Coburn, Inhofe Block Vote on Bush's Escalation of Iraq War

Republicans in the U.S. Senate, including Oklahoma’s Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe, yesterday blocked an up- or-down vote on a resolution condemning the President's escalation of the War in Iraq and his refusal to offer a new direction that the American people demanded in November. While 70 percent of Americans disapprove of President Bush's misguided strategy in Iraq, both Democrats and Republicans have voiced opposition to the escalation. Yet, Senators Coburn and Inhofe still cling to the same "stay the course" strategy that continues to be advocated by President Bush.

"Every day Oklahoma’s brave men and women are serving our country in the war in Iraq. This is the most important issue facing our nation. The people of Oklahoma have made it clear where they stand, now they have a right to know where Republicans like Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe stand on the President's escalation of the Iraq War. Yesterday, they joined the rest of the Republicans in Washington in giving a green light to the President's plan by blocking an up-or-down vote on a resolution condemning the President's plan to escalate the Iraq war,” said Oklahoma Democratic State Party Chairman Lisa Pryor.



She said Oklahomans and its brave men and women in the military deserve a new strategy, not more obstruction by Republicans who insist on clinging to a failed, stay the course strategy.

“That is why Democrats to voted hold President Bush accountable for his plan to continue to escalate the war in Iraq by forcing our troops to police a civil war,” Pryor said. "By sending more troops into the middle of the Iraqi civil war, the President is not just ignoring the will of the American people, he is ignoring the lessons of history, the advice of military experts and the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group. I call on Senators Coburn and Inhofe to join Democrats in calling for a forward looking plan in Iraq that turns over the country to Iraqis and gets our brave men and women out of the crossfire of their civil war."