by D. Cupples | Last week, former presidential adviser Karl Rove went on the Charlie Rose Show, claiming that congressional Democrats wanted to rush a vote on the Iraq war in fall 2002. Rove claimed the White House didn't want the war linked to the upcoming congressional elections, implying that the Bush Administration was afraid to politicize such a grave issue as the Iraq war.
Apparently, Rove wants to stir up controversy, which is one way to draw more readers to his new column at Newsweek. Adding to the controversy, two former White House staffers seem to disagree with Rove's claims. Today's Washington Post reported:
"Ari Fleischer, the White House press secretary at the time, said Daschle had pressed Bush over the summer to bring the matter to Congress but for consultation, not necessarily a vote. Bush decided to seek a vote authorizing force, Fleischer said. 'It was definitely the Bush administration that set it in motion and determined the timing, not the Congress, he said. 'I think Karl in this instance just has his facts wrong.'
"Former White House chief of staff Andrew H. Card Jr. was asked on MSNBC yesterday about Rove's comments but told only that Rove asserted Democrats pushed Bush into war. Card laughed and said that "sometimes his mouth gets ahead of his brain." Card later said that he had not actually seen Rove's interview and was simply reacting to the host's mischaracterization.
"After being sent Rove's comments, Card said he did not want to argue with him. He said he recalled much discussion in the White House about whether it was wise to seek a congressional vote before deciding it would demonstrate American unity. But asked if the White House opposed having the vote before the election, he said, 'I don't remember that. I don't remember it being done in the context of the election.'" (Washington Post)
The Washington Post also dug up statements made by President Bush in 2002:
"News accounts and transcripts at the time show Bush arguing against delay. Asked on Sept. 13, 2002, about Democrats who did not want to vote until after the U.N. Security Council acted, Bush said, "If I were running for office, I'm not sure how I'd explain to the American people -- say, 'Vote for me, and, oh, by the way, on a matter of national security, I think I'm going to wait for somebody else to act.' "
Admittedly, it's not 100% crystal clear, it does sound as though Bush was trying to pressure Dems to vote for the war sooner rather than later, implying that a delay would make Dems look wimpy about terrorism.
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