You have probably all heard about MoveOn's vote to see if their members wish to support the Democrat's proposal for the Iraq Funding Bill. Well, the results are in, and they are bad:
The results are in from our poll on whether to support Speaker Pelosi's proposal on Iraq: 84.6% of MoveOn members voted to support the bill. 9.2% said they weren't sure and 6.2% voted to oppose it.
While I am normally a huge fan of MoveOn, I think they failed miserably to tell their members all the facts for this vote. Here is a copy of the original mail:
Dear MoveOn member,
We've got a big decision coming up this week, and we need to make it together, as a community.
As early as Wednesday, the House may vote on a Democratic proposal on Iraq. The proposal was put together by Speaker Pelosi and Congressmen Obey and Murtha. It is going to be a close vote—the Republicans are against it and some conservative Democrats are uncomfortable with the bill.
Most, but not all, of the progressives in Congress are planning on voting for the bill. These progressives, like many of us, don't think the bill goes far enough, but see it as the first concrete step to ending the war. And President Bush is threatening to veto it for the same reason.
I've told Rep. Murtha that this was a decision for MoveOn's members to make. Now I'm asking you to help make it. Should we support or oppose the Democrats' plan? Just click here to register your view:
Notice anything missing from this letter? It never ONCE mentions funding or money! And it says that most progressives are planning to vote for it while Republicans and conservative Democrats oppose. Doesn't take much thought to guess how a MoveOn member who isn't fully informed would then vote...
I believe anyone who supports this legislation fails to realize that it is NOT a first step in ending the occupation in Iraq. It is the ONLY step that can or will be taken before the end of Bush's term. The beauty of the funding bill is that if it is worded in a way that will end the occupation it is a win-win. If Republicans accept it, we withdraw from Iraq. If they don't accept it, funding ends thanks to Republicans, and we withdraw from Iraq.
Once Democrats give away the power of the purse, though, nothing will get our troops out of Iraq before the end of Bush's term short of impeachment. Any bill that passes Congress with any teeth will simply be vetoed.
IMHO, MoveOn just approved the death warrant for 2000 more American troops and countless Iraqi civilians. I now pray that Republican Senators aren't smart enough to realize what a gift this worthless "protest" is and filibuster it. Or maybe we'll get to see just how dumb Bush is if he vetoes it...