General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The reason we're still fighting a pitched battle over the IWR: Revisionist History [View all]bvar22
(39,909 posts)Hillary and the others were more worried about the personal political consequences than the thousand they were sentencing to death.
I was in St Paul, Minnesota at that time, working on the Wellstone re-election campaign.
Wellstone was in a very close race against Republican Norm Coleman for his Senate seat.
The Vote For WAR was scheduled in October, just a few weeks ahead of the election.
War Lust was at a peak, and the Media were Beating the War Drums 24/7.
All the Talking Heads and Political Experts were in agreement that if Wellstone voted against the AUMF, it would cost him his re-election.
Believing that this NO would would cost him his Senate seat,
he voted his conscience anyway.
Later, at a meeting with his campaign workers at his HQ in St Paul,
he apologized and and said,
"Sometimes, a man just has to do the RIGHT THING.
For me, this was one of those times."
Ironically, after this vote, Wellstone surged ahead in the polls,
even in conservative areas of Minnesota.
Seems that voters appreciate honest politicians who STAND UP for their beliefs.
That is called "integrity".
[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font][/center] [center] [/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]