COLEMAN SUPPORTS ESCALATING THE WAR

01/24/2007

ST. PAUL (1/24/07) – After weeks of national headlines proclaiming his opposition to President Bush’s proposed escalation of the war in Iraq, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman removed all doubt about his position today: he supports escalating the war in Iraq. Coleman today voted against a non-binding resolution expressing opposition to Bush’s plan. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed the resolution 12-9. Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel voted with the Democrats in support of the resolution.

Before the vote, Coleman said he was open to the President’s proposal although it “may even mean an increase in a given area.” [AP, 1/24/07]

“There is no longer any doubt: Senator Norm Coleman supports escalating the war in Iraq,” Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez said. “Despite more than a week of media reports proclaiming the opposite, Senator Coleman removed all doubt today. When the rubber met the road, he voted for escalation. While he may disagree with certain aspects of the plan, he supports the premise: send more American troops to Iraq.”

Since Bush made his war-escalation plan public on January 10, several national and local news outlets, political pundits and the public have had difficulty discerning Coleman’s position. A sampling of news reports:

“More Republicans came out Wednesday against the surge, including conservative Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and usual Bush backer Sen. Norm Coleman.” [New York Daily News, 1/11/07]

“Coleman opposes troop surge” [Marshall Independent, 1/11/07]

“Sen. Norm Coleman took to the Senate floor Wednesday to raise his objection to President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq[.]” [AP, 1/11/07]

As recently as today, CNN continues reporting that Coleman is among the Republicans opposing an escalation of troops in Iraq.

“Senator Coleman has pretended long enough. Now let’s correct the record and tell Minnesotans the truth,” Melendez said. “Senator Coleman supports escalating the war in Iraq.”