Posted on 08/08/2004 6:29:08 PM PDT by RWR8189
ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) made the following remarks during a Bush-Cheney '04 conference call:
"[W]e compared the record of another respected Democratic senator, Senator Bingaman from New Mexico, with Senator Kerry’s votes on going to war in Iraq and then the later vote of supporting the troops in Iraq -- the $87 billion supplemental. And it’s interesting that unlike John Kerry, Senator Bingaman’s votes were exactly the opposite. He had a principled position; he felt it was wrong to give the President authority to go into Iraq, and so he actually voted against that resolution. But when it came time to support the troops, he supported the $87 billion supplemental, and what he said was once we’re there, and quote, 'we can’t just turn around and walk away.' Which I thought was a pretty principled stand on his part – exactly the opposite of Senator Kerry, who, of course, has had many positions on this, but the two votes reflected are for going to war and then not supporting the troops.
"You’re all aware of the many explanations. First saying that he was very 'proud' of that vote, denying the troops the support that they needed; then saying it was very 'complicated,' and of course President Bush has said there’s nothing complicated about supporting the troops, and apparently Senator Bingaman didn’t think so either. So it seems to me that on that issue, which everyone’s pretty familiar with, the contrast with Senator Bingaman’s vote is very interesting. And I conclude that point by just reiterating that in this regard Senator Kerry clearly has not demonstrated leadership, and in a time of war, you’ve got to have somebody like President Bush who’s willing to take a principled stand and see the issue through."
I was born and raised in New Mexico.
I wouldn't call Binghaman respected.
Never heard of Binghaman...but I can handle his vote better than Kerry's.
Our son is in the Army and was in Iraq. (safely home now..but not for long)
Bingaman - very liberal Dim senator from NM. Votes the party line completely. Our other Senator is Domenici (Pubbie) who blasted Kerry's stand on energy yesterday:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1187618/posts
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