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N.H. voters question Bayh about Iraq war
Vote for invasion was right at the time but was based
on faulty information, senator says
By Maureen Groppe
Star Washington Bureau
HENNIKER, N.H. -- New Hampshire voters Sunday peppered
Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., with questions about the war
in Iraq, an indication of an issue Bayh could face if
he runs for president in 2008.
Bayh, who supported the U.S. invasion, was asked at a
gathering of about 100 people at New England College
whether he would cast the same vote today. He
responded that the decision he made seemed right at
the time.
"It turned out some of the most important information
we relied upon at that time just was not accurate," he
said. "There were no weapons of mass destruction. The
administration has proven to be terribly incompetent
in the way they've carried this out. . . . Of course,
we'd make different decisions based upon different
facts as we know them today."
The answer did not satisfy Al Cantor.
"I think he needs to say, 'I blew it. I should've seen
through all the lies,' " said Cantor, who asked Bayh
about his support for the invasion. "There were
millions of people around the world saying there was
no case for war."
Of the Senate Democrats viewed as possible 2008
presidential candidates, only Sen. Russ Feingold of
Wisconsin voted against the war.
Jim McCanaha, who served on Sen. John Kerry's New
Hampshire steering committee in 2004 and was the third
of at least five people to ask Bayh about Iraq, wanted
to know what sort of foreign policy Bayh would adopt
to avoid similar situations in the future.
The country needs to be more skeptical about
intelligence information and more willing to
acknowledge that some problems can't be solved with
force, Bayh said.
McCanaha said he doesn't fault Bayh for voting for the
war because he thinks senators were in a tough spot,
but he was looking for a better definition of Bayh's
foreign policy goals.
Bayh also fielded questions about health care, the
budget deficit, education, the environment, global
competition and other issues at the college and at a
smaller forum in Franklin, N.H.
Bayh, who plans to make a formal decision about a
presidential run after the 2006 elections, has been
exploring a campaign by traveling the country this
year.
He has traveled twice to Iowa and New Hampshire, which
traditionally hold the first nominating contests.
Contact Star Washington Bureau reporter Maureen Groppe
at (202) 906-8118 or mgroppe@gns.gannett.com.
N.H. voters question Bayh about Iraq war
Vote for invasion was right at the time but was based
on faulty information, senator says
By Maureen Groppe
Star Washington Bureau
HENNIKER, N.H. -- New Hampshire voters Sunday peppered
Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., with questions about the war
in Iraq, an indication of an issue Bayh could face if
he runs for president in 2008.
Bayh, who supported the U.S. invasion, was asked at a
gathering of about 100 people at New England College
whether he would cast the same vote today. He
responded that the decision he made seemed right at
the time.
"It turned out some of the most important information
we relied upon at that time just was not accurate," he
said. "There were no weapons of mass destruction. The
administration has proven to be terribly incompetent
in the way they've carried this out. . . . Of course,
we'd make different decisions based upon different
facts as we know them today."
The answer did not satisfy Al Cantor.
"I think he needs to say, 'I blew it. I should've seen
through all the lies,' " said Cantor, who asked Bayh
about his support for the invasion. "There were
millions of people around the world saying there was
no case for war."
Of the Senate Democrats viewed as possible 2008
presidential candidates, only Sen. Russ Feingold of
Wisconsin voted against the war.
Jim McCanaha, who served on Sen. John Kerry's New
Hampshire steering committee in 2004 and was the third
of at least five people to ask Bayh about Iraq, wanted
to know what sort of foreign policy Bayh would adopt
to avoid similar situations in the future.
The country needs to be more skeptical about
intelligence information and more willing to
acknowledge that some problems can't be solved with
force, Bayh said.
McCanaha said he doesn't fault Bayh for voting for the
war because he thinks senators were in a tough spot,
but he was looking for a better definition of Bayh's
foreign policy goals.
Bayh also fielded questions about health care, the
budget deficit, education, the environment, global
competition and other issues at the college and at a
smaller forum in Franklin, N.H.
Bayh, who plans to make a formal decision about a
presidential run after the 2006 elections, has been
exploring a campaign by traveling the country this
year.
He has traveled twice to Iowa and New Hampshire, which
traditionally hold the first nominating contests.
Contact Star Washington Bureau reporter Maureen Groppe
at (202) 906-8118 or mgroppe@gns.gannett.com.
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