Coleman Votes Against Changing Course in Iraq

09/24/2007

Coleman Voted Friday Against Redeploying Most U.S. Troops by Summer 2008


St. Paul, MN (September 21, 2007) Senator Norm Coleman today voted against the Levin—Reed Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. This vote was Coleman’s seventh this year alone against changing course inIraq. The Minnesota DFL Party said today that Coleman is once again putting the president and his failed war inIraq ahead of the people ofMinnesota.

“Senator Coleman’s vote today against changing course in Iraq, the seventh this year alone, confirms once again that we can’t trust the senator to do the right thing for our troops or for the people of Minnesota,” said Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez.

“Norm Coleman questions the war inIraq in front of the microphones, then walks into the Senate chamber and votes with the president one more time,” continued Melendez. “Minnesotans want a leader who will stand up forMinnesota. But at the end of the day, Norm Coleman stands up for the president and his failed war inIraq every time.”

Coleman Takes Seventh Vote This Year Against Changing Course inIraq. Coleman voted against the Levin—Reed amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act on Friday. “The provision would have required the withdrawal of mostU.S. troops fromIraq beginning within 120 days of enactment. It would have removed most troops in nine months, shifting the remaining forces to support roles.” [SA 2898, Vote #346,9/21/07; Washington Post,9/21/07]

Coleman Passed on Chance to Change Course inIraq on Thursday. Coleman voted against the Feingold Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act on Thursday. The amendment required the president to transition the mission inIraq to training Iraqi Security Forces, fighting targeted operations against terrorist organizations, providing security toU.S. government personnel, and training and resupplyingU.S. troops. [SA 2924, Vote #345,9/20/07]

Coleman Has Now Voted Seven Times This Year Against Changing Course inIraq.Senator Norm Coleman has voted seven times this year alone against changing course inIraq. [Vote #346,9/21/07; Vote #345,9/20/07; Vote #252,7/18/07; Vote #147,4/26/07; Vote #126,3/29/07, Vote #116,3/27/07;, Vote #75,3/15/07]

Coleman SaysU.S. Will Be inIraq for a Long Time. In a conference call with reporters on September 4, “Coleman said he still opposes a timetable for bringing troops out ofIraq, and reiterated his view that theU.S. will be there for a long time.” [MPR,9/4/07]

ButReading Polls, Coleman Also Says Americans Want a Way Out. “‘Americans want to see a light at the end of the tunnel,’ said the Minnesota Republican, who is walking a tightrope to the 2008 election. ‘We need to see some plan out there.’” [Star Tribune,9/11/07]

Most Americans Want to Decrease Number of Troops inIraq. A recent poll by the Washington Post and ABC News shows a new high of 58 percent said they want to de crease the number ofU.S. troops inIraq, and most of those who advocate a troop reduction said they want the draw down to being either right away or by the end of the year. [Washington Post,9/9/07]

Coleman Has Supported Bush on Key Votes 90.5% of Tenure in Senate.This figure represents the four-year average of Coleman’s Congressional Quarterly presidential support index. In his first year in the Senate, Coleman backed Bush a whopping 98% of the time. [Star Tribune, Big Question,5/14/07]

Coleman Said “Whatever the Future Brings, We Must Stand With This President.” In September 2004, Coleman praised President Bush's handling of the war inIraq and said, “Whatever the future brings, we must stand with this president.” [Star Tribune, 9/22/04]