2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Is it now abundantly clear why DWS and Hillary want to limit exposure to voters? [View all]BlueCaliDem
(15,438 posts)As a politically informed citizen of the United States, I have always done what I feel is best for the future of our country and all her people, not just a special subset. I also understand politicians are human and they err from time to time. The question then becomes, do they have the wherewithal to offer an apology for that error?
But if you Sanders supporters want to remain unforgiving despite her apology, and continue with hammering Hillary Clinton about her vote for the 2002 AUMF Against Iraq, how about showing some integrity and hold Sanders to account for voting YEA for H.R. 4655 on 10-05-1998 - the bill that George W. Bush used and included in the Authorization For Use of Military Force Against Iraq (IWR)?
This is the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 that U.S. Rep Sanders voted YEA on:
Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 - Declares that it should be the policy of the United States to seek to remove the Saddam Hussein regime from power in Iraq and to replace it with a democratic government.
Authorizes the President, after notifying specified congressional committees, to provide to the Iraqi democratic opposition organizations: (1) grant assistance for radio and television broadcasting to Iraq; (2) Department of Defense (DOD) defense articles and services and military education and training (IMET); and (3) humanitarian assistance, with emphasis on addressing the needs of individuals who have fled from areas under the control of the Hussein regime. Prohibits assistance to any group or organization that is engaged in military cooperation with the Hussein regime. Authorizes appropriations.
Directs the President to designate: (1) one or more Iraqi democratic opposition organizations that meet specified criteria as eligible to receive assistance under this Act; and (2) additional such organizations which satisfy the President's criteria.
Urges the President to call upon the United Nations to establish an international criminal tribunal for the purpose of indicting, prosecuting, and imprisoning Saddam Hussein and other Iraqi officials who are responsible for crimes against humanity, genocide, and other criminal violations of international law.
Expresses the sense of the Congress that once the Saddam Hussein regime is removed from power in Iraq, the United States should support Iraq's transition to democracy by providing humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people and democracy transition assistance to Iraqi parties and movements with democratic goals, including convening Iraq's foreign creditors to develop a multilateral response to the foreign debt incurred by the Hussein regime.
Read the full text of the AUMF Against Iraq here and scroll down to find that the 1998 law was included: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-107publ243/html/PLAW-107publ243.htm
So Sanders wasn't all that against invading Iraq in order to depose of Saddam. Oooh. He didn't tell you? My word. How remiss of him.
And unlike Sanders, Hillary Clinton pushed for the Brady Bill and as Senator, voted against the PLCAA. AND she apologized for her YEA vote on the 2002 AUMF Against Iraq.
Sanders has refused to apologize for his wrongheaded votes on the above, and he's yet to be held account for his vote on the 1998 Iraq Liberation Act.
Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.