This is my first diary and I picked a topic likely to cause some controversy. I just watched Obama on Face the Nation. He was okay, but that was it. He did not endorse Senator Kennedy's bill. He did not oppose it, but said he and Senator Levin supported Kennedy's aims. Obama sought a "bipartisan approach" between "immediate withdrawal" and the failed "stay the course" with a surge.
Obama was a strong opponent to the invasion. He continues to oppose the war. He seems wedded, however, to a methodology of decision-making on issues in which he tries to find middle ground. So, he is for bringing some troops home within 6 months.
That's good, but not good enough. We need to pull opponents of the war in the Senate to Kennedy's position. This is why we need a strong left wing of the Democrat Party. If nothing else, it moves the center for which Obama seems to search to the left.
More after the fold
A little full dislosure. I voted for Dean in 2004 primary and Kerry in the general election. Contributed to Kerry, like many of us. Still get his emails.
I opposed the invasion and have demonstrated against it since before it in Spring 2003, like most of us, including Obama.
In this run up to the primary, I have started to lean toward Edwards (mostly on class and poverty based issues), but my choice seemed to vacillate betwen Obama and Edwards. I'm leaning a little more to Edwards after this, but I have not written Obama off.
Edwards wants to remove 40,000 immediately, which is more than Obama, but not immediate withdrawal either. So I suppose it is a matter of degree. But I found Edward' position closer to mine now than Obama's posiion.
We need to build a strong movement for immediate withdrawal.
If nothing else, it will pull the center toward more and faster withdrawal.
Sorry I have no link. I'm just not that computer literate.
Did anyone else see Obama on Face the Nation? If so, what did you think?