Beatles fans it disturbs me.

[mmonk]

19. The IWR was a political calculation based

on the past Gulf War and it's popularity. As far as Edwards goes, he realized it was the mistakes of mistakes as time passed and apologized for the vote and said he was wrong. What is it exactly anyone seeks from him more than that? His advisor at the time was Hugh Shelton who was in favor of the attack. The fact Obama was against it in the first place is a plus he and his campaign can enjoy. Even Clinton has toned down her initial stance on the Iraq War. At this point it's going to be about what are each going to do about the situation.

[Skittles]

21. his credibility was shredded

I cannot in good conscience vote for someone with blood on their hands and LOTS OF IT. To have fallen for all that nonsense - you had to be an IDIOT.

[mmonk]

25. At least he had the gumption to call it and not sugar coat it or stand by it.

[Skittles]

26. honestly, I don't give a crap

he co-sponsored the biggest American foreign policy blunder EVER and now he's SORRY about it? WELL BOO-FUCKING-HOO - NOT good enough.

[mmonk]

27. Feel better?

BTW, I'm as strong a critic of the war, the administration, and democrats that went along with it as you'll find. I will say if we don't get the multi-national corporate interests out of our government, we'll never get our constitutuion, courts, sane foreign policy, or equitable economics. Recognition of that is the first step and he's there on that point.

[SOS]

24. "Is the vote by Edwards and Clinton a plus for Obama? "

It's more than that.
The AuMF vote will decide our nominee.