Novick Caught Off-guard with Iraq War Question

Says Oregon Democrats Wrong to Favor Congressional Resolutions Supporting Troops

Steve Novick was caught off-guard yesterday when questioned whether Democratic members of Oregon's Congressional delegation were wrong to favor resolutions supporting the troops serving in Iraq.

During a candidate forum at Western Oregon University moderated by David Sarasohn of The Oregonian, Novick said he wished that Democratic members of Oregon's Congressional delegation - including Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Darlene Hooley, Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, and David Wu - had not voted for resolutions supporting Armed Forces members serving in Iraq.

In response to Novick's criticism, Jeff Merkley said, "While Steve has been trying to score political points on those of us who opposed the war from the very beginning, the real difference is between those of us ... who stood up and said 'this is the wrong war.' ...as opposed to Senator Smith, who embraced this war willingly, ...didn't have the background to distinguish between a real threat to national security and a manufactured threat to national security... We need that type of person to stand with Ron Wyden and call a spade a spade when a president like George Bush tries to sell us a bill of goods."

Listen to the exchange.

On March 21, 2003, Oregon's entire Democratic Congressional delegation - Representatives Hooley, DeFazio, Blumenauer, and Wu - voted for H.Con.Res. 104, "Expressing the support and appreciation of the Nation for the President and the members of the Armed Forces who are participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom".

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress expresses the unequivocal support and appreciation of the Nation--

(1) to the President as Commander-in-Chief for his firm leadership and decisive action in the conduct of military operations in Iraq as part of the on-going Global War on Terrorism;

(2) to the members of the United States Armed Forces serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, who are carrying out their missions with excellence, patriotism, and bravery.

On March 20, 2003, Senator Wyden co-sponsored S.Res.95, "Commending the President and the Armed Forces of the Unites States of America".

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) commends and supports the efforts and leadership of the President, as Commander in Chief, in the conflict against Iraq;

(2) commends, and expresses the gratitude of the Nation to all members of the United States Armed Forces (whether on active duty, in the National Guard, or in the Reserves) and the civilian employees who support their efforts, as well as the men and women of civilian national security agencies who are participating in the military operations in the Persian Gulf region, for their professional excellence, dedicated patriotism and exemplary bravery;

On the first day Jeff Merkley entered the race for U.S. Senate, Steve Novick began repeating an attack from a Republic Party press release that Merkley had voted to support the troops serving in Iraq with Oregon House Resolution 2.

However, Merkley stood up on the House floor prior to that vote and made his opposition to the war crystal clear.

I have not been and am not today persuaded that Iraq was a significant threat to the United States or that the war we fight today is the best strategy to fight terrorism or the wisest application of our superpower resources. But that is a conversation or a debate for another day.

Earlier this month, in an op-ed on VetVoice.com, Jim Rassmann, former U.S. Army Special Forces Officer and Chair of "Veterans for John Kerry" criticized Novick for his "false" attack.

Rather than taking aim at America's failed leaders, at every turn Steve Novick has incessantly and spitefully attacked and insulted Jeff Merkley, a dedicated and sworn protestor of the Iraq war.

Steve has used Republican talking points in a crass attempt to turn Democrats against one another - an effort that serves only his selfish personal political agenda.

Posted April 25, 2008
Press