Coleman Votes for Victory, Against Tying Commanders’ Hands
Democrats were able to block an amendment today to the Iraq funding bill that would have stripped out the retreat date. By a vote of 50 to 48, Democrats were able to maintain the micromanaging benchmarks and cut and run date in the funding bill.
The amendment defeated today was proposed by Senator Thad Cochran, a Republican, and cosponsored by nearly a dozen others. It contained this language as its mission:
To strike language that would tie the hands of the Commander-in-Chief by imposing an arbitrary timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, thereby undermining the position of American Armed Forces and jeopardizing the successful conclusion of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
4 Senators crossed lines on this vote.
Democrats Joe Lieberman (Conn) and Mark Pryor (Ark.) voted with the Republicans and in support of the commanders on the ground.
Republicans Chuck Hagel (Can’t seriously be considering running for President as a Republican still) and Gordon Smith of Oregon voted for defeat and retreat with the pacifist Democrats.
Senator Norm Coleman (R MN) voted with Republicans in support of the military.
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