Did she (Clinton) or didn't she support the war?

[question everything]

Many of us dropped our jaws when we heard Clinton on Olbermann, a few days ago, saying that she opposed the war. We wondered why Olbermann did not challenge her.

And yet, when I went to Olbermann page, there was a different report:

Clinton took responsibility for voting for the war in 2002, saying “there’ve been a lot of mistakes made by everybody, including those of us in the Congress but placed the responsibility for the current state of Iraq firmly on the Bush administration.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16773978

So I really don't know what to make of it.

[Breeze54]

1. She lied on Olberman and

she's, as usual, trying to snow people on her support of the Iraq War!

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[SaveElmer]

3. Read her Floor statement...whether you hate her or not at least...

Look at what she said before criticizing...she CLEARLY said her vote was to give leverage to force inspectors in, that she opposed an invasion until all other options were exhausted, and she opposed the concept of preemptive war...

http://clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=233783

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

6. right...

Then why wasn't she screaming bloody murder at the time the war began?

[CTLawGuy]

14. the prob is

it doesn't matter what she SAID her vote was for, what matters was what the vote WAS for. It was a vote to let Bush go to war.

[Milo_Bloom]

4. The usually Hillary stuff

She voted for the IWR, but in making the vote, gave a speech against the war, knowing full well that the only thing that really mattered was the vote.

This way she gets to say she was "against the war", but didn't risk a potentially unpopular anti-war-on-terror vote.

Isn't it funny, if the Kerrys, Edwards, Clintons etc.. had actually stuck to their principles and voted against the IWR, even if it was destined to pass how different things would be today... Kerry might have won by enough votes in 2004 to make it impossible for the GOP to steal... OR right now people would be championing Hillary and/or Edwards, instead of viewing them as political opportunists with no regards for real principles.

[aquart]

5. You're simplifying way too much.

The mistake was buying the WMD crap...at least in public. The mistake was going with the flow when BushCo began to use 9/11 to trash the constitution and invade non-belligerent nations. The mistake was in allowing the myth that terrorism was our greatest threat to go unchallenged. It's our sexiest threat. But it doesn't come close to being the greatest.

Hillary Clinton failed to exhibit courage and decisive leadership in every one of these instances. She was in good company. She adhered to the decisions of Democratic leadership, but she didn't in any way lead.

We were beaten, shamed and cowed.

I don't know who I want for President. But I do know I want single payer universal healthcare and revenge. Frogmarch, years of jailtime, money paid back, media deconsolidation, treason trial revenge.

[kristopher]

7. aquart said it perfectly

I agree in every respect.

[Warren Stupidity]

12. Me too: what you said. nt.

[sutz12]

8. I think a lot of people were very naive about the IWR vote

I think that most who voted for it thought it was a vote for more inspections and forceful diplomacy with war and invasion as "a last resort." Hell, that is what any sane person would think. Yes, you have to keep the military option on the table as an item of leverage, but I'd bet nobody, from Saddam Hussein to the US Congress (many Republicans included) really thought that Bush, Cheney, and Rummy actually intended to invade. Anybody who knew anything at all about the region realized from the get-go what a stupid idea that was. There was a very good reason Poppa left Saddam in power, and we're seeing why right now. This could have happened 10 years ago. It should never have happened at all, of course.

The problem was that Bush, Cheney, and friends were thinking war all the way. They never intended anything but invading. Not the thinking of what we would consider rational people, but it is what it is. Once the wheels were in motion, the administration had finessed it so anybody who spoke up was a terrorist hating coward. The media were very culpable, too. What makes more exciting news than war? Good for the ratings, at least in the short term.

I'm willing, at least a little bit, to give a lot of people a bit of a pass on the IWR vote. I did for Kerry, and I will for Hillary.

[nosmokes]

10. 23 senators had the gumption to vote nay on the IWR. no one gets a pass from

me.

[hijinx87]

9. it doesn't matter any more

public support for the war has collapsed. we control the house and
the senate. the war is a dead letter; it will end soon one way or
another.

in other words, we won that one. let's move on.

I am now looking to progressive legislative issues to make my decision
as to who I will support in the primaries. support or not for the WOT
and which way a candidate voted on the IWR is largely irrelevant to me
now.

[Warren Stupidity]

11. Clinton IWR: yea nt.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. 70% of Americans supported this damn war.

Including Clinton.

They're all guilty as hell.