SNEAK PEEK: 5th anniversary of Senate Iraq vote
Authorization of force - Déjà vu all over again?
October 10, 2007 -- Five years ago, just after midnight on Oct. 11, the Senate voted 77-23 to give President Bush the authorization to use military force in Iraq.
Hillary Clinton and John Edwards were part of that "77" but Edwards frequently points out that he apologized for that vote and learned a lesson from it. Clinton has not gone that far but does say that if she knew then what she knew now, she would never have voted to give that authorization.
Today her closest opponents, Edwards and Barack Obama, used this anniversary to slam Clinton on not just Iraq but also Iran.
They said Clinton's recent vote designating Iranian special forces a terrorist organization essentially gives President Bush the same authorization on Iran.
As Yogi Berra would put it, if he were a speechwriter for the Edwards or Obama campaign, it's like déjà vu all over again.
Obama, who was not in the Senate five years ago to vote for or against the Iraq force authorization, told the AP Wednesday that Clinton was "too willing to give the president a blank check" and asked if she applies a different judgment today.
"There's been a little bit of revisionist history since that time, where she indicates she was only authorizing inspectors or additional diplomacy," he said. "I think everybody in Washington and people in New Hampshire and round the country understood this was a vote for war. The question is: Does she apply different judgment today?"
Edwards was even more direct: "While Senator Clinton tries to argue both sides of the issue, the truth is her vote opens the door for the president to attack Iran. I believe we must not allow the president to use force against Iran when so many other diplomatic and economic options are still available."
"Sen. Edwards is well aware that there is nothing in the resolution that does any such thing," Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said. "Sen. Obama is well aware that Senator Clinton will end the war in Iraq and has made clear that George Bush does not have the authority to attack Iran. Attacks on other Democrats won't bring about the change we need, but electing Senator Clinton will."
And/but:Clinton's Iran position is getting support from an unlikely corner.
Dick Durbin -- the Illinois senator who played a key role in getting Obama into the presidential race -- joined Clinton in voting for the Kyl-Lieberman amendment.
Per the Chicago Tribune's Jill Zuckman, Durbin explained his position by saying: "I am opposed to military action in Iran. To say we need to pressure the Iranians to change their course in the Middle East and I want to do it by nonmilitary means, that's what my vote was all about.''
Elsewhere on the trail…It isn't getting the media attention that Clinton's health care plan did, but John McCain unveils his health care plan at the Hotel Fort Des Moines in Des Moines, IA at 12:45 pm ET on Thursday. The McCain campaign will host a press conference call at 11:15 am ET tomorrow with senior policy advisors to discuss details.
ABC News' Sarah Amos reports that Bill Richardson is set to unveil his education policy in a noon speech tomorrow at a high school in Manchester, New Hampshire. The speech is set to discuss Richardson's plan to get rid of No Child Left Behind as well as universal pre-school program and a national service program that would cover two years of college tuition for every one year of service. Richardson will also participate in a conference call with reporters at 3:15 pm ET to further discuss his policy and take questions.
See below for Wednesday details:
RUDY GIULIANI--4:30 pm ET: Meets with local supporters, Greenville, SC--7:00 pm ET: Attends dinner at Laurel Creek, Rock Hill, SC--8:00 pm ET: Delivers remarks, Rock Hill, SC
MITT ROMNEY--6:00 pm ET: Holds media availability at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport--7:00 pm ET: attends a fundraiser, Paradise Valley, AZ--8:30 pm ET: Attends dinner fundraiser, Paradise Valley, AZ
ANN ROMNEY--8:30 am ET: Meets with Lakes Region voters, Tuftonboro, NH--10:15 am ET: Meets with Laconia area voters, Laconia, NH
JOHN MCCAIN--12:45 pm ET: Delivers Health Care address to Des Moines Rotary, Des Moines, IA--2:10 pm ET: Media Availability--3:45 pm ET: Meet and greet at Smokey row Coffee shop, Oskaloosa, IA--6:30 pm ET: Attends town hall meeting at Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant, IA--8:10 pm ET: Media Availability
FRED THOMPSON-- In Tennessee, no public events
SAM BROWNBACK--4:00 pm ET: Attends meet and greets at Green's Tea and Coffee, Muscatine, IA--8:00 pm ET: Speaks at Loras College, media availability to follow remarks, Dubuque, IA
DUNCAN HUNTER--9:00 am ET: Participates in the Concord Monitor, Cedar Rapids Gazette and Washington Post sponsored online Q & A.
TOM TANCREDO--3:30 pm ET: Participates in the Concord Monitor, Cedar Rapids Gazette, and Washington Post sponsored online Q & A.
MIKE HUCKABEE--No public events
RON PAUL-- Delivers speech at the Robert Taft Club, Arlington, VA
HILLARY CLINTON--11:00 am ET: Discusses college affordability, Plymouth, NH--3:00 pm ET: Attends barn party, Canterbury, NH
BARACK OBAMA--Chicago, IL, No public events
JOHN EDWARDS--11:00 am ET: Addresses students and faculty at Darlington High School, Darlington, SC--1:00 pm ET: Greets supporters at Brown's BBQ, Kingstree, SC--7:30 pm ET: Headlines at the Jasper County Democratic Party Dinner and Gaggle, Ridgeland, SC--3:00 pm ET: Addresses students and community supporters, and gaggle at Scott's Branch High School, Summerton, SC
ELIZABETH EDWARDS--2:45 pm ET: Attends community meeting at Knoxville Public Library, Knoxville, IA-- 5:45 pm ET: Attends community meeting at Saints Rest Coffee house, Grinnell, IA
BILL RICHARDSON--8:30 am ET: Holds "School House to White House Event", Manchester, NH--12:00 pm ET: Delivers speech on National Education Policy at Manchester High School West, Manchester, NH--5:00 pm ET: Holds a presidential job interview event, Concord, NH--6:30 pm ET: Holds a Latino Summit at Southern New Hampshire University, Hooksett, NH
DENNIS KUCINICH--Attending to Congressional Duties for Ohio's 10th District
CHRIS DODD--1:00 pm ET: Attends "Results Matter" community forum, Marshalltown, IA--6:40 pm ET: Visits with striking teamsters, Cedar Rapids, IA
JOE BIDEN--No public events
MIKE GRAVEL--No public events
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