Which Democrat spoke at a 2002 anti-war rally?

[Radical Activist]

Just wondering if people will make the right guess. We all know Dennis Kucinich speaks at anti-war rallies.

Which of these Democratic leaders do you think spoke at a protest rally against the Iraq war in 2002? There is only one correct answer.

[keta11]

1. Howard Dean is definitely wrong.

As brave as he was then, he wasn't that brave. And you can bet your bottom dollar that if Barrack Obama was a US Senator then, he would not have showed up at an anti-war rally! That is how 99.99% of politicians are.

[Radical Activist]

5. well

one of those statements is correct. Howard Dean has never had the courage to speak at a protest against the iraq war at any time, ever.

[Monkeyman]

2. It was a Mayor was it not?

[Radical Activist]

3. Other Democrats did

speak at anti-war rallies. Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, for example. But, only one in this poll did.

[blm]

4. None of the known Dems - but Barack Obama did speak at an anti-war rally

when he was still a state legislator in Illinois.

Which is why it is so odd that he wouldn't sign the letter of inquiry for the Downing Street Memos and why he wouldn't vote for Iraq withdrawal even last June even when everyone in DC knew that Iraq had been in Civil War for at least 5 months at that point.

[keta11]

6. Barrack is now a US Senator so he has to be

cold and calculating!

[Radical Activist]

7. He already knew he was going to run then.

There's no reason to single Obama out for cynicism. He knew he was going to run for US Senate and still had the guts to speak at a protest rally at a time when it was extremely controversial to do so. Give the man some credit.

[blm]

14. It's great he spoke at that rally - I thought he'd be a strong voice IN the senate

but even when it was apparent that Downing Street Memos proved this nation was going to war no matter what resolution was crafted, and when it became apparent that withdrawal was necessary because Iraq had been in civil war for at least 5 months, Sen. Obama sided with the cautious wing of the party both times and did NOT do the right thing.

[flying_wahini]

8. i believe that it was Mayor Anderson, Salt Lake ?

one of the first and only Dem's at the time to come out about his anti-war beliefs.

[BayCityProgressive]

9. McKinney

spoke at one as well.

[NV Whino]

11. As did Barbara Lee

from Berkeley.

[populistdriven]

10. Wesley Clark

He is remarkably consistent on the war. Just guessing tho

[Crunchy Frog]

12. Never spoke at an anti-war rally.

He did testify before Congress though, and a number of Democrats credited him with pushing them towards a "no" vote.

[snowbear]

13. It was Obama... in Chicago...

In 2002, Obama spoke at an antiwar rally in Chicago, and as the convention neared, he reiterated his view that the U.S. war on Iraq was a defining campaign issue.

http://www.counterpunch.org/ruder08032004.html

Hey.. you didn't say we weren't allowed to Google it!

[Radical Activist]

15. For anyone who hasn't read this...

here's the text of the speech Obama gave at an anti-war rally in Oct. 2002 in Chicago.

http://usliberals.about.com/od/extraordinaryspeeches/a/Obama2002War.htm

I would suggest anyone who questions Obama's judgment as a potential President read what he said when few others had the insight and courage to say them.

From his speech:

"I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences.

I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda."