Jeff Merkley and His Courage to Support President Bush

SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon Republican Party issued a quick refresher today for Ambassador Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame Wilson on Jeff Merkley and his shifting positions on the War in Iraq.  On March 21, 2003, Speaker Merkley voted in favor of the Iraq War, years later, when he became a candidate for the U.S. Senate, he was against it. 

Merkley has claimed to have opposed the war from the start, yet there is no clear record of his opposition. There is, however, a very clear record of Merkley’s support for HR 2, an Iraq War resolution approved by the Oregon legislature. 

However, that didn’t stop Jeff Merkley from playing politics. In a campaign email from Ambassador Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame Wilson, sent to supporters on Tuesday, Merkley continued to mislead and misrepresent his views for pure political gain.   

From the email the Wilsons write: 

In 2002, President Bush launched his campaign to take our country to war in Iraq.  Senator Max Cleland and I stood up and said no.  It was not a good idea then and it is not a good idea now. (Source: Merkley Campaign Email,” Why we're supporting Jeff Merkley,” April 22, 2008.) 

Mr. and Mrs. Ambassador:  What did Jeff Merkley say when, as you said, “I stood up and said no.”? 

He said Yes.  Months after Congressional authorization of the war, Merkley made his voice heard in Salem.  On March 21, 2003, Rep. Merkley voted in favor of House Resolution 2, which included the following:

“ ..We, the members of the House of Representatives of the

Seventy-second Legislative Assembly: Acknowledge the courage

of President George W. Bush…and express our support for the

victorious removal of Saddam Hussein from power;” (Text from

House Resolution 2.)

Democrats have noticed Merkley’s Iraq position.  His opponent, Steve Novick, said “Merkley should have been more resolute in opposing the Iraq war by voting ‘no’ on the state resolution.”  (Source: Cain, AP in Register Guard, “Merkley defends vote on Iraq, August 28, 2007.)

Jeff Merkley, mislead first, politics second and leave leadership to the Republicans; but in Merkley’s own words, “…that is a conversation or a debate for another day.”  (Source: Jeff Merkley, Floor Speech on House Resolution 2, March 21, 2003.)

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