Clinton, Obama vote for Senate 'surge' debate; McCain a no-show

Clinton, Obama vote for Senate 'surge' debate; McCain a no-show
13 minutes ago


WASHINGTON (AFP) - Just one of the Senate's presidential contenders voted against launching a debate on US President George W. Bush's unpopular Iraq strategy, while one key player -- Republican John McCain (news, bio, voting record) -- skipped the vote altogether.

A clutch of 2008 Democratic presidential hopefuls -- senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record), Joe Biden and Chris Dodd -- all voted in favor of holding the debate on Bush's plan to add 21,500 combat troops in Iraq.

Also voting in favor of debate was Republican Senator Chuck Hagel (news, bio, voting record), a leading voice in Congress opposing Bush's "surge" plan.

Among the 2008 hopefuls, only conservative Republican Senator Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record) voted to block the debate on holding a symbolic censure vote, which he did before flying out to Florida on a campaign swing.

Meanwhile, Senator McCain -- a top contender for the Republican Party's 2008 presidential nomination and a fervent supporter of increasing US troop levels in Iraq -- skipped the vote, which he had dismissed, while campaigning in Chicago Friday, as "meaningless."

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070217/pl_afp/usvote2008iraq_070217212411

The "Straight Talk Express" must have run over his courage. :)

At least Brownback, despicable as he is, had the guts to take a position.