Democrats' dilemma on Iraq

Townhall.com:: Democrats' dilemma on Iraq ::By Debra J. Saunders


CARSON CITY, Nev. -- A sorta kinda presidential debate in February 2007? At least this beats covering Anna Nicole Smith and undergoing a root canal. Or after 20 months, will the 2008 campaign season feel like a root canal?

Before the event, I thought Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, D-swim trunks, was smart not to show up at the Nevada AFSCME-sponsored Democratic presidential forum here Wednesday. Play a little hard to get and voters may not get so tired of you -- and with that long of a campaign season, people will tire of anyone.

Obama should have shown up. If Obama, who says he would have voted against the war in Iraq, had been here, he would have been able to talk straight to this crowd in a way that senators who voted for the war resolution cannot.

Personally, I don't understand how these candidates -- Sens. Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and Christopher Dodd, and John Edwards -- can talk with a straight face.

Both Clinton and Edwards made a big deal about taking "responsibility" for their war votes. And how do they take responsibility? By running for the highest office in the land. Go figure.