Kerry Says “We Owe Our Brave Men and Women an Honest Debate”

House Passes Iraq Resolution With 17 Votes From G.O.P., Kerry Says “We Owe Our Brave Men and Women an Honest Debate”
February 16th, 2007 @ 10:25 pm

As the House was winding down “four days of emotional debate over the extent of presidential powers in wartime and the proper role of Congress,” Senator John Kerry spoke from the Senate floor today on the need for a debate on the way forward in Iraq and a “yes or no” vote on whether Congress opposes President Bush’s troop escalation.

The House voted 246 to 182 “in favor of the non-binding but nevertheless important measure” which now sets “the stage for a crucial Senate debate on Saturday on how to debate the administration’s Iraq policy, or indeed whether it should be debated at all.”

Democratic aides noted that Republican Senators seeking to block tomorrow’s debate “will only mean another round of newspaper headlines proclaiming that Republicans are blocking a debate on the war.” Kerry said, “We owe the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day an honest debate.”

Kerry’s remarks on the Senate floor, as prepared for delivery, are below:



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He was so good. They showed the highlights of the debates: Durbin, Feingold, Warner, Kennedy (whose reading of those names was very effective), but ended with Kerry's--and his eloquence and pointedness shown out above even those top Senators.

I thought to myself how fortunate we are to be living during the time of one who I'm confidant will be remembered as one of the great Senators--if he isn't remembered for serving in a higher office--which I haven't given up on. I still hope to see him rise to Sec. of State, Vice-President or President before he's through.