The Senate Democrats have been foiled again in their effort to decide whether or not to fund the troops.

The Senate on Wednesday rejected legislation that would cut off money for combat operations in Iraq after March 31, 2008.

The vote was a loss for Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., and other Democrats who want to end the war. But the effort picked up support from members, including presidential hopefuls previously reluctant to limit war funding - an indication of the conflict’s unpopularity among voters.

The proposal lost 29-67 on a procedural vote, falling 31 votes short of the necessary votes to advance. Of the 67 senators who opposed Feingold’s proposal, there were 19 Democrats, 47 Republicans and Connecticut Independent Joseph Lieberman. Of the 29 supporting, 28 were Democrats and Vermont Independent Bernard Sanders.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Democratic presidential front-runner, previously opposed setting a deadline on the war. But she said she agreed to back the measure “because we, as a united party, must work together with clarity of purpose and mission to begin bringing our troops home and end this war.”

Sen. Barack Obama, another leading 2008 prospect, said he would prefer a plan that offers more flexibility but wanted “to send a strong statement to the Iraqi government, the president and my Republican colleagues that it’s long past time to change course.”

The proposal had been expected to fall short of the 60 votes needed to advance under Senate rules, but was intended to gauge the tolerance of members on anti-war legislation. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid staged a series of war votes Wednesday to inform negotiations with the House on a war spending bill.

“We stand united…. in our belief that troops are enmeshed in an intractable civil war,” said Reid, D-Nev.

Feingold’s measure, co-sponsored by Reid and Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., proved divisive for Democrats.

Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he opposes any measure that cuts off money for the war.

“We don’t want to send the message to the troops” that Congress does not support them, said Levin, D-Mich. “We’re going to support those troops.”

But other Democrats said the move was necessary.

“I’m not crazy about the language in the Feingold amendment, but I am crazy about the idea that we have to keep the pressure on,” said Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., who also wants the Democratic presidential nomination.

They’re all dancing on the head of a pin saying they support the troops and then trying to justify a vote against the emergency funding bill.

Disgraceful.

Written by ~J~

3 Responses to “Who’s In Charge?”

1. Sue says:

   May 16, 2007 at 3:07 pm

   What is more frightening to me is that two of the individuals who backed this plan would like nothing more than to be Commander in Chief.

   Agree with the Iraq war or not, the men and women in uniform are there and no present or future President should ever abandon them. They can spin this all they want but any Senator who supported this bill is doing nothing more than sending that message.
2. ~J~ says:

   May 16, 2007 at 11:17 pm

   It’s actually at least 4 of their presidential candidates. Dodd co-sponsored the bill and Senators Clinton, Obama and Biden voted for it if I read it right.
3. Sue says:

   May 17, 2007 at 12:04 am

   I stand corrected..I had not given Dodd a thought as a Presidential candidate and thought I had read Biden had voted against..the eyes playing tricks I guess.

   Thanks for the heads up!