The price of support

Dave Camp voted for more of this:

Surprise, surprise

Dave Camp wanted to know what his constituents think about the war in Iraq, so he naturally went out to find out ... in a way meant to reinforce the same course of action Camp has advocated all along. And, what do you know ... he got exactly what he was after, and in a way that allows him to couch his vote against the Iraq resolution in a way that makes it look like it's the fault of his constituents rather than the representative.

That's some keen leadin', Dave.

Here are some highlights:

I share with my colleagues, the president, our service men and women and their families the wish that this war was over and won. It is not, and the resolution before us today does nothing to resolve this conflict, reduce the loss of American life, stabilize Iraq or advance our security.

And:

Friends, we may often disagree, but the facts are, regardless of how it began, and irrespective of the benefit of hindsight, we are at war and Iraq is the central battleground.
Islamic extremists are waging a Jihad against us, and they are struggling to make Iraq a base camp. Our focus must be on winning; and disturbingly I see no mention of winning, succeeding or victory in this resolution. That, in itself, is telling of just how the other side perceives this conflict: not in terms of defeating an enemy of America, but in terms of defeating a political foe.

Hear the sound of a hand slapping the head. The distressing thing isn't just that Dave apparently acknowledges that the invasion and subsequent occupation, which he supported, have gone disasterously wrong; or that he his solution to this screw up is to keep adding fuel to the fire; it's that he apparently has no clue what the conflict has turned into (note the translation, a little ways down, of an Arabic news report in which the various sectarian militias are lying low in hopes that we'll do their dirty work for them -- and willing to trick us into doing it). Has any of this penetrated the thinking of Dave Camp, or the realities that we're stuck in a civil war that could suck in the only people who've stayed out of it?

No, it hasn't. That's why Dave voted against a non-binding resolution against the president's strategy of more of the failing same.

It would be wrong to pick on poor Dave and his rotten, stinkin, unwise, blind support of the war without pointing out the monetary cost paid by the state of Michigan for this ongoing blunder of foreign policy. Not to mention the lives of Michigan residents.

Dave can pass the buck, as he did in his comments, to his constituents. Yes, yes, Dave, you were merely listening to the select few who got your survey; but we ought to expect, on tough issues, a little -- you know -- leadership.

Tim Ryan spanks Rubber Stamp Camp and his party

Tim Ryan and the Democrats aren't going to be lectured to by the Republican minority.

Transcript available at Crooks and Liars.

It's hard to be a rubber stamp when you haven't any ink

Poor poor Dave Camp.

Remember 'the world’s smallest political quiz’? That little gimmick that is designed to get you to say you are a Libertarian? Well, Rubber Stamp Camp has designed a similar gimmick, and he’s sending it to you.

Eric has already blogged about Camp’s ‘survey’ on the war in Iraq, but you really need to look at the questions to see how desperate Camp is.

I was one of the honored few to receive a copy of the survey. Eric does a great job laying out Camp’s attempts to skew answers in his favor, but there are many more hidden gems in the survey itself.

Camp’s position on Iraq is clear: he supports the President’s escalation. The questions in Camp's survey are designed to manipulate you – the constituent – into supporting that position. The results of this survey give Camp a tool to justify his support of the President.

For example:

1. Looking back, do you think the U.S. made the right decision or the wrong decision in using military force against the Taliban in Afghanistan?
-----Right
-----Wrong
-----Unsure

2. Looking back, do you think the U.S. made the right decision or the wrong decision
in using military force against Iraq?
-----Right
-----Wrong
-----Unsure

3. Generally speaking, do you think our success in Iraq is linked to keeping America
safe from another terrorist attack?
-----Iraq is linked
-----Iraq is not linked
-----Unsure

The first two questions may or may not matter. Most people will say it was right to go to Afghanistan and will answer either ‘wrong’ or ‘unsure’ to Iraq. Using the popular support for Afghanistan, Camp will say that his constituents support using the military to fight the GWOT. If most people vote ‘wrong’ or ‘unsure’ on Iraq, Camp will say we have to move forward and focus on victory. If most people vote that it was right to go into Iraq, then it’s a bonus for Camp.

The third question doesn’t matter unless the majority opinion is that ‘Iraq is linked’. Of course the question doesn’t define ‘success’ or explore how Iraq is linked. Someone could answer ‘Iraq is linked’ and still oppose Camp’s position … but that’s not how Camp will interpret the answer.

4. Should the U.S. keep military troops in Iraq until the country’s emerging democracy is secure and can defend itself, or should we bring our troops home as soon as possible regardless of any potential impact on security in the U.S. or Iraq?
-----Secure Iraq
-----Bring troops home
-----Unsure

The language of this question nudges people to answer in Camp’s favor. No one is going to say we should follow a particular course of action ‘regardless of any potential impact on security in the U.S. or Iraq.’

Look at what Camp does in this next question:

5. Here are four potential different strategies the U.S. could follow in dealing with the war in Iraq. Which ONE do you prefer? Withdraw all troops from Iraq immediately? Withdraw all troops by January 2008, or some other specific date? Withdraw troops only after Iraq is stabilized? OR, Send more troops to Iraq now?
-----Withdraw immediately
-----Withdraw by date certain
-----Take as long as needed
-----Send more troops
-----Unsure

First, Camp insists that you choose only one answer, which psychologically pushes the uncertain people to ‘unsure’. Then he presents the questions in such a way that you cannot choose the options that many people would support: ‘stabilize Iraq by a certain date’ so that we can begin redeployment. Then in the answer section he equates the choice to ‘Withdraw troops only after Iraq is stabilized’ with ‘take as long as needed’. Since no one wants to ‘take as long as needed,’ this pressures you to choose ‘send more troops’ or ‘unsure’.

6. Should the U.S. set a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq?
-----Should
-----Should not
-----Should get out now
-----Unsure

This question only matters to Camp if the majority supports his position. The previous question skews people toward ‘unsure’.

7. Some have suggested Congress should try to block the President’s plan to send additional troops into Iraq by withholding funding. Do you support Congress withholding funding for these troops?
-----Withold funds
-----Do not withold funds
-----Unsure

Nobody supports withholding funds for troops ... this conjures images of troops without helmets and flak jackets. This question is phrased to pressure you to support the President’s escalation by opposing the withholding of funds for the escalation.

8. Some have suggested Congress should try to cap the number of troops in Iraq. Do you support putting a limit on the number of troops that can be deployed in Iraq?
-----Cap troops
-----Do not cap troops
-----Unsure

This is another question that is only relevant if you answer in Camp’s favor. The survey discourages the ‘cap troops’ answer by placing this question directly after a question about withholding funds. Most people think of withholding funds and capping troops as dangerous for the troops. Those people are going to say ‘no cap’ or ‘unsure.’

9. Some have suggested Congress should pass a non-binding resolution opposing the President’s new strategy in Iraq. Do you think Congress should pass such a resolution, or does that send the wrong message to our troops and our enemies?
-----Pass resolution
-----Wrong message
-----Unsure

Camp is jonesing for you to say that it sends the wrong message. But most will say ‘unsure.’ Of course, if the majority of respondents support the resolution, Camp will emphasize that his constituents support a non-binding resolution, and therefore, do not want to tie the hands of the President.

10. As you know, the President has outlined a new, four-pronged plan to help us succeed in Iraq. The President’s plan includes sending in roughly 20,000 additional troops, increasing diplomatic efforts, increasing economic assistance and requiring the Iraqis to take more responsibility for their own security. Do you favor or oppose the President’s new strategy?
-----Favor
-----Oppose
-----Unsure

And there it is … the big one. Let’s look at the President’s plan … “roughly 20,000 additional troops” doesn’t sound so bad, does it? And the rest of the plan sounds pretty good … maybe we should’ve done that before. Of course people are going to support the President’s 4 part plan as it is laid out here, because the last 3 parts sound good, while the first part didn’t sound so bad.

Eric cited this source, which mentioned that “Camp "continues to evaluate the war and its progress," Camp spokesman Sage Eastman said when asked whether the survey's questions mean Camp is fundamentally re-evaluating his positions.”

I don’t know why anyone would question the survey’s purpose. This quiz is nothing more than a gimmick to get people to say they are either unsure of the course in Iraq, or that they support the President’s position. Camp will take your responses to the House floor and say that the people of Michigan do not oppose the President’s escalation of the war in Iraq.

By the way, if you had elected Mike Huckleberry in 2006, you would have a Congressman who wouldn’t be trying to trick you into supporting the President.

Gaming the results

Dave wants to know what you think about the war in Iraq. And, he's asking your advice and doesn't care if you're a Democrat, Republican; or if you think the war is a mistake or if you think it's a worthwhile cause.

Eastman estimated that 5,000 to 10,000 people will open the e-mailed message containing the survey. With war-related House votes possible, plans were to tally survey responses Friday and about a week later, Eastman said. But people also can respond after that, either by e-mail or by letter, he said.

Excellent, you say, excellent. It's good to see someone in Congress seeking out the opinions of those whom he claims to represent.

But, you're wondering, how did he pick those 5,000-10,000 people in the 4th. Well, here's your answer.

* The survey is unscientific. The questions went to people (Camp supporters and others) who requested Camp's electronic newsletter plus some other residents of the 14-county congressional district.

Uh-huh. So, if you think Dave Camp is a partisan hack, there is good reason to think that you aren't signed up for Dave's electronic newsletter. In that case, Dave isn't so interested in what you think.

Of course, you can be forgiven if you think Dave's mind is already made up on this.

"Iraq has become the central battleground in the War on Terror," Camp's introductory letter said. It adds:

"Islamic extremists, some backed by Iran and others by al Qaeda, are attempting to turn Iraq into a safe haven from which they can plot and launch future attacks on our homeland. The consequences of failure in Iraq are grave.

"We also know that staying the course is not acceptable. I have said in the days since the president announced his new strategy for the War in Iraq that this is our last chance to succeed. Progress must be made quickly if the country is to stabilize.

"It is my belief that there is no greater issue facing our country than the War in Iraq. I also firmly believe, as I know you do, that our troops have served ably and honorably. To those that have served and are still serving, we owe an unrepayable debt. I will be forever grateful for their service to our country, and will do everything in my power to ensure they have the full support of their government from the first day they put on that uniform and every day thereafter."

Of course, the idea that Iran and al-Qaeda are stirring up trouble in Iraq is contrary to our latest NIE, but what the heck. We also know that Dave doesn't want Congress to tie the hands of President 30%-er on the war.

So, really, the question raises itself ... Dave, rather than picking what must be a small, supportive sample of people for their opinions, why not either take a leadership role in the face of continued carnage, or at least take a gander at neutral, objective, scientific polls of what the American people want rather than relying on the people who sign up for your electronic newsletter.

The answer answers itself.

Dave Camp, not a leader. Dave Camp, out of touch.