House Democrats Buck President Obama on Afghanistan

July 27, 2010 -- President Obama is facing something of a Democratic revolt against the war in Afghanistan -- a revolt dramatically on display today as the House debated a $33 billion bill to fund the war.

Democrat after Democrat came forward not just to oppose the war, but to cut off funding for it.

"Wake up, America. The Wikileak-leaked documents gave us 92,000 reasons to end the war," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio.

"It is wrong to be borrowing money from China [and] laying off American police officers to train police officers in Afghanistan," said Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash.

Last year, when the House last voted on war funding, 32 Democrats voted no. This evening, that number more than tripled to 102 Democrats voting against funding the war -- a stand lawmakers took even after a last-ditch appeal by the president urging members to vote in favor.

"Now we have to see that strategy through," President Obama said, "to ensure that our troops have the resources they need and that we're able to do what's necessary for our national security."

But many House Democrats were not in lock-step with the White House.

""It is a mistake to give the administration another blank check for the war," said Rep. James McGovern, D-Mass.

"There's nowhere in the constitution that says that the president just gets to go and fight wars without the oversight of the Congress," said Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn. "We are the Congress. It is our job to do our constitutional duty. It is not second-guessing. It is oversight. It is engaging in the process of governance."