2008 Woodie Awards
Republicans Desperate to Stifle Debate on Iraq
Kristen Becker
Issue date: 2/14/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Last November, Americans used their votes to send a clear message to our elected officials in Washington - we wanted an end to the war in Iraq. Despite the results of the midterm elections, which gave Democrats majorities in the House and Senate, Republicans still feel they can ignore the American public.
There are currently four non-binding resolutions discussing President Bush's plan to send an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq proposed in the Senate. Two condemn the escalation, one supports the president's plan and the last opposes any cuts in funding for the war. One of the resolutions opposed to the troop surge is sponsored by Republican Sen. John Warner of Virginia and is receiving increased support among members of both parties. Despite this bipartisan support, many Republican senators decided to block a debate on all of these resolutions.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell explained the motives behind the filibuster saying, "We [Republicans] are, in effect, being denied a fair process for the extremely important debate."
Americans are the ones being denied a fair political process. For almost four years, Republican control of the House and Senate meant that there was little debate on the president's policies in Iraq and the Middle East and almost no oversight. Rather than fulfilling their duty to be a check on the president and prevent him from abusing the powers of his office, Republicans (and the Democrats who refused to speak out) allowed the Bush administration to mismanage the war in such a way that it has completely spiraled out of control.
During a speech on the floor of the Senate, House Majority Leader Harry Reid explained the importance of debate on the war. "As senators, we owe it to our troops and our people to have a real debate about the way forward in Iraq," the Nevada Democrat said. "For four years, this body has sat silent on the most pressing issue facing our country. As thousands of our soldiers were killed and tens of thousands wounded, the Senate sat silent."
Although the filibuster is an important tradition that gives the minority a voice in the government, the fact that it was abused to silence a debate that should have happened four years ago is a slap in the face to American democracy.
There are currently four non-binding resolutions discussing President Bush's plan to send an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq proposed in the Senate. Two condemn the escalation, one supports the president's plan and the last opposes any cuts in funding for the war. One of the resolutions opposed to the troop surge is sponsored by Republican Sen. John Warner of Virginia and is receiving increased support among members of both parties. Despite this bipartisan support, many Republican senators decided to block a debate on all of these resolutions.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell explained the motives behind the filibuster saying, "We [Republicans] are, in effect, being denied a fair process for the extremely important debate."
Americans are the ones being denied a fair political process. For almost four years, Republican control of the House and Senate meant that there was little debate on the president's policies in Iraq and the Middle East and almost no oversight. Rather than fulfilling their duty to be a check on the president and prevent him from abusing the powers of his office, Republicans (and the Democrats who refused to speak out) allowed the Bush administration to mismanage the war in such a way that it has completely spiraled out of control.
During a speech on the floor of the Senate, House Majority Leader Harry Reid explained the importance of debate on the war. "As senators, we owe it to our troops and our people to have a real debate about the way forward in Iraq," the Nevada Democrat said. "For four years, this body has sat silent on the most pressing issue facing our country. As thousands of our soldiers were killed and tens of thousands wounded, the Senate sat silent."
Although the filibuster is an important tradition that gives the minority a voice in the government, the fact that it was abused to silence a debate that should have happened four years ago is a slap in the face to American democracy.
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