Updated: A Call for a McNerney Response
Thu May 10, 2007 at 05:36:51 PM PDT
(cross-posted from Calitics)
It seems pretty clear that many people in the netroots who worked hard for Jerry, donated time and time again are pretty upset with the new Representative today in his vote no on McGovern's Out of Iraq bill. Heck, even Ellen Tauscher found a way to vote to get us out of Iraq today.
No Representative will ever be perfect, especially those in more moderate districts. But this was a vote of conscious today and McNerney failed that test. I think all those who walked those precincts, threw Jerry fundraisers and made calls on his behalf deserve an explanation for his vote today.
There was not a lot of time for us to get a chance to help whip votes on this legislation. Personally, I think that is why I feel so blindsided on this. There was no indication until just shortly before the vote that McNerney might be a no.
I doubt that many of us will be satiated by any response, but it will help repair the damage done today.
Please join my in calling for an explanation in the comments and on your own blogs.
I just sent an email to his Chief of Staff, who I met at the Brew House, with a link to the above and MyDD, FDL and DWT response posts. I am sure Eden is around reading the response. Hopefully, we can get a response today or tomorrow.
Update [2007-5-10 20:58:3 by juls]: I just heard back from his CoS who says she will get me an explanation some time later tonight. I will update again when it comes.
Update [2007-5-10 22:44:35 by juls]: Here is McNerney's response. Evidently he penned this himself.
I want an end to the war in Iraq. But ending the war must be done in the most responsible way.
Today, I followed my conscience, after evaluating what I considered to be the most effective method of bringing America's involvement in this conflict to an end. That is why I voted for the supplemental bill and against the McGovern bill.
I am reminded every day of the terrible cost of this conflict. In fact, on Tuesday, I received notice that a Marine from Manteca was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Our brave men and women in uniform serving in Iraq are caught in the middle of a religious civil war.
Hundreds of billions of dollars have already been spent.
We have been fighting in Iraq longer than it took us to win the Second World War.
I feel strongly that ending the war must be done in a way that respects our soldiers, honors our veterans, provides the best chance to reduce the violence in Iraq, and prevents the violence from spreading to neighboring countries.
That's why tonight I voted again - for the third time - for the supplemental plan, which I believe is the most responsible course to take. It's the only way to ensure that Iraqis begin to take responsibility for Iraq.
The supplemental plan I voted for provides the framework to end this conflict by bringing about a diplomatic solution, which experts from across the political spectrum recognize is the only way to end the war responsibly.
I could not, in good conscience, vote for legislation like the McGovern bill that included neither specific provisions to bring about a diplomatic solution nor funding for the needs of this newly created generation of veterans. The supplemental does both.
We have to be tough but smart to bring about a responsible close to the war in Iraq. Continuing the war any longer than necessary would be unconscionable.
This was a vote of principle and one I stand behind.
I am pleased at the quick response directly from the Representative. The speed that blogs moves is a wonder to see. The statement itself, I feel is the best possible response we could have gotten. Interesting to say the least, but I wonder why so many good progressives who care about our troops voted for it. There can always be a GI Bill of sorts to come later along with diplomatic language.
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