Sunday/Weekday Hagel Blocks Vote on Bush’s Escalation of Iraq War
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2007
Contact: Eric Fought
(402) 434-2184
eric@nebraskademocrats.org
Sunday/Weekday Hagel Blocks Vote on Bush’s Escalation of Iraq War
LINCOLN, Neb. – Late Yesterday, Senate Republicans blocked an up-or-down vote on a resolution condemning the President’s escalation of the War in Iraq and his refusal to offer a new direction that the American people demanded in November. While 70 percent of Americans disapprove of President Bush’s misguided strategy in Iraq, both Democrats and Republicans have voiced opposition to the escalation. One of the strongest sources of opposition (prior to yesterday’s sudden change of heart) was Senator Chuck Hagel. While he might say one thing in front of the cameras, Senator Hagel is still clinging to the same “stay the course” strategy that continues to be advocated by President Bush.
Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Steve Achelpohl issued the following statement:
“Every day Nebraska’s brave men and women are serving our country in the war in Iraq. This is the most important issue facing our nation. The people of Nebraska have made it clear where they stand, now they have a right to know where Republicans like Chuck Hagel stand on the President’s escalation of the Iraq War. Yet, Hagel yesterday joined the rest of the Republicans in Washington in giving a green light to the President’s plan by blocking an up-or-down vote on a resolution condemning the President’s plan to escalate the Iraq war.
“Nebraskans and our brave men and women deserve a new strategy, not more obstruction by Republicans who insist on clinging to a failed, stay the course strategy. That is why Democrats like Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson voted to hold President Bush accountable for his plan to continue to escalate the war in Iraq by forcing our troops to police a civil war.
“By sending more troops into the middle of the Iraqi civil war, the President is not just ignoring the will of the American people, he is ignoring the lessons of history, the advice of military experts and the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. I call on Senator Hagel to stop his Sunday/Weekday hypocrisy and join Democrats in calling for a forward looking plan in Iraq that turns over the country to Iraqis and gets our brave men and women out of the crossfire of their civil war.”