Doolittle: I Didn't Say What I Said

by juls [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Well that didn't take long.  Doolittle raised a lot of eyebrows this week when he announced that he was no longer going to support Bush on Iraq.  One would have naturally expected him to vote yesterday to approve the House resolution on withdrawing troops.  But no.  It turns out those were empty words.  The Bee sure expected he would vote aye.

Rep. John Doolittle removed any thought that he was abandoning his support of President Bush's policy in Iraq on Thursday when he voted to oppose a Democratic resolution to begin withdrawing U.S. troops within 120 days.

The measure passed 223-201 in the Democratic-controlled House. Bush, who has ruled out any change in war policy before September, has threatened to veto it.

Last week, in a meeting with his constituents and with The Bee's editorial board, the conservative Roseville Republican said the war had turned into a "quagmire" and that his position had evolved to the point where he now favored pulling back U.S. troops from the front lines.

Whoopsies, perhaps it wasn't the greatest idea to time the big announcement the week and a vote was scheduled.  The editorial board sure has a bone to pick now with the Congressmen.

So, Doolittle has an explanation for all of this right?  Some sort of a statement about how this wasn't the exact right vehicle for changing the Iraq policy.  Right?  Well...um, no, not exactly.  See it's all our fault for taking Doolittle at his word.  See what he said, wasn't what he said.  We have it all wrong.  He really does support the president.

Doolittle said Thursday that he is not responsible for how his remarks were interpreted, but he has not abandoned Bush or given up on the president's "surge" policy. That policy boosted U.S. troop strength in Iraq to help Iraqi forces battle insurgents in neighborhood-by-neighborhood combat.

"I've been a staunch supporter of the president, and I remain that," Doolittle said. To the extent he has any differences with the president, he said, it would be on the speed with which U.S. troops are pulled off the front lines into support roles.

And what exactly did he sy last week?

But Thursday, Doolittle characterized the war as a "quagmire" and said America should soon step back to a training and advisory role for Iraqi forces.

"We've got to get off the front lines as soon as possible," Doolittle told a gathering at the Rocklin City Hall chambers. "And in my mind, that means something like the end of the year. We just can't continue to tolerate these kinds of losses."

Off the front lines as soon as possible you say?  How about 120 days?  Gee, it sure is hard to understand why the Bee is pissed with Doolittle today.  Doolittle is losing it here with those sharks circling.