House Democrats likely to split over Iraq strategy
Michael Roston
Published:
Friday January 19, 2007
 Moderate 'Blue Dogs' not likely to embrace disengagement
Amid the fanfare of a 100-hour legislative agenda completed in just 42 hours, House Democratic unity will likely face its first test today: The fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats' launch of an alternative approach to the foundering war effort in Iraq.
Seeking to capitalize on Democratic discord, House Republicans declared their readiness to "rally" together on Iraq, hoping to bring some Democrats over to their side.
The generally unified Democratic position on Iraq has reached a crossroads: two sizable groups of congressmen are set to diverge on whether or not to call on the Bush administration to redeploy American troops from Iraq.
Earlier in the week, two House Democrats, Lynn Woolsey of California and Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania, proposed competing resolutions that sought to scale back the Iraq war. Woolsey's legislation was co-sponsored by 16 other Members of Congress and emphasized "military disengagement" from Iraq. In contrast, Murtha's bill, with 87 co-sponsors, called for "redeployment" of American forces in Iraq.
"Murtha is a very powerful symbol for the party, and politically, this is where the leadership is," on Iraq, a Democratic aide from the Congressional Progressive Caucus told RAW STORY.
Publicly, the Progressive Caucus has backed Woolsey's legislation. Combined with its broad support within the party, the staffer said Murtha's bill had good prospects of receiving backing from Democratic leaders.
But another sizable group of House Democrats is set to propose a different course today. The Democrats' Blue Dog Coalition -- comprised of more conservative Democrats -- will hold a press conference on the war at 11:30 am. Their proposal appears likely to include important differences from Murtha's legislation.
Currently including 44 members, the group describes itself as primarily "dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States."
Some Blue Dog leaders have criticized President George W. Bush's escalation plans for Iraq. Arkansas' Mike Ross, the Blue Dogs' Communications Co-Chair, has said that "sending 21,000 new troops is not a new direction, it’s simply more of the same." Kansas's Dennis Moore, the Caucus's Co-Chair for Policy, added earlier this month that "instead of the same open-ended strategy to stay in Iraq, we need to consider options put forth by the Iraq Study Group."
RAW STORY spoke to a variety of Blue Dog Democratic staff on Thursday about their pending proposal on the Iraq war. More than one noted that deliberations on the final bill would not be concluded until late in the evening.
But one aide was able to say that "the Blue Dogs are not calling for troop withdrawal tomorrow, and they're not cutting off funding, but they do want accountability and responsibility."
Blug Dog California member Joe Baca, however, told RAW STORY he supported Murtha's bill.
"I voted against the war in Iraq and have consistently opposed it and spoken out against it." Baca said. "I support Rep. Murtha’s proposal to redeploy American troops and start to bring them out of harm’s way while turning responsibility for Iraq over to the Iraqis themselves." He also added "As a Blue Dog committed to fiscal responsibility, I am in favor of holding the Administration accountable for the massive amounts of American taxpayer dollars being spent in Iraq, particularly with reports of fraud and profiteering by contractors."
Republicans ready to divide and conquer?
A Democratic Leadership aide told RAW STORY that Speaker Pelosi was supportive of the bipartisan resolution on Iraq put forward Wednesday in the Senate. But, the aide added that "Democrats are exploring multiple options."
The Republican Party appeared ready to capitalize on the possible divisions that the Iraq war could create for Democrats in the House.
President Bush has feted the Blue Dog Coalition as an independent grouping within the House of Representatives that could shape Congress's response on Iraq. He invited Blue Dog members to the White House on January 10th just before his formal announcement in a national address of the troop escalation. There, they meet with Dr. J.D. Crouch, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor, and General Kevin Bergner, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Iraq, who have been credited with authoring Bush's new plan.
A House Republican Leadership aide also told RAW STORY that the minority party was ready to forge a compromise with Democrats on Iraq.
"Our role is now to craft Republican alternatives that are attractive to Democrats, forcing them to choose between pledges made at home and their leadership," the aide explained. "On Iraq, House Republicans are united behind our pledge not to cut funding while troops are in the field. I think you'll see that as a rallying point for our conference."
Democrats celebrate 100 hours completion.
The Iraq developments in the House came as the Democrats completed their 100 hours agenda. The end of the early burst of legislative activity also seemed likely to bring to an end the prospects of Republican cooperation with the agenda of the Democratic leadership.
After the passage of six major bills to improve homeland security, raise the minimum wage, expand stem cell research, lower prescription drug prices, grant student loan relief, and improve energy independence, House Democrats sounded a celebratory tone late on Thursday.
"We set out to prove our commitment to change, and we took little time to do it," said Rep. James Clyburn, the House Democratic Whip in a statement sent to RAW STORY. "Roughly 42 legislative hours have tolled in the 110th Congress and we have already made a down payment on the mandate for change given to us by the American people."
In another statement, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi emphasized the "broad bipartisan support" garnered for the six bills, with an average of 62 Republicans crossing the aisle to vote for the 100 Hours legislation. She promised to "extend the hand of friendship towards President Bush and the Republicans," adding, "We expect that as we continue to produce good policy, Republicans will continue to join us."
But House Republicans were skeptical that their members would continue to vote for Democratic legislation. "The Democrats, in explaining why they have advanced an agenda without allowing amendments or committee hearings thus far, have even said that these are "80 percent" bills," said Burson Snyder, a spokesperson for House Minority Whip Roy Blunt.
"When they begin to get down to business, I don't think you'll see many Republicans joining them," she added.
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