Mike Castle (feeling the heat) votes with Democrats on Iraq
Castle has changed his longstanding policy regarding “symbolic” votes passed by Congress that the President has indicated he will veto.
Castle’s office has no statement up regarding his change of heart.
(Props to OM for linking to Open Congress.)
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House approves longer home rest for Iraq forces
No word yet on Castle’s vote.
WASHINGTON — The House today passed a measure to mandate more rest at home for troops serving in Iraq, with Democrats taking another swipe at President Bush’s management of the war on the eve of Congress’ summer recess.
The legislation — which passed 229 to 194, with six Republicans joining the majority — stands little chance of becoming law. A similar proposal sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) was blocked by Senate Republicans last month, and the White House today issued a veto threat.
According to OpenCongress, Castle was one of the 6 Republicans to vote yes on this.
That’s not possible, OM. Castle is evil. He couldn’t possibly cross party lines because that would make him a moderate, and if he was actually a moderate, Jason would have no purpose in life.
I’m all about getting out of Iraq.
So I’m happy that Castle is starting to see the light and vote with the Dems. His policy of calling everything “symbolic” was just plain stupid.
I wonder what took him so long and await your conversion.
I think I’m way more cynical than you — given that Senate repubs blocked the Webb bill, meaning that this one is not likely to go anyplace — a Yes vote by Castle seems like a real gimme in burnishing that Moderate Cred in a fairly no risk way.
But I’m cynical like that.
Yep.
Sad but true. He is the master of the fake moderate vote.
If that were true (i.e. if Castle was just looking to seize on the opportunity to cast a vote of moderation because it ultimately wouldn’t matter), then why didn’t he vote for all of the other Iraq War legislation that the President promised he would veto?
Good question.
I guess we’ll never know since he has cancelled all of this town hall meeting for August and even the News Journal could not get a comment out of his office on this vote.
The simplest explanation is that Castle is just confused.