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ISIS Vote Weighs Heavily on Senators With 2016 Ambitions ISIS Vote Weighs Heavily on Senators With 2016 Ambitions
(about 2 hours later)
The Senate vote set for late Thursday afternoon on whether to allow the American military to arm and train Syrian rebels will be a display of how hard-learned lessons from the past and uncertainties about the future — both practical and political — are at work, especially for those with an eye on a promotion.The Senate vote set for late Thursday afternoon on whether to allow the American military to arm and train Syrian rebels will be a display of how hard-learned lessons from the past and uncertainties about the future — both practical and political — are at work, especially for those with an eye on a promotion.
Congress is home to numerous men and women with White House ambitions in 2016 and beyond. As the experiences of their contemporaries have shown, being on the wrong side of history can end those hopes, just as it has for other senators who have had their votes on issues of war and peace come back to haunt them.Congress is home to numerous men and women with White House ambitions in 2016 and beyond. As the experiences of their contemporaries have shown, being on the wrong side of history can end those hopes, just as it has for other senators who have had their votes on issues of war and peace come back to haunt them.
Consider Hillary Rodham Clinton, whose vote for the invasion of Iraq opened a lane for the candidacy of Barack Obama in 2008, or John Kerry, whose campaign for president in 2004 was hurt by the perception that he had tried to straddle his vote for the invasion with his later criticism of it.Consider Hillary Rodham Clinton, whose vote for the invasion of Iraq opened a lane for the candidacy of Barack Obama in 2008, or John Kerry, whose campaign for president in 2004 was hurt by the perception that he had tried to straddle his vote for the invasion with his later criticism of it.
Senators who hope to run for higher office were carefully considering their votes this week.Senators who hope to run for higher office were carefully considering their votes this week.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has been trying to fight off attacks from other Republicans who say he would be a liability as a presidential candidate because of his less-interventionist views, was expected to vote no. He said on Wednesday, while the House debated President Obama’s request to support the rebels before ultimately passing the measure, that the president must come to Congress to get a full war authorization, not the narrower measure the White House has sought. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has been trying to fight off attacks from other Republicans who say he would be a liability as a presidential candidate because of his less-interventionist views, was expected to vote no.
“They’re afraid of this vote,” Mr. Paul said of his fellow lawmakers who have pushed the authorization vote off, most likely until December. “People are petrified not of the enemy, but petrified of the electorate. That’s why we’re not having this vote. \
In a speech before the vote on Thursday, Mr. Paul tried to square his belief that America cannot be the world’s policeman with his more hawkish statements lately in support of military action. “I’m not sending your son, your daughter over to the middle of that chaos,” he said. “The people who live there need to stand up and fight. I am not giving up. But it is their war, and they need to fight.”
Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who is considering a presidential campaign in 2016, denounced the president’s foreign policy in a speech to a group of conservatives.Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who is considering a presidential campaign in 2016, denounced the president’s foreign policy in a speech to a group of conservatives.
“Previous presidents had merely taken their foot off the gas pedal of American strength,” he said. “But President Obama has stomped on the brake.”“Previous presidents had merely taken their foot off the gas pedal of American strength,” he said. “But President Obama has stomped on the brake.”
Mr. Rubio’s considerations, like those of others looking toward 2016, reflected the complicated dynamics. Though he has deep misgivings about the president’s policies, he was expected to vote yes because he wants to back the military response.Mr. Rubio’s considerations, like those of others looking toward 2016, reflected the complicated dynamics. Though he has deep misgivings about the president’s policies, he was expected to vote yes because he wants to back the military response.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, another possible Republican presidential contender, was set to vote no. “I do not support arming the rebels in Syria because the administration has presented no coherent plan for distinguishing the good guys from the bad guys,” he said in an interview on Wednesday.Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, another possible Republican presidential contender, was set to vote no. “I do not support arming the rebels in Syria because the administration has presented no coherent plan for distinguishing the good guys from the bad guys,” he said in an interview on Wednesday.
Mrs. Clinton was on constant defense in the 2008 presidential campaign about her vote to authorize the Iraq war in 2002, when she was a senator from New York. By contrast, Mr. Obama’s outspoken opposition to the war when he was a senator helped define his candidacy and cast him as a fresh, forward-looking alternative who got it right the first time.Mrs. Clinton was on constant defense in the 2008 presidential campaign about her vote to authorize the Iraq war in 2002, when she was a senator from New York. By contrast, Mr. Obama’s outspoken opposition to the war when he was a senator helped define his candidacy and cast him as a fresh, forward-looking alternative who got it right the first time.
In 2004, Mr. Kerry constantly had to try to explain away his remark that he was for financing the Iraq war before he was against it.In 2004, Mr. Kerry constantly had to try to explain away his remark that he was for financing the Iraq war before he was against it.
The candidates in 2016 will also have to contend with a public sentiment that has only grown since 2008: that American forces should stay out of dangerous and unpredictable foreign conflicts.The candidates in 2016 will also have to contend with a public sentiment that has only grown since 2008: that American forces should stay out of dangerous and unpredictable foreign conflicts.
The vote on Thursday will also be the last major action that the Senate takes before the midterm elections in November. Senators in tough races were struggling this week to decide whether to back the president’s request.The vote on Thursday will also be the last major action that the Senate takes before the midterm elections in November. Senators in tough races were struggling this week to decide whether to back the president’s request.
Senator Mark Begich of Alaska, one of the most endangered Democrats, had said he would vote no. Senator Mark Udall of Colorado, a Democrat who is within a few points of his Republican opponent in many polls, announced on Wednesday that, after much consideration, he would vote with the president. “ISIL must be stopped,” he said, using an acronym for the Islamic State.Senator Mark Begich of Alaska, one of the most endangered Democrats, had said he would vote no. Senator Mark Udall of Colorado, a Democrat who is within a few points of his Republican opponent in many polls, announced on Wednesday that, after much consideration, he would vote with the president. “ISIL must be stopped,” he said, using an acronym for the Islamic State.
Then there are the Democrats who are deeply reluctant to see the United States become entangled in another Middle East conflict. Many of them opposed the Iraq war in 2002 and remain unconvinced that the president’s plan is the right course of action.Then there are the Democrats who are deeply reluctant to see the United States become entangled in another Middle East conflict. Many of them opposed the Iraq war in 2002 and remain unconvinced that the president’s plan is the right course of action.
“I have so many questions,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat who voted against the Iraq war as a House member in 2002. Given how unpredictable the situation is in Syria and Iraq, she said, how can the president guarantee that American involvement will not escalate? “How will we know?" she asked. "I worry about an open-ended conflict.” “I have so many questions,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat who voted against the Iraq war as a House member in 2002. Given how unpredictable the situation is in Syria and Iraq, she said, how can the president guarantee that American involvement will not escalate? “How will we know?” she asked. “I worry about an open-ended conflict.”