At one level - when considering the Iraq positions of the three leading Democratic candidates for President there is a clear distinction. In October,2002 Obama was right and Edwards and Hillary were wrong. Yet on another level – all three now seem to promise without equivocation to end our involvement if they become President in January, 2009.
Obama can clearly and honestly point to the October, 2002 positions and say that showed that he had better judgment on a critical issue then his two opponents. He's right about that. Obama’s supporters wonder if that one issue might make Obama a stronger candidate in the general election because he won’t have to apologize for his 2002 position the way Edwards does. I'm not so sure.
In my opinion 2002 is not the only be all and end all of discussions of each candidates' Iraq War judgment. As important as was Obama's demonstrated judgment in opposing the war authorization in 2002, there have been other important moments since then when the candidates have had an opportunity to demonstrate political judgment and moral courage.
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