Why did Democrats initially support the war in Iraq, and then turn their backs on this decision?

Question

I'm a Democrat, and have always been. I worry that in the next election this will come back to haunt them. I mean, I look at so many Democrats, and so many of them supported the War. Don't you think it looks bad when they supported the War, and then turned their backs on it for Political Gain?

Answer 1

Basically, because they had no choice. At the time, despite the rational and foresighted logical thinking that told us that "to go to war with Iraq without Just Cause is wrong and will have long lasting repercussions", the manner in which the President "played" on the fears of America in his selling of the war, made it virtually impossible not to support it. There were those who initially opposed the war and spoke out against it. However, they were labeled "weak" and "un"-American because of their opposition to the war. Politcally, they had to support it. As time went on, and things in Iraq became increasingly unstable and the reasons for our commitment to the war were exposed as false and unsubstantiated pretexts, again, "politically", they had to "turn their backs on it". The sum of it all was and is... "They supported it for political gain, and now oppose it for the same political gain. If we look closely at most politicians, Democrat or Repulican, they all make themselves look bad by the hypocracy of their actions.
It now appears as though there was a secret and unspoken agenda behind our involvement in Iraq. That would be to flush out Iran for the true "world enemy" that they are. I would imagine that we will be at war with Iran by the end of the year. This is something that would have been extremely difficult to justify had we not already been in Iraq. Time will tell who the political winners and losers are, but, rest assured that virtually none of our elected officials will make any decisions without closely examining how it will affect their political future.

Answer 2

Yes, this will most definitely hurt them, and it's hurt them in the past as well. This is what they are known for. They tend to base their policies off of what is popular at the moment. Take Hillary for example. She voted for the war, then a little over a year before the elections, she was against it because it was becoming unpopular. Or was it for political gain for the Democrats? She said she was convinced that Iraq was the right thing to do and that Bush talked her into it. How does that in any way indicate that she can think for herself? Look at John Kerry. Yes he fought in the war in Vietnam. But when he came home, he started protesting against the war because it was unpopular. Just like when he voted for the Iraq war, but then he was against it during the Presidential campaign. It funny how the timing for mood changes happen in the Democratic Party. Don't get me wrong, I think the Dems have done a lot of good things. I just can't stand the fact that they change their minds so much. Why can't they stick with one story?

Answer 3

As I see it the Democrats are politicising the war. They see the the change in power in congress as a "mandate" against the war. However the truth is that it was a "mandate" onc
legislators abadaning the people they represent.

THe democrats say the President lied and focus on whe weapons of mass destruction statement and ignore the rest of the reasons given to go into Iraq.

They also look at athe polls with the falling popularity of the war and say the people are aginst it. Well to be fair you must look at the actual question asked and to whom. SO like I said it is all political.

Answer 4

Well since you haven't paid attention to news, T.V., or the newspapers let me fill you in: We were for the war because the intelligence that was brought before us clearly showed us and gave a good case for war. It's now been shown that the administration supressed intelligence that did not make a good case for war and only showed the intelligence that made a good case for the invasion. Secondly, we, like the American people had faith that this administration would be competent in it's decisions regarding the war. Obviously, that faith was sorely misplaced. I understand war is not always as rosy as we would like it to be, but the administration has been incompetent on so many fronts it cannot even be defended. That's why there are so many people that have left the administration starting with Colin Powell and ending with the generals that left because they didn't agree with the Bush administration. I don't think that the American people will stand for it any longer.

Answer 5

The current policy isn't working. The original idea was to topple Saddam, and return Iraq to a stable Democracy (like it ever had one recently). It isn't working.

If Bush had started listening to people other than Cheney and Rumsfield, we wouldn't have gotten to this point. We have, and he can't be allowed to continue blindly following the present course.

Why we got here is not important at the moment. Who voted for what and why they did it isn't important either, so let's quit flogging a dead horse.

Leaving Iraq right now does not seem like a good play. I don't see where sending another 20K troops buys us anything either. There is a commission report sitting on the table being ignored. How about we all stop poulticing, and take a look at what we want to accomplish in Iraq, and whether we have the means to do it.

-Dio

Answer 6

Unlike in the past we basically have politicians and no longer have any statesmen.

Any fool can make a decision if it is popular, but it takes courage to do the right thing.There will be serious repercussions if we end up with a president that only will do what is politically expedient for that moment

Answer 7

everybody knew it was once unlawful while Blair twisted it and Conservatives supported the conflict on the 2nd. This was once the view of Lib-Dems for in any respect cases. Lord Goldsmith admitted it substitute into now not approved on the 2nd despite if he substitute into silenced Few right politicians like Robin prepare dinner, Clair short and Galloway attempt to protest despite if each and each guy or woman, British fools listened to Blair. yet reality could be triumphant.

Answer 8

Because no politician can be trusted to do what is right for his constituents....they follow polls and popular opinion to figure out what side of any given issue to be on.
If you look at the select few politicians who do NOT follow what is popular/trendy at the moment, you may find they are the ones making the hard decisions and sticking to them because they are the correct choices......
Look for the ones who not only talk the talk, but follow through by walking the walk......Actions speak louder than words, and they do not lie.

Answer 9

Democrats and Republicans have a history of doing what is popular at the moment, then changing their "minds" when things don't work out. It is because they are spineless and have no real accountability, especially the liberals, because the press is only interested in going after conservatives.

Answer 10

I read in an article a few years ago, that Dick Cheney was present during the Congresssional vote for the war and told everyone that no one was going home until they passed it. This isn't a joke; this is politics.

I see it as a coerced vote that anyone talks little about. Besides that, Congressmen and women have staffers and advisors who read the issues, highlight the key points, outline the pros and cons, and advise them on how to vote on issues.