Poll: Americans Reject Unconditional Iraq Funding, Support Congress Using Funds to Redeploy Troops

Poll: Americans Reject Unconditional Iraq Funding, Support Congress Using Funds to Redeploy Troops
Submitted by davidswanson on Wed, 2007-10-10 16:44. Congress

From Congressional Progressive Caucus

(Washington, DC) - On Wednesday morning, the fifth anniversary of the House vote to authorize military force against Iraq, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) held a press conference on Capitol Hill to release the results of a new national poll that shows the American people are strongly opposed to the status quo in Iraq. The poll results not only show strong opposition to Congress providing further Iraq funding without conditions, but also broad support for Congress acting to end the Bush administration's policy in Iraq by providing the funding necessary for the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq. She was joined by a number of the 86 members of Congress who have signed onto a letter to President Bush, circulated by Lee and Representatives Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and Maxine Waters (D-CA), stating that they will only vote for Iraq-related funding to protect US troops and bring them home.

"Five years ago today, over the strong objections of many of those present, Congress voted to authorize this war. We are here today to say not only that Congress has the power to end it, but that the American people support us doing so," said Lee. "The President wants to pretend that Congress' only choice is to provide the funds he has requested unconditionally or 'cut off funding for our troops.' That's just not true. We can use our constitutionally mandated appropriations power to end his failed policy, to protect our troops and to bring them home. We have the power to fully fund redeployment, and that is what we must do."

Asked what Congress should do with President Bush's pending Iraq supplemental request, the poll found that 70 percent of respondents want Congress to either vote against the request or to require that funds can only be used to protect troops and bring them home, and that by a two to one margin respondents favored requiring funds be spent on redeployment over providing the administration funds without conditions.

Specifically, the poll asked respondents "President Bush wants Congress to approve a $200 billion dollar request to continue funding the Iraq war and keep the troops in Iraq. Should Congress: (read and rotate) vote against the $200 billion funding request; vote for the $200 billion funding request without conditions; or vote for the $200 billion funding request, but specify that it can be used ONLY to protect US troops and contractors and bring them home, rather than to continue the war."

Twenty four percent of respondents supported voting against the funding, 22 percent supported unconditional funding and 46 percent supported providing funding only for redeployment (eight percent responded "don't know"). Results were similar among registered voters: 22 percent supported voting against the funds, 23 percent supported unconditional funding and 47 percent supported providing funds only for redeployment (seven percent responded "don't know").

more...

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/27592

Could you tell me if the story tells who the pollsters were and the breakdown of the demographics of the poll?

Don't they get it?

nuff said

for their guilty betrayal of the American people when the vote to fund this obscenity?

I don't think they give a damn about anything except collecting a paycheck and padding their nests for the coming few years by sucking republican and corporate ass.

I wanted to stop by quickly to let you know about a new poll on Iraq policy that my One Voice leadership PAC released this morning.

Asked what Congress should do with President Bush's pending Iraq supplemental request, the poll found that 70 percent of respondents want Congress to either vote against the President's request or require that funds can only be used for my plan to protect troops and bring them home. And by a two to one margin, respondents favored requiring that funds be spent on redeployment instead of providing the administration funds without conditions.

To view the full results, read the polling memo from Lake Research Partners, and even download the cross-tabs, click here to visit the One Voice PAC website.

Today marks the 5th anniversary of the Congressional vote to authorize force in Iraq, and it's clear that that since that vote public sentiment has clearly shifted to our side. While we can't change the past, we can shape the future, and it is my hope that this new poll showing a clear majority opposed to the President's unconditional funding request will add momentum to my plan for the safe, timely, responsible redeployment of our troops from Iraq.

We started the month of September with 70 signers on my letter to the President pledging to only vote for additional funds to safely bring our troops home, and already that number is up to 88 -- including three new signers this week. But we'll need your help if we're to continue growing this list of signers before we send the letter to President Bush next week, so I hope you'll click here to email your Representative today, urging support for my plan for a fully funded redeployment of our troops from Iraq!

The President wants to pretend that Congress' only choice is to provide the funds he has requested unconditionally or "cut off funding for our troops." That's just not true. We can use our constitutionally mandated appropriations power to end his failed policy, to protect our troops and to bring them home. We have the power to fully fund redeployment, and our new One Voice PAC national poll shows that this is exactly what the American people want us to do.


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/10/155638/91