Taylor Marsh
snip: don’t fault any of the top tier for not promising to get out of Iraq in months, which I’ve been saying is now our reality, especially once the primary season was upon us. I do fault them for not being willing to commit to getting our troops out by 2013, as long as the caveat Bush made things worse so we can’t is included, which seems fair and obvious to anyone following this long, sad war tale. Biden’s plan for Iraq actually offers hope to make this happen and even got bipartisan support, proving that creativity is an asset even if it may not lead the author to the presidential promise land. So I find the deification propaganda being put forth by supporters of Obama and Edwards overwrought, no matter how heartfelt and righteous; as supporters postulate their candidate is more intent on redeployment from Iraq than the other. With all three unable to commit to getting out by 2013, though Obama did recently flip flop to say he’d get us out in 16 months (which is it?), they simply blur together as one choice. Beyond that it starts centering on the intangibles and emotional attachments people have for or against a candidate.
snip: I understand everyone’s passion for their particular candidate. But the arguments are specious when trumpeting policy on Iraq. Obama and Edwards have chosen to align themselves with policies that blur into being basically the same as Clinton’s. Splitting hairs over brigades and combat forces isn’t something that reaches voters. Shifting positions after the Dartmouth debate, Obama obviously realizes the mistake made. However, someone saying “I commit to having all troops out of Iraq by 2013″ — insert Bush made things worse so we can’t caveat here — is much stronger and likely will resonate with Democratic primary voters. Dodd or Richardson may not get enough votes to win the nomination, but the case they’re each making is likely to hit home in Iowa, especially since 80% of voters could change their candidate preference before the primary. There’s plenty of time left for that to happen.
Taylor Marsh
October 10, 2007
Who Wants Out of Iraq?
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