Missed Opportunity for Coleman to Change Course in Iraq

09/20/2007

Coleman Votes Against Feingold Amendment to Change Course in Iraq, Puts President and Failed War Strategy Ahead of Minnesotans Once Again


St. Paul, MN (September 20, 2007) Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman failed once again today to take action to change course in Iraq when he voted against the Feingold amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

The amendment required the president to transition the mission in Iraq within 90 days to training Iraqi Security Forces, fighting targeted operations against terrorist organizations, providing security to U.S. government personnel, and training and resupplying U.S. troops. Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar voted in favor of the amendment. [SA 2924, Vote #345, 9/20/07]

“Another day has come and gone in Washington, and Senator Coleman voted ‘no’ yet again on changing President Bush’s failed war strategy,” said Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez. “Senator Coleman is trying to have it both ways. He talks about wanting to see a plan to end the war, but when it comes to actually doing something to end it, he sticks with the president every time,” Melendez continued.

Coleman Passes Yet Another Opportunity to Change Course in Iraq:

Coleman Failed Again to Change Course in Iraq. Coleman voted against the Feingold Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment required the president to transition the mission in Iraq to training Iraqi Security Forces, fighting targeted operations against terrorist organizations, providing security to U.S. government personnel, and training and resupplying U.S. troops. [SA 2924, Vote #345, 9/20/07]

Before Today, Coleman Had Already Voted Five Times This Year Against Taking Action to Change Course in Iraq. Before today’s vote, Senator Norm Coleman had already voted five times this year alone against a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq. [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; NPR, 7/17/07]

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

But Reading 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 in Iraq. A new poll by the Washington Post and ABC News shows a new high of 58 percent said they want to de crease the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, 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 in Iraq and said, “Whatever the future brings, we must stand with this president.” [Star Tribune, 9/22/04]