With Re-election Chances Dimming, Will Sununu Finally Break with Bush on Iraq?

2008 election to cause break-up of the Bush-Sununu union on Iraq war

Concord - As the Senate today begins debating the Defense Department authorization bill, which outlines spending priorities for the military for the coming fiscal year, staunch Republicans are abandoning Bush’s policy in Iraq. With the 2008 election around the corner and only 31 percent of Granite Staters believing he should be re-elected [Suffolk University Poll 6/27/07], will John E. Sununu continue to support this increasingly unpopular war?

“Republicans are nervous that President Bush’s surge strategy is not working and Sen. John E. Sununu is nervous for his own political future. He has been steadfast in his support of this war. Time and time again he has defended Bush from criticism and voted against holding the president accountable for mistakes in Iraq,” said New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley. “Will Sununu finally start to listen to New Hampshire’s call to bring our troops home and break ties with a president that is leading our country in a dangerous direction?”

Sununu Voted for Iraq War. In October 2002, Sununu voted for the authorization for the use of force against Iraq. [Vote 455, 10/10/02]

Sununu Defended Bush Against Charges that He Misled The American People. In 2005, Sununu defended George Bush against charges leveled by Senator Mark Dayton that Bush misled the American people during the run-up to the Iraq War. “Well, the United Nations, British security, French security all had the same information, the same intelligence-gathering on weapons of mass destruction and other issues. And no one is accusing Kofi Annan of being a liar or Tony Blair of being a liar,” Sununu said. [CNN, Inside Politics, 1/30/05]

Sununu votes to Protect Bush. In 2003, Sununu voted twice voted to protect the Bush administration from questions about its handling of prewar intelligence. He voted twice against creating an independent 12-member commission to investigate the role of policymakers in the development and use of intelligence leading to the Iraq war. [Vote 284, 7/16/03; Vote 395, 10/17/03]

Sununu Opposed Creation of Truman Commission to Investigate Fraud and Waste in Iraq. Sununu has voted FOUR times against establishing a commission to investigate waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan. The special committee would consist of 7 members – four appointed by the majority party, three appointed by the minority party. The committee would hold hearings, and hold subpoena authority. [Vote 228, 9/14/05; Vote 259, 10/19/05; Vote 316, 11/10/05, Vote 176, 6/20/06]

Sununu Repeatedly Voted To Filibuster Iraq Debate, Voted Against Resolution to Change Course in Iraq. Since Bush announced his escalation plan, Sununu has repeatedly voted to block debate on Iraq, and personally attempted to avoid answering questions or stating a position on Iraq or Bush’s planned escalation. Twice in February, Sununu joined with his GOP colleagues to filibuster debate on resolutions dealing with Bush’s planned Iraq escalation. In March and April, Sununu voted four times against changing the course in Iraq by setting a timetable for redeployment of U.S. forces. [Vote 43, 2/5/07; Vote 51, 2/17/07; Vote 75, 3/15/07; Vote 116, 3/27/07; Vote 126, 3/29/07; Vote 147, 4/26/07; Washington Post, 2/6/07]

Suffolk University Poll Shows That Only 31% Of Granite Staters Want to Re-Elect Sununu. According to a Suffolk University poll issued on 6/27/07, only 31% of Granite Staters say Sununu deserves re-election, while 47% - including 25% of Republicans – say it is time for someone else. [Boston Herald, 6/28/07]

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