Bud Cramer finally responded to the email I sent to him nearly a month ago regarding the surrender in Iraq vote. Below is the message I got back from him. It's a typical canned response that hypes up his support for the troops making Mr. Cramer seem like a die-hard blue-dog Democrat. He never mentions the "timetable" (i.e. surrender) part of the bill. He only references it as a way to "enable [the] process" of forcing the Iraqi goverment to "begin to accept greater resonsibility for ensuring stability in the region."
Read on for the response.
May 10, 2007
Dear Mr. Thompson:
I have received your message regarding the war in Iraq. Thank you for sharing your concerns on this issue.
Congress recently presented to President Bush H.R. 1591, the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act. I voted for this legislation because of the support this bill would have provided to our soldiers.
This legislation provided over $100 billion to fight the Global War on Terror in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, this appropriations bill would have addressed the critical readiness issues facing our military worldwide by providing our soldiers with the necessary training and equipment they need, such as armoured vehicles designed to withstand Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). In order to better care for the men and women of our armed forces when they return home, this bill allocated over $5 billion to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.
In 2003, I voted to go to war in Iraq. However, the Iraqi government must begin to accept greater responsibility for ensuring stability in the region. This bill would have enabled this process to happen.
As you know, the President vetoed this legislation on May 1st. As a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I will remember your concerns as we work to provide support for the men and women of our nation's military.
Sincerely,
(signed)
Bud Cramer
Member of Congress
BC:cl
I've got a scathing response brewing. I'll post it when I write it and send it. I doubt I'll get a response to that letter.