Jim Gilmore is No John Warner - Iraq Policy

Posted in Jim Gilmore on 09/05/07

With Virginia Republicans already on the trail drumming up support for a possible run to replace retiring Senator John Warner, the Democratic Party of Virginia is releasing its second installment of a new series that examines whether or not some of the leading Republican candidates are worthy of filling his shoes.

Sen. Warner was known to put Virginia families and progress for America ahead of extreme partisanship. That has not been true for Jim Gilmore. Today we look at Gilmore’s position on the war in Iraq during his short-lived presidential bid. It’s an indication that he will follow opinion polls rather than lead.

While John Warner has put aside partisan politics and courageously stood up for soldiers whose lives are at risk because of failed foreign policy in Iraq, Jim Gilmore was slow to criticize our current policy in Iraq. That is until the winds of public opinion shifted.

When it comes to independence and leadership, Jim Gilmore is no John Warner.

The Facts:

Senator Warner Emerges as a Leader Calling for Re-evaluation and Change of Course in Iraq. As early as October of 2006, Sen. Warner made a “stark assessment of the situation in Iraq” and began urging the White House to re-evaluate U.S. policy in Iraq and make a change of course if necessary. [Washington Post, 10/6/06]

Jim Gilmore pandered to the public, taking positions that closely followed public opinion polls. During the first half of 2007, Gilmore, along with most Republicans, strongly supported the surge. A Pew Research Center survey in March 2007 found that 53% of Republicans thought the troop surge was making the situation in Iraq better. [Pew Research Center poll, 3/26/07]

“Early in the day, former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore, another Republican candidate, briefly tried to make the case for the war. ‘I support that surge,’ Gilmore declared, producing dead silence.” [Washington Post, 3/15/07]

Then, in June, Gilmore started softening his position on the surge just as polls began showing a slowdown in public support. A CBS News/New York Times poll in May 2007 found that just 44% of Republicans still thought the surge was helping. [CBS News/New York Times poll, 5/24/07]

“I have made it clear that I think that the surge should be given an opportunity to succeed, but so far the record doesn’t show that anything is getting any better. So I’m concerned about that.” [CNN Newsroom, 6/17/07]

Finally, shortly before dropping out of the race, Gilmore shifted positions yet again as a June 2007 poll showed Republican support for the surge dipping down to 42%. [CBS News/New York Times poll, 6/29/07]

“I believe the only realistic alternative — the least bad option, if you will — is a limited deliberate drawdown of our military men and women and a redeployment of the forces remaining in the region to areas where they can more efficiently and effectively carry out a clearly defined mission.” [Washington Post, 6/18/07]

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