Senator Edwards Opposes President's Iraq Request

[mbali]

WASHINGTON--Senator John Edwards said Tuesday he will vote against $87 billion for Iraq because President Bush has failed to outline a credible long-term plan for rebuilding the country, failed to persuade allies to help shoulder the costs, and failed to stop sweetheart deals for politically-connected companies.

"I believe we have a responsibility to support our troops in Iraq. I believe we have a responsibility to help rebuild Iraq. But our troops will not be safer and this mission will never be successful unless the president dramatically changes course," enator Edwards said.

Read Full Statement at: http://edwards.senate.gov/press/2003/1014a-pr.html

[Catch22Dem]

1. Good job John!

That's great news and I'm glad to hear it. I really like this guy.

[CarDean]

6. John Edwards

I really like John.

[spooky3]

7. Welcome, CarDean!

[newyawker99]

10. Hi CarDean!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[chimpymustgo]

2. Bold move on his part. And the correct one.

nt

[RichM]

3. Edwards continues to do great stuff. Look at the last 2 lines in the link

He also cited recent disclosures that the President's 2000 campaign manager, Joe Allbaugh, has created a business to use connections with administration insiders to land lucrative business deals in Iraq. ...

Senator Edwards renewed his call for an independent panel to oversee reconstruction contracts to ensure they are awarded fairly and through a competitive process, not for political payoffs.

These are FANTASTIC statements, exactly the right points to be making. Try to imagine what would happen if ALL the Democrats had the guts & good sense to be hammering away on exactly these points.:thumbsup:

[AP]

4. He just needs to make it clear that this is TAX money that is going

towards making Republican insiders rich off of, no doubt, no-show jobs.

The Democrats should revive all the slurs directed at unions by Republicans in the 70s and 80s and use them to describe what Republicans are doing.

[spooky3]

5. he made all these points on Hardball

though Tweety did not like hearing them (and just wanted him to say " * is a bad man").

[BeFree]

8. Hot damn

We got us a dem raising hell. If only the rest of the Senators would take a clue and realize * is way out on a limb, get some courage and go on the friggin' attack!!

[tjdee]

9. That's my smart guy!

Alllrrrriiight.

I keep telling y'all, the Democratic Party has really got something with this guy.

[ErasureAcer]

11. kucinich has rubbed off on him

yay!

[spooky3]

12. Maybe--I think it's Dean's influence if any.

[mbali]

13. It's not all about Dean . . .

especially since Dean has yet to stake out a clear position on this issue.

But, I'll bet you that if Dean comes around and opposes the $87 billion package, John Edwards won't try to take credit for his decision.

Jeez!