Washblog || Democratic challenger scolds Cantwell on Iraq war stance

Democratic challenger scolds Cantwell on Iraq war stance

By Israelhand
Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 11:16:18 AM PST
Section: Diary Topic: Democrats

From the Clark County Washington Columbian http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/06292006news39507.cfm?emilStry=1

In an interview with The Columbian, Tran criticized Cantwell for not doing more to support low-income and working families and for not taking a consistent approach to environmental issues.
But her strongest comments were on Iraq. Tran called for ending what she called "the Iraq occupation" and withdrawing all U.S. forces before the end of 2006.
"The claim is we can't 'cut and run' because it will be destabilizing," she said. "But we have been there for three-and-a-half years, and that country is becoming more destabilized."
Cantwell has drawn fire from anti-war activists for her 2002 vote giving President Bush authorization to go to war in Iraq.

Tran acknowledges that her campaign is a long shot, but in a state where many are hesitant to support an otherwise decent senator, the "war thing" is a potential deal-breaker.

Tran said of Cantwell:

"It seems like she falls in line more with the Republicans in terms of her continuing support for the war," Hong Tran said. "On Iraq, Maria Cantwell isn't any different from the Bush administration."

Cantwell has done a very clumsy job of addressing this. Fair or not, this is one area in which many Democrats are vulnerable from within. In a atmosphere where support for the continued occupation if Iraq is rapidly falling, more and more voices like Tran's are being raised.

BTW, Hong Tran's website is: http://hongtran.com/main/

< The Democratic Reunion: 100 Days, 100 Voters, 100 Actions | Maria puts both feet in the Net Neutrality pool >

Democratic challenger scolds Cantwell on Iraq war stance | 10 comments (10 topical)

Crossposted

on Kos

by Israelhand on Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 11:18:25 AM PST

* 1 5.00 1 *

Of course she is not the only one

just the only one this article was about, and the only one who bothered to contact me about this.

Write a post about Mark--- I promise I won't snark about Hong Tran in the comments, and I might even say something nice :)

by Israelhand on Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 12:36:51 PM PST

* 3 5.00 1 *

Someone is challenging Cantwell?

At the risk of sounding a bit snarky, perhaps you didn't realize that Mark Wilson has been challenging Cantwell for over a year and the Democratic Party over this issue for FIVE YEARS. In addition he finds her votes for the Patriot Act, NAFTA/CAFTA, and her failure to stand for the filibuster of Sam Alito a bit troubling.

It is nice of Ms Tran to finally speak up as a Progressive spoiler who can assure Cantwell the nomination by splitting the Progressive vote in the primary. I also found it a bit troubling that, in an email to me, she stated that as a "life long Democrat" she could not take Mark seriously because of his previous party affiliations and yet a couple of weeks ago on the Robert Mack program, he pointed out the Tran was previously a registered republican.

Peace,
Chad (The Left) Shue

by The Left Shue on Thu Jun 29, 2006 at 12:20:52 PM PST

* 2 none 0 *

Dal LaMagna

And then, of course, there's the rumor that Dal LaMagna might be getting into the Senate race.

by DWE on Fri Jun 30, 2006 at 08:44:07 AM PST

* 4 none 0 *

Sorry, who dat? n/t by gibney, 06/30/2006 10:55:03 PM PST (none / 0)

Tweezerman by DWE, 07/01/2006 08:31:59 AM PST (none / 0)

Sounds like a good candidate for by gibney, 07/01/2006 10:19:40 AM PST (none / 0)

Dal LaMagna - U.S. Senate race? or WA State Senate by Lietta Ruger, 07/01/2006 09:57:57 PM PST (none / 0)

U.S. Senate. n/t by DWE, 07/01/2006 10:41:41 PM PST (none / 0)

Not running, I'm told by DWE, 07/04/2006 09:37:03 AM PST (none / 0)

Democratic challenger scolds Cantwell on Iraq war stance | 10 comments (10 topical)

<A href =