When Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) unveiled his redeployment plan for Iraq, Dems were quick to offer him support in the face of far-right condemnations, but were less enthusiastic about his plan. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, in particular, told reporters, “Mr. Murtha speaks for himself.”
That was two weeks ago. Murtha’s plan apparently improves with age.
Reversing course, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday endorsed a call by a prominent member of her rank-and-file to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.
“We should follow the lead of Congressman John Murtha, who has put forth a plan to make American safer, to make our military stronger and to make Iraq more stable,” Pelosi said. “That is what the American people and our troops deserve.”
Pelosi, D-Calif., said she wouldn’t be calling for a party caucus position on the plan by the Pennsylvania Democrat because “a vote on the war is an individual vote.”
Nevertheless, she said: “I believe that a majority of our caucus clearly supports Mr. Murtha.”
Good. Not only am I glad because I think Murtha’s right, but also because this juxtaposes nicely with the president’s speech today — Bush thinks the war is progressing nicely and that his plan for Iraq is on track, while Murtha and the Dems think the opposite. It makes the substantive debate clear for the nation.