Compare & Contrast...Hillary & Obama Iraq related votes...

[1corona4u]

Since the comparison of the Iraq positions over the years of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is one of the hottest issues of the campaign, we thought it would be useful to post a comprehensive comparison of all of their votes on everything relating to the Iraq war.

So here it is: A massive compilation of Iraq-related bills -- and the votes by Hillary and Obama on them, side by side -- beginning in early 2005, when Obama first joined the Senate.


Of the total of 69 votes we compiled -- some significant, some not -- it turns out that the two differed on only one. You'll see that one in bold on our chart. But let us be clear: We are not posting this to suggest that their earlier difference at the start of the war -- their most important difference -- should in any way be overshadowed by these similarities. For many, that difference will remain paramount -- for good reason. We just wanted to add factual grist to what is but one component of the debate.


As you can see, Clinton and Obama have voted the opposite way on only one vote on our list: The confirmation of General George Casey to be Chief of Staff for the Army, held just this past February. Hillary voted against confirmation, while Obama voted to confirm.


Additionally, please don't hold it against us if we missed any important votes. No agenda here, readers. If we did, let us know, and we'll add it immediately. Herewith, our full chart of Iraq votes after the jump.

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/mar/29/comparison_of_hillary_and_obama_votes_on_iraq

[1corona4u]

1. Kicking for clarity...

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. Hear the crickets?

Nothing else matters because Hillary voted for the IWR.

[1corona4u]

3. I know....and their votes....in essence, the same.....

so that tells me that Obama would have voted for the IWR.

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. More than likely. n/t

[1corona4u]

6. I can't find a reason to believe otherwise.

[sandnsea]

5. Obama on Iraq

Has Hillary challenged this administration on their war lies? No, she insists it was all a big misunderstanding.

"However, I think what is also true is that the Administration launched the Iraq war without giving either Congress or the American people the full story. This is not a partisan claim - you don't have to take my word for it. All you need to do is to match up the Administration's statements during the run-up to the war with the now declassified intelligence estimates that they had in their possession at the time. Match them up and you will conclude that at the very least, the Administration shaded, exaggerated and selectively used the intelligence available in order to make the case for invasion.

The President told the American people about Iraqi attempts to acquire yellow cake during the State of the Union. The Vice-President made statements on national television expressing certainty about Iraq's nuclear weapons programs. Secretary Rice used the words "mushroom cloud" over and over again.

We know now that even at the time these unequivocal statements were made, intelligence assessments existed that contradicted these claims. Analysis from the CIA and State Department was summarily dismissed when it did not help the Administration make the case for war."

Being stuck with this "dumb war", does he start making crazy comments about winning it?

"In sum, we have to focus, methodically and without partisanship, on those steps that will: one, stabilize Iraq, avoid all out civil war, and give the factions within Iraq the space they need to forge a political settlement; two, contain and ultimately extinquish the insurgency in Iraq; and three, bring our troops safely home."
http://obama.senate.gov/speech/051122-moving_forward/
Nov 2005

It's regrettable that the security needs have increased so much. On the other hand, I think you can look at the country as a whole and see that there are many parts of Iraq that are functioning quite well," Clinton said.
It is time for the President to stop serving up platitudes and present us with a plan for finishing this war with success and honor – not a rigid timetable that terrorists can exploit, but a public plan for winning and concluding the war.
Nov 2005 Letter To Constituents
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4327894&mesg_id=4327894

That's the difference.

[robbedvoter]

7. Kinda dampens the "initial judgment, when I wasn't in the senate" argument

[Cameron27]

8. Interesting isn't it,

thanks for posting the info.

[1corona4u]

9. I thought so....

which just goes to show this is not about the issues, it's about the personalities, and one's personal hatred for a said candidate....

[REDFISHBLUEFISH]

10. Yeah thanks for someclarity!

[1corona4u]

11. too bad we can't get more people to read and realize how similar they are.

I guess no one wants to admit it.

[1corona4u]

12. Kicking because everyone ignores these facts...

[TriMetFan]

13. But but but...............

Obama is against the Iraq war! He said so! He even spoken against it in a anti-war rally! You Hillary lovers are just to much! Hillary voted for War!:sarcasm:

[Straight Shooter]

14. For those who lambast Hillary for not renouncing her IWR vote:

Remember that John Edwards said he made a mistake. What was the result? Some people accepted his apology, but from what I've seen on the Internet forums, he will never be forgiven for the IWR vote and a lot of people accuse him of pandering to the anti-occupation, anti-war voters. Too little, too late, people bellowed, and tore him down all over again.

Those who hate Hillary will hate her even more if she says she made a mistake. The Hillary haters will pounce on her and claim she's doing it for expediency, for craven reasons.

Hillary learned from John's experience: damned if you do, damned if you don't.