Top Anti-War Democrat (Nadler): Afghanistan War Could ‘Destroy’ Obama’s Presidency

[tekisui]

Source: The Raw Story

WASHINGTON – An outspoken anti-war Democrat said ongoing US military efforts in Afghanistan could deeply imperil the presidency of Barack Obama and the fortunes of the Democratic Party.

“I think that this war, if it goes on and if it escalates, has the potential to destroy this presidency and to destroy the Democratic majorities in Congress," Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) told Raw Story in an interview.

The New York congressman, who has called the Afghanistan war a "fool's errand," said he has no qualms opposing Obama and Democratic leaders on this sensitive issue ahead of the midterm elections, despite the harsh climate for his party.

"When you’re dealing with war and peace you can’t think of it in those terms," he said. "People are dying. The security of our country, the honor of our country, the lives of our men and women, the lives of foreign men and women – are at stake. And that’s a lot more important, frankly, than partisan advantage."


(snip)

The Brooklyn native said that while he believes there are political incentives for ending the Afghanistan war, his opposition is based chiefly on harsh realities in the region that make victory unachievable at a reasonable cost, if at all.

"It ought to be stopped for all sorts of reasons, but those political reasons increase the case for stopping it," Nadler said.

more: http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0712/nadler-afghan-war-destroy-obama-presidency-democratic-congress/

[mike_c]

1. it already has as far as I'm concerned....

Obama's is a failed presidency all around, IMO, but Afghanistan is the 500 lb gorilla.

[LWolf]

2. Is Obama listening? nt

[gratuitous]

3. No, the only hope for the Democrats is to do what the Republicans want

So we have to stay in Afghanistan and Iraq forever, we should move the retirement age up to 75 or so (at the recommendation of a blue ribbon panel of "experts" who are not dependent on social security), give more tax cuts to the overrich, and bitch at the victims of the economic downturn about how lazy they are. That's the road to electoral success!

Because heaven knows that governing by the platform Obama and the Democrats actually ran on is political suicide according to all the Wise Men of Washington, and when have they ever been wrong?

[unhappycamper]

4. It's too bad that Congess did not declare a war.

The AUMF is still in existence and is still used as the authority to a) keep pouring money down the shithole and b)continue the occupations.