Progressive Thomas Hermann of Barre wanted a gotcha moment this morning when he informed the media he planned to go to U.S. Rep. Peter
Welch's office on Main Street and demand to know where in two bills is there any restriction on funds that were approved for the war in Iraq.
Hermann served in Iraq, but opposes the war. He's challenging
Welch because he says the Democratic incumbent failed to live up to his promise of fight against the war on every front. Currently, Hermann's focus is on statements
Welch has made about his voting record -- that he has never voted for funding for the war without strings attached, such as a timeline for the withdrawal of troops. Hermann says that's not true and he points to votes on two measures.
One was a bill that bounced back and forth between the House and Senate, changing during that process. Carolyn
Dwyer,
Welch's campaign manager, said there were conditions in the original House version, but the bill was gutted in the Senate. When the revised bill came back to the House,
Welch voted against it.
Hermann challenges Welch's on a budget measure, too.
Dwyer said that bill was to keep government operating for six weeks while the budget was completed. No one should see that is a litmus test for
Welch's antiwar efforts, she said. Hermann disagreed, saying he would have voted against the funding bill even if it meant he was voting against funding for lots of worthwhile programs.
Hermann never got his chance to go to
Welch's office.
Dwyer attended his news conference and said she was the one who would respond, not the congressional staff.
Look for Hermann to raise this issue with
Welch when they meet in a debate. Look for
Welch to be armed and ready to defend his record.
-- Nancy
Remsen