Hutchison Says She Would Have Voted Differently On Iraq War

SAN ANTONIO, Tex.--U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) Thursday night declared that she would not have voted for the war in Iraq had she known there were no weapons of mass destruction in that country.

Responding to a question at a televised League of Women Voters' debate in Central Texas concerning whether she would have voted differently on the war in Iraq had she known that the nation had no weapons of mass destruction and no connection to al Queda, Hutchison said she would not have voted for the war.

Responding to a question at a televised League of Women Voters' debate in Central Texas concerning whether she would have voted differently on the war in Iraq had she known that the nation had no weapons of mass destruction and no connection to al Queda, Hutchison said she would not have voted for the war.

"If I knew then what I had known now on the weapons of mass destruction, which was a key reason I voted the way I did, I would not have voted to go into Iraq then," Hutchison said.

This came in a debate between Hutchison, Texas' senior senator, Democrat Barbara Ann Radnofsky (D-Houston) and Libertarian Scott Lanier Jamison in which Radnofsky, who is running an uphill race, kept the heat on Hutchison who found herself on the defensive time after time on issues ranging from immigration to her votes against the minimum wage.

While Hutchison was on the defensive Radnofsky was on the offensive, and had help from the panel of journalists asking questions. The journalists specifically asked Hutchison about her broken promise to run for only two terms in the U.S. Senate.

Hutchison said that she now believed that Texas could be at a disadvantage because not all states have term limits. However, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that neither United States Senators nor U.S. Congressmen are able to be controlled by state term limits laws:

"I favored them  then and favored them now," Hutchison said on term limits. "If you have term limits for one state but not others, it disadvantages your state...I have decided to run for a third time because I want to do what is best for Texas."

And, while Hutchison touted bringing home more money for transportation during the Phil Gram era, Hutchison continued to point out her hypocrisy:

"For anyone to say that Rhode Island has the same infrasturcture needs is not from this planet," Radnofsky said.

•  It was a magnificent showing

  by Barbara Ann, and a poor one for Kay Bailey. Thanks for covering this!

  by MrLiberal on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:06:46 PM PDT

•  Why does Sen. Hutchison Hate Freedom?

  Just a month ago, that would have been heresy.

  Now, it's self-preservation.

  by GregP on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:07:10 PM PDT

  •  She is not from this planet.

    The evidence signs are everywhere. And term limits are for losers, when there's so much more to do for herself and the Republican crime machine Texas.

    by doinaheckuvanutjob on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 09:56:01 PM PDT

    •  That was a beautiful line

      by TXsharon on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 06:51:56 AM PDT

•  This is critical..

  What happens when Republicans start talking like Dems?

  I don't know the answer, but I've been waiting for this for a while...

  Thanks,

  Recommended..

  by kidneystones on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:12:12 PM PDT

  •  My

    head explodes?

    by SadTexan on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:29:39 PM PDT

  •  I've noticed that

    Repubs are running on Dem issues & acting like nobody knows.  Renewable energy, healthcare, education, etc, etc.  & they're running away from Iraq like their butts are on fire.

    I'm home sick & watching a CSpan debate marathon.  The RI re-run is on now.  The CT is coming on soon.  

    Rad was a real tough customer, KBH looked weak, & Jamison looked nervous.  

    Chafee also looked a bit weak & Whitehouse was confident.  

    Brown v DeWine was interesting.  Brown did well, but he kept putting his hands in his pockets, which I found distracting.  DeWine looked like a slimeball & wouldn't back down from his sludge ads, but Brown called him out on it.  

    DeWine got $73,000 in tax returns (over 5 years?), & said he doesn't know what he spent it on...probably education!  A lot of Ohions would like to have that kinda cash for educating their kids.  He then said a family of 4 got $2,000 & a single parent got a $500 child tax credit.  Can't buy much education with that.

    CT is on a 01:AM (Eastern).  

    by x on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 09:41:57 PM PDT

    •  The voters they're pitching this manure to are

      not supposed to know the difference.

      Low attention voters, you know.

      by doinaheckuvanutjob on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 09:57:03 PM PDT

•  Oh Sure

  Hutchinson votes however she is told to by leadership.  Saw part of this debate..Kay is as pathetic as ever.  

  by mojavefog on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:14:47 PM PDT

•  What?

  You've got to be shitting me. KBH is the ultimate Republican tool. If she's soured on this, then everyone has.

  by pb on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:18:09 PM PDT

  •  Feingold...

    ....has indicated that more than a few Republicans have come up to him and said that they basically agree that the war was a mistake, but for political reasons can't come out and say it. Maybe KBH has changed her mind about that.

    by metal prophet on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:21:01 PM PDT

    •  Soured? More like desperately seeking the very

      bottom of the floor.

      There is absolutely nothing this gang of criminals will not stoop to. When they have known for years that they can say one thing and do the other, why shouldn't they take advantage of that, no matter how outrageous. Who will hold someone like KBH accountable? This is not CT.

      She has a history of indictment and deception. This is easy for her.

      by doinaheckuvanutjob on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:07:08 PM PDT

•  I wish Kerry would have said that

  in 2004.

  by franziskaner on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:19:03 PM PDT

  •  Dennis Kucinich said it

    I think that man would have made a great President. He was a terrible candidate but he would have made a great Prez.

    Unlike Ralph Nader who's just an ass hole.

    by Mikesco on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 09:06:26 PM PDT

  •  2004 is history

    Barbara Ann kicked ass tonight,
    and that is what really matters

    by v2aggie2 on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:42:44 PM PDT

•  Watched the debate too

  Radnofsky was rad.

  If you want to see her in action, check her out in this interview:

  Barbara Ann Radnofsky Pounces Pundits

  This gal is on fire. Please - watch these.

  It's a half hour total in 4 segments.

  Enjoy!

  Part 1

  Part 2

  Part 3

  Part 4

  by ZappoDave on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:21:59 PM PDT

  •  BAR nailed the arguments

    But the format was designed for KBH. No audience to interact with, no follow-up questions, and no one new where the camera was. KBH figured it out for her closing statement, but you never felt like anyone in this debate was speaking to real people. I thought Barbara needed to loosen up. I'm afraid she came off as too angry and formal most of the time. There needed to be something to allow her to bring a little lighter personality...even humor. I know the people I work had tuned her out after a few responses. They're used to KBH and kinda like her (cringe). What I wouldn't give for BAR to have a little bit of Ann Richards' style. At any rate, given that there's only this one debate, I'm not real optimistic about BAR's chances. I sure hope she runs again. She proved in the sitdown interview that ZappoDave has linked above, that she's unexcelled when in the right format. She'll win the argument every time. If only democrats would vote, we'd be golden.

    by jiml on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:39:28 PM PDT

    •  Agree on the format

      I hope she keeps running. She would be a great member of a 2008 Dem Administration too.

      Governor Radnofsky.

      by ZappoDave on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:43:40 PM PDT

    •  BAR improved and KBH sank.

      There was cheering in my house for Barbara Ann as the debate progressed.

      I am not saying she was perfect but it was a home run.

      by UScitizen on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:57:14 PM PDT

•  Fluck her n/t

  by BoxerRebellion on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:30:18 PM PDT

•  Radnofsky would win the Senate seat if...

  we could get every Texan to watch that debate.

  Radnofsky is RAD!

  I volanteered for her campaign immediately after the debate. I hope she gets some national attention, she deserves it.

  She is five foot nine and a hell-of-a woman.

  by UScitizen on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:30:53 PM PDT

  •  volunteered...sigh

    either way I want to help her get elected.

    by UScitizen on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:33:23 PM PDT

•  God, I hate that woman

  A senate without Kay Bailey Turdface will be a like ... a day with sunshine!

  by JuliaAnn on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:31:02 PM PDT

  •  I hope I never again have to watch

    that woman on C-Span.  I want to vomit every time I see her face.  

    by TXsharon on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 06:55:08 AM PDT

•  This is ridiculous!!

  Why the hell do all of a sudden Republicans think they can go around saying "the war may have been a mistake" so close to the elections?! Is this not painfully clear to everyone?! What an obvious ploy to spread the "criticism" badge. I bet you had she been in a more competitive race, she would be acting differently.

  by AntonX2 on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:32:38 PM PDT

•  Wow. Amazing. She is such a conservative

  The silence from the media not covering this story is deafening.

  by bluestatedude on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:33:13 PM PDT

  •  It is our duty to put this out there

    Spread it far and wide.  If you blog, blog it.  If you don't blog start NOW!  You can get a free blog on blogger.

    Send information to your email contacts.  Make flyers.

    We ARE the media, folks.

    by TXsharon on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 06:57:11 AM PDT

    •  TXSharon is right

      WE have become the media.

      by liberaldemdave on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 08:29:59 AM PDT

      •  The media is nonexistent when it comes to Bushco.

        N/T

        by txbirdman on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 07:57:00 PM PDT

•  This coming fron the senior senator...

  from red state Texas says one of two things.

  A) The wheels are coming off the GOP's war reasoning wagon.
  or
  B) The smell of hot tar and the sight of freshly plucked chicken(hawk)s have her running for self-preservation.

  Either one, I like it.

  by entiel on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 08:51:18 PM PDT

•  The term limits question for KBH was soft ball.

  The question was framed to help KBH, not to put her on the spot.

  I thought it was obvious she expected the question and was ready with an answer that might allow her some political cover for breaking her pledge.

  Texas can be brought into play...it is not too late.

  by UScitizen on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 09:06:38 PM PDT

  •  I'm not sure she was told . . .

    But she had to know it was coming.  SO yes, she was prepared.  But her comments did her no good.  In this climate, it went over like hot lead.

    by rocksolid27 on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 08:12:27 AM PDT

  •  KBH may have anticipated the question

    ...but there is no way she could have anticipated BAR's absolutely brilliant reply! Preserving Texas' "seniority" in the Senate for a seat that she doesn't plan to occupy for the entire term? Straight to the bottom of the seniority totem pole...

    Way to go, BAR!!!

    by liberaldemdave on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 08:32:17 AM PDT

  •  The important thing was Barbara Ann's response

    to KBH's statements about term limits.

    KBH said her reason for going back on her pledge not to serve more than two terms was that states that abide by term limits are disadvantaged in the Senate by losinng seniority. So, "for the benefit of Texas" she was going to run for another term.

    But BAR made these very important points:

    1. KBH refuses to say that, if elected, she will serve for her full six-year term, and she refuses to sign a pledge that she will serve her full term.

    2. KBH, if elected, will quit the Senate during her term in order to run for a different office.

    3. The replacement TX senator will be #100 in seniority.

    by roses on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 07:43:15 PM PDT

•  met her once

  I met her once in Washington and I was not impressed and she couldn't even remember the name of the group we were with being from Texas and all. Thanks for posting this Vince.

  by truthserum on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 09:57:12 PM PDT

•  KBH was very convincing, actually

  Her overall manner and demeaner....extremely good presentation, totally convincing ...provided one wasn't prepared with the facts and with some exposure beforehand to RAD's experience and positions.

  The seniority and experience message adds that fear, uncertainty, and doubt about replacing her with a newcomer.

  I personally was just about cheering for RAD and had to blink to make sure she wasn't Annie Oakley twirling a pair of six-shooters (or whatever you call them darn things...with the holsters...and the boots...and the spurs....).

  by LNK on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 10:54:00 PM PDT

  •  BARwas like a freight train

    and dumb old KBH was standing in the middle of the tracks blinking.  BAR flattened her on the first question and she was never able to recover.

    by TXsharon on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 06:59:58 AM PDT

•  A slam dunk victory for Barbara Ann!

  Barbara Ann was powerful, organized, and prepared.
  There is a reason KBH was ducking the debate.

  KBH was her typical plastic self, merely parroting the Rovian lines

  by v2aggie2 on Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 11:17:59 PM PDT

  •  Powerful is an understatement

    She was a dynamic powerhouse and she took control of the debate.

    by TXsharon on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 07:01:24 AM PDT

  •  Parroting lines like this

    cut and run
    cut and run
    cut and run

    Does anyone have a count for how many times the KBH parrot spewed those lines.

    My favorite part was where BAR did counter punch KBH on the infrastructure issue where KBH thinks Texas should be on par with Rhode Island.  Pop!

    by SoniaS on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 08:42:04 AM PDT

    •  parroting

      and WHY was that not a banner headline on every newspaper in the state? love it or hate it, it was great politics.

      by ag8grl on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 09:02:14 AM PDT

•  Hmmm . . .

  What happens when Republicans start talking like Dems?

  Not all Dems who voted for the Iraq resolution in 2002 have said what Hutchinson is saying, like John Kerry in 2004 (has he finally said it since?) and Hillary Clinton now and of course the godawful Lieberman (doesn't count as a real Dem) and other Dems whose names escape me. What KBH did might be a turning point on the GOP side but her admission also highlights Dems who stubbornly cling to unreality after all these years and refuse to admit they were wrong on that vote and were duped by the Bush-Cheney propaganda lies about WMDs, AQ connection etc because somehow they fear being called "soft on terror" should they run for president or just for re-election.

  The fact that Congress was lied to (point blank by Bush in his SOTU 2003 about Niger uranium and aluminum tubes -- an impeachable offense) to rationalize the invasion of Iraq is one of the most outrageous acts in American history. But never mind the lies, just saying the intel was wrong and therefore their vote was wrong. Why don't these stubborn Dems take leadership to speak this truth, especially before Republicans like Hutchinson get out ahead of them and make them look like perfect fools? Until they admit they were wrong on the Iraq vote they are propping up Bush as being right.

  by wardlow on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 01:37:25 AM PDT

  •  Dems might also fear

    "letting down the troops" by saying their vote was wrong on the Iraq resolution. Not telling the truth is what lets down the troops.

    by wardlow on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 01:40:57 AM PDT

    •  The Dems who still support

      the war don't give a rat's ass about the troops and ONLY care about their own asses getting the moderate vote.

      They should decide if they are Democrats who tell the citizens the truth or Republicans who lie and manipulate.

      I'm not a black and white person by any means but this is a line in the sand for me.  Any Democrat who is on the wrong side of that line is toast as far as I'm concerned.

      by TXsharon on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 07:15:56 AM PDT

•  AFTER THE FACT...it is always easier

  to say you wouldn't have done something, but realistically the worthless politicians in the House and Senate are VOTED TO BE THERE and represent WE THE PEOPLE>..

  They have HUGE staffs who investigate ALL the issues, they KNEW what they were dealing with and this bullshit about many of them saying 'had they known', they would have voted differently...

  FUCK THEM, they knew, damn straight each and everyone knew, it is called politics, it is about lining ones' pockets..

  I remember when a Congresswoman from Georgia (the black chick) back in 1996 made the PROFOUND statement that she was not aware that there were POOR, STARVING CHILDREN IN HER STATE...WTF?!?!?!

  Then Staphanoupolous (sure I killed his name, who cares) said that the WH was not aware of the plight of children in AMERICA and that the WH wasn't aware that there were over 2 million HOMELESS children...and surely there weren't and if there truly was a problem in AMERICA, the Administration would have been 'all over it'...

  That is when I lost respect for Hillary, who tauted herself to be an advocate of Children through the Children's Defense Fund and who was clearly out of touch with reality...as was most of the high ups at the CDF...

  by Barbara on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 07:18:33 AM PDT

•  From another Texas Democratic nominee.

  My blue-state friends, the most important elections in the country on November 7 are those in Texas. If you want to uproot the evil that afflicts the country and the world you have to go to where the roots are. The evil sprouted here in my beloved Texas and this is where the evil has to be dug up by the roots and eradicated. This is the only place it can be dug up by the roots. Then when the Bushite gangsters fall in Texas it will start a rapid domino chain. But there is no tomorrow. We have to do it NOW, this year.

  We populist Texas Democrats who came up from our own Texas roots this year to fight the gangsters who are running the country and our state are striking strong chords among our fellow Texans. My friend Barbara Radnofsky tore KBH up partly because Barbara is so smart, but more importantly because she is genuine, passionate, and is laying her convictions out there on the line. Texans like people with convictions who say what they mean and mean what they say. That's my magnificent Barbara.

  Our whole slate of Democrats this year in the Lone Star State fit that description. Watch for Texas election results that the media pundits will treat as a huge shocking surprise. But it won't surprise my ticketmates or myself, because we are grassroots Texans who know what is really going on among the people of our state. You see, here in our state where the Bushite con job started and where people have been hoodwinked by it longer than anyone else, lots of Texans who spent 25 years giving those hustlers their political support have awakened from the hypnosis and realized it was all a pack of greedy lies. A lot of them are madder than even any Democrats because they know they got tricked and betrayed. Vengeance will be theirs on November 7.

  As a deep East Texas rural county judge told me during my whistlestop tour in the summer, "These country people around here are a lot smarter than the rich folks in Washington think they are."

  David Van Os

  Democratic nominee for Texas Attorney General
  www.vanosfortexasag.com

  by TX AG Candidate Van Os on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 07:33:49 AM PDT

  •  DVO Hit the Nail On the Head!

    For far too long, the rural vote has been taken for granted. Those of us in rural Texas have been starving for someone, ANYONE, in the political process to pay attention to us...

    WE will show up at the polls and turn out our fellow farmers, ranchers and neighbors and on Nov. 8th the MSM will wake up and say WTF? How did we miss this story?

    We know the answer. They're too smug to get outside of their urban comfort zones and have scoffed at the grass roots campaigning of people like David Van Os, Hank Gilbert and BAR!

    by liberaldemdave on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 08:40:07 AM PDT

  •  Kay Baby (waagghhhhh)

    Remember how up in arms she was because of Clinton
    committing perjury.  This is the worst, etc. etc.
    Then when the special prosecutor hands down a perjury
    charge on Scooter Libby, Hutchinson says that it was JUST a perjury charge. What's the big deal.  Talk about your hypocrisy.  
    Libby's was about getting a CIA operative outed over
    revenge for a truth being leaked out, and Clinton's
    was about a sexual deal with a consenting adullt.  Did
    I say consenting, how about predator adult  (MONICA).
    Why didn't they get a treason charge, by the way????
    MadinTexas

    by madintexas on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 08:42:29 AM PDT

  •  from another.............

    AMEN. david has been saying this forever and he's right and it should inspire us to work as hard as he does. okay- maybe not. david and rae are too amazing and i'm too selfish. now, what can we do about all these stupid editorial boards? example- the AAS praises john courage one day, lists his terrific list of qualifications, and endorses lamar smith the next day. i should give up local papers, i guess.
    jamie

    by ag8grl on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 08:49:26 AM PDT

•  I Got a Sense

  That KBH was not as knowledgeable about the issues as Barbara.

  To me Barbara did at least the following:

  1.  She proved she will fight for Texas and Texans.

  2.  She proved she had the will and ability to stand against unpopular votes and causes - even to her own party when it is wrong.

  3.  She proved she was in touch with Texas and Texans.

  4.  She proved she was quick on her feet, resourceful and VIBRANT.

  5.  She proved she could separate the bull from bullshit; the process from the result; and the fact from the fantasy of politics.

  6.  She proved she could talk and chew gum at the same time; a rare trait for politicians today, that is, that she had knowledge and expertise across a wide spectrum; understood the ramifications and gray areas of the issues yet was unflincing about demanding more and better outcomes.

  7.  She proved she could listen and consider issues and varying points of view.  

  To me point # 7 is not easily displayed within this format.

  Barbara took the offensive and stayed on offense throughout the exchange.

  CONGRATULATIONS BARBARA AND STAFF.  Hard work, preparation and good job.

  Bill Burkett

  by rocksolid27 on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 08:09:40 AM PDT

  •  I would add that Barbara came across as

    very strong, principled, and courageous.

    All too few politicians project a quality of inner strength in their convictions, coupled with an openness to new ideas. But when a politician does, voters find that appealing and are even willing to accept some differences on issues because they know the candidate will inevitably try to do what he or she believes is the right thing to do and will also try to truly represent constituents. Barbara has that quality (as does the Rep. candidate Schlesinger in CT, for that matter), and it provides quite a contrast to KBH.

    Unfortunately, I don't think very many people actually watched this debate. And so far I can't find any video of it online.

    by roses on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 07:56:50 PM PDT

•  big fun

  yeah, bar was a little eager and harsh but she won hands down. i watched it at the josephine theater in san antone before the web cast and we turned it into a sort of rocky horror experience. yep, BIG fun. up close and personal she[bar] is truly a warm and lovely woman- in case you were wondering. it's quite a mountain she's been trying to move and she's earned as much support as we can muster. it's great to feel so good about a candidate and we had a theater full!
  check the website for the post-debate webcast[may take a day].
  jamie

  by ag8grl on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 08:37:14 AM PDT

•  If a politician falls in the forest...

  Does it make a sound?

  That is the real question.

  BAR mopped the floor with KBH. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that the total viewing audience was already overwhelmingly in support of BAR.

  My county chair called people to remind them of the debate...from both political stripes...The Rethuglican line was overwhelmingly, "why should I watch? I've already made up my mind."

  How do we get the Dem. message out when people are so apathetic and so ready to just march in lockstep? We must continue to encourage people to open their minds. We would love to do it with a crowbar but that's the wrong tactic... We must find some "velvet glove" approach to not come across as angry and bitter at being in the minority.

  How do we do that? Does anyone have any ideas?

  by liberaldemdave on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 08:46:10 AM PDT

•  She's one of Bush's bitches and a cheerleader too

  They all stick together, in torture, in lies, in greed, and hating America.

  by txbirdman on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 07:54:54 PM PDT

•  I worked at Tarrant County Democrats headquarters

  today, and people were coming in and raving about how good Bar was and how she blew Kaybe out of the water.  You gotta love it, and I missed the whole damn debate.

  by txbirdman on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 07:59:34 PM PDT

•  Bar rocks

  I don't understand why Barbara Ann isn't getting more press. She blasted Ho-hum Hutchison away last night and what does the press say? "KBH wishes she hadn't voted to go to war." This is nonsense. Barbara Ann was well-organized and spoke about the future. Her website is awesome. How can people still be asleep?

  by Freidenker on Fri Oct 20, 2006 at 09:14:03 PM PDT