CA 11

Obey or Hoyer/Emmanuel?

Looks like McNerney will have to pick sides.

David Obey (D-WI) Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee said an Iraq funding bill will not be released from his committee without a withdrawal date. He also says he wants a war tax.

Steny Hoyer (D-MD) the House Majority Leader, basically said he's scared of a funding fight.

Rahm Emmanuel (D-IL) stumbled all over himself about ending the Iraq war on Real Time with Bill Maher the other night. Basically he said "we need a new president so we can bring the troops home". Give the video a look (it is breathtakingly depressing).

So the question: Whose side will McNerney choose?

Answer: I have no idea but he has positioned himself to embrace either side.

On one hand McNerney says "I want a date certain withdrawal timeline" which leans toward supporting the Obey path. Also, he was pissed at the Dem leadership when the last Iraq supplemental was brought to a vote.

On the other hand McNerney keeps saying "we don't have the votes" which can be interpreted as: "I don't want the political fallout of a funding fight" and/or "let's punt the Iraq War to the next president".

I can only hope McNerney will be willing to go the mat to end the war. It's what he was elected to do and it's the right thing to do.

posted by brian @ 3:53 PM