RI Sen: Matt Brown calls on Bush to start bringing troops home in 6 mos

[Skinner]

The folks over on the Matt Brown for U.S. Senate campaign sent us this press release this morning, and we were fortunate enough to have a chance to briefly talk to Matt this afternoon about it. Matt Brown is running against Sheldon Whitehouse in the Democratic Primary, and the winner will go up against incumbent Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee.

I don't know much about Rhode Island politics, and before today I didn't know anything about Matt Brown or Sheldon Whitehouse. As usual, the DU Admins don't have any plans to pick sides in a Democratic primary. But we appreciate that Matt's campaign did reach out to us, and we're happy to pass along their press release for all of you.

I think it is a good thing that a Democratic candidate for federal office supports setting a timetable to bring the troops home. It seems like the Democratic "elite" here in DC are too afraid to take any position that might be interpreted as anti-war, because they are terrified that we could be painted as soft on national security. We asked Matt if his position represented a tipping point where it is now safer for Democrats to speak out against the war. He said that making a decision based on fear would lead to a terrible decision. Instead of making decisions on fear, he said you need to do what is right. After the Iraq elections in December, the American Troops in Iraq will have done their job, and more. He said that his was a position of strength; we shouldn't let the insurgents dictate American policy.

Here's the press release:

MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday, August 17, 2005

Matt Brown calls for President Bush to start bringing American troops home in six months

CRANSTON -- As Rhode Island sends another 95 troops to Iraq, Rhode Island Secretary of State and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Matt Brown today called for President Bush to set a timetable to start bringing American troops home from Iraq in six months. Brown released the following statement:

"Mr. President, the American people are looking for leadership and strength in this difficult time. Like all Rhode Islanders and all Americans, I'm proud of our troops. They are the finest citizen soldiers in the world. They have left their homes and families, risked everything and done their job with courage and distinction.

"Last week you said withdrawing our troops from Iraq would be 'a terrible signal to the enemy' and you again refused to set a timetable for withdrawal. That's wrong. Continuing in Iraq without a plan, without a timetable for withdrawal is a terrible signal to Americans and our troops. It's a failure of leadership.

"Mr. President, the United States of America -- the strongest country in the world -- should not let our decision about when to bring our men and women home be dictated by a group of foreign insurgents. We have set timetables for the Iraqis to establish a new government, draft a constitution and conduct free elections -- and now we need to set a timetable to bring our troops home.

"We should start the withdrawal in six months, soon after the Iraqi National Assembly Elections scheduled for December 15. By early next year, our troops will have made it possible for the Iraqis to establish their own government and constitution and to hold free elections. Our troops will have done their job and it will be time to bring them home.

"Let me be clear – withdrawing our troops will not mean abandoning Iraq. Our troops should continue training Iraqi security forces for the next six months and during the gradual withdrawal process. Following the withdrawal, United States military trainers and advisors should provide continued training and technical assistance to Iraqi security forces and the new Iraqi government, as we do in many nations around the world.

"Mr. President, in just the last week, different officials in your administration have suggested very different timelines for withdrawal. The President is the Commander-in-Chief. You need to set the timetable and plan. You owe it to the American people to get this job done and bring our men and women home to their families."

###

Paid for by Matt Brown for U.S. Senate

[ibegurpard]

1. We need to target people like Chafee HARD

We can't afford to let seats that Democrats should be able to win stay in the hands of "moderate" Republicans who, at the very least, are voting for people like Frist to choose committee assignments. I'm sorry Chafee...you know what's become of your party and the fact that you choose to remain speaks volumes.

Tie Bush around the necks of Chafee, Snowe, and all the other "moderate" Republicans.

[paineinthearse]

2. Help is over the border in MassaBLUEsetts

I'll look into this campaign, thanks! I had been considering going to the peoples' republic of Vermont to help bernie, but he seems to be a shoe-in, so I'll rededicated the effort on Brown.

A Dem should be able to easily defeat Chaffee, see today's * poll. RI has the lowest "support" number of ANY state.

If any Rhode Island DU'ers are involved, please PM me.

http://www.mattbrown.org/index_home.html

[safi0]

3. I've looked at

The websites of both Brown and Whitehouse and both look like good candidates that I can support. So because of that I'll save my money until after the primary. But Brown really has the cards stacked against him in winning the primary. A recent poll showed Chaffee leading Brown 44-29, but showed Chaffee leading Whitehouse 41-36, but more importantly RI's 2 US Reps. have both thrown there support behind Whitehouse.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

10. I'd prefer Whitehouse

He should have been the guv nominee last time out, and I just see Brown as a political opportunist who just ran for Secretary of State to use it as a stepping stone. He's way too young still.

[safi0]

11. I have a cousin

Who goes to Providence and is working on Whitehouse's campaign, and I've been considering going up there to work on that campaign so I've been keeping close tabs on this race. There's a post in the RI state forum where a poster basically says Whitehouse is a poor campaigner due to his primary Guv. loss in 2000 and that he'd lose again and that Matt Brown is the right candidate to beat Chaffee. Prior to reading that and this very good press release I considered Whitehouse a near lock to win the nomination because from observing senate races, because the candidates are usually very close ideologically as I'm guessing Whitehouse and Brown are, the campaign for the nomination usually has more to do with fundraising ability,, electability, and enorsements more than any of the candidates actual positions. This especially applies when candidates are running against incumbents. Whitehouse has all 3 of those things, he raised a mill. the last quarter, he polls 5 points behind Chaffee while Brown polls 15, and both RI US Reps Kennedy and Langevin have thrown there support behind Whitehouse.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

13. Whitehouse and his campaign skills

Tough to say if he's a bad campaigner. He never connected with voters in the primary, and I think a lot of it had to do with things that happened when he was AG that were not his fault. Certainly he should have been able to top Myrth York who has had more chances than cats have lives, but it was also a three way race with Pires kind of screwing things up for both sides. It will be tough for Sheldon because Brown seems to know how to get publicity and campaign, which IMHO is all he knows how to do. My hope is the primary voters see through that.

In the end, Chaffee will still be tough to beat. Whoever wins the primary needs to exploit the fact that for all his whining and hand wringing, Linc still runs to the GOP at the end of the day.....

[safi0]

15. As far as

The primaries go I really think Brown has the cards stacked very much against him. Looking at there websites, the two don't seem to have a whole lot of differences ideologically, the primary will be decides by electability, fundraising ability, and endorsements all of which Whitehouse has a huge advantage.

[NMDemDist2]

4. kick n/t

[KoKo]

5. If he needs any money hopefully there can be some attention to him

on some of the Blogs. Sounds like someone not afraid to speak his mind. We sure need voices like that.

[gee double you bee]

6. kick

:kick:

[omega minimo]

7. Running against Whitehouse, eh?

:applause:

[mountainvue]

8. There's no way Rhode Island will

get rid of Chaffee.

[safi0]

9. We'll see

[KoKo]

12. Kick...

:kick:

[Tinoire]

14. Go Matt Brown! Kick! n/t