Every GOP Senator Voted AGAINST Legislation Sending Body Armor to Iraq

[Oilwellian]

Save one GOP senator, every one of them voted against this Bill in the Senate. This Blog makes a very good point:

Bush threatened to VETO legislation providing body armor to our troops
by John in DC - 9/20/2004 10:42:56 AM

Here's something I REALLY hope John Kerry and Senate Democratic candidates will use in their attack ads. EVERY GOP SENATOR save one voted AGAINST legislation sending body armor to our troops, and George Bush threatened to VETO the body armor legislation TWICE.

How did that happen? It happened when John Kerry voted FOR the legislation but the Republicans almost unanimously voted against it, and Bush threatened to veto it twice. The legislation (Biden amendment #1796 to S. 1689) had everything President Bush and the military wanted for Iraq, but on October 2, 2003 the Senate Republicans opposed it and President Bush threatened to veto it because it gave new federal employees union rights, something that has NOTHING to do with the body armor our troops dearly needed.

Oh, but it gets better than that. Bush also threatened to veto the final legislation EVEN AFTER the Biden amendment was defeated. Yes, Bush threatened to DENY BODY ARMOR TO OUR TROOPS simply because he disagreed with some arcane loan mechanism in the bill - see for yourself, from the administration's own letter threatening the veto:

The Administration strongly opposes the Senate provision that would convert a portion of this assistance to a loan mechanism. If this provision is not removed, the President's senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.

So Bush threatened to veto the same bill he's now criticizing Kerry for not supporting.

Memo to Kerry... When Bush brings up the $87 billion, respond: "That would be the same body armor legislation that you threatened to veto." And when Bush says "well, I was opposed to something else in the bill, not the body armor," then you answer "so was I."

These are all the Senators voting AGAINST providing body armor to our troops:



(links within)
http://americablog.blogspot.com/archives/2004_09_19_americablog_archive.html

[Vickers]

1. Support Our Troops! You know, by flying US flag from China

On your SUVs and stuff.

Armor? ARMOR? We don't need no stinking ARMOR!

[serryjw]

8. Is that the SAME US flag that was MADE in China.......

with outsourcing of US jobs?

[GainesT1958]

2. I just don't understand the rationale..

Behind the vote of ANY Democrat not named Zell on that list--I really don't!:mad:

Well, Kerry can now nail 'em on voting AGAINST it before "voting for it"...talk about a "flip-flop" on their part...:eyes:

B-)

[jean]

3. bush wanted to put it on the credit card - have someone else pay for it

and Kerry wanted to eliminate the elites' tax break to pay for it.

[madmax]

McCain?

Good point:

"Memo to Kerry... When Bush brings up the $87 billion, respond: "That would be the same body armor legislation that you threatened to veto." And when Bush says "well, I was opposed to something else in the bill, not the body armor," then you answer "so was I."

[JohnKleeb]

4. it appears this one didnt vote against it

Most of those dems who voted against it are some of the more conservative dems and more hawkish ones too, seeing Bayh on there, makes me not surprised that Kerry didn't pick him as a running mate, because having been a soldier himself, Kerry knows and understands their struggle. BTW That guy is Lincoln Chafee, Lincoln, just join us, you'd make a great dem, I know your father was a lifelong republican but you can maybe caucus with us.

[ochazuke]

5. I know! Why don't the Kerry/Edwards people drive this point home?

Bush opposed body armor for our troops!

or

The Republicans voted against body armor for our troops!

sounds good to me.

[Norquist Nemesis]

6. I said the same thing a couple of nights ago.

I've wondered why Kerry hasn't brought it up and hope he's saving it for the debates.

I can hear Bush, "My opponent says he voted for the $87B bill before he voted against it. He changes his mind with the wind."

Then Kerry, "Mr. President, I'm shocked that you continue to misrepresent my record to the American people. There's certainly a lot of hot air coming out of the White House. Was your threat to veto the bill for real or just more hot air."

[aquart]

9. Too many words.

Mr. President, you threatened to veto body armor for our troops. THAT's why they were so ill-equipped. Every Republican Senator but one voted against body armor because YOU were against it. THAT's why our troops went naked to Iraq.

[JohnKleeb]

10. the interesting thing is the lone republican who voted with the dems on th

this* Lincoln Chafee had opposed Bush's war.

[aquart]

13. What has that got to do with protecting our soldiers?

Absolutely nothing. If you're against seeing Americans die for nothing, you're against seeing them die for nothing. That means body armor.

[JohnKleeb]

22. nothing its just interesting

[July]

19. Republicans voted against it before they voted for it. nt

[Pallas180]

7. Not surprised to see Zel Miller & Evan Bayh on there, but Nelson of Fla ??

nor is Breaus of Louisiana a surprise...but the Arkansas senators voting
with the repugnants...Linc oln and Pryor.

Miller and Breaux are retiring I think.

Lincoln, Pryor and Bayh and Nelson owe us an explanation

[JohnKleeb]

12. Thats Ben Nelson on Nebreska

Hes the most supportive of Bush of any dem after Zell

[AP]

11. Fucking flip-floppers. I thought they supported the troops.

[fortyfeetunder]

15. A perverse form of population control

Another ludicrous notion-They don't want women to abort the babies, but dammit if they can protect them after they are born!!!

[ComerPerro]

14. Republicans do this all the time

I say that Kerry really should hammer Bush for this. Because, you know Bush will bring it up in the debates. Kerry should sit down and explain why he voted against the 87 billion, and he should then menion this bill that Bush vetoed.

[Eric J in MN]

17. Bush threatened to veto either version of the bill if any part

of the money was a loan to Iraq.

Bush has NEVER vetoed a bill in his current office.

[Norquist Nemesis]

20. Yes, but keep the explanation short...

VERY SHORT, as in 10 words or less. Then hit Bush with the veto threat--"Mr. Bush wanted to be sure and stick it to the American taxpayers while at the same time bankrupting the country with $$$ of paybacks favoring the top 2% of taxpayers."

[DeepModem Mom]

16. kick

[enough]

18. And another

kick.

[Brewman_Jax]

21. Needs a kick

to show how truly compassionate the neocon rethugicans are--unless they have to spend any money. They don't mind talking, talk is cheap.

:grr:

[Karenina]

23. And another!

:kick:

[PROGRESSIVE1]

24. Chaffee opposed the GOP on this one.

[TexasLady]

25. not their kids, not their problem...

prick head mo fos

[CBHagman]

26. Bump!

N/t

[MissMarple]

27. Hypocritical, self serving, pandering fascists.

And, no, I really don't approve of George&Co, so there is no need to beat around the bush. Hummm... well maybe there is.