RUBBER STAMP
Republican Jim Gerlach
(PA-06)

Jim Gerlach wants to have it both ways on Iraq. He talks a good game, but has voted in lockstep with the Bush administration's failed policies in Iraq.

He says he supports our troops, but actually voted against a $1,500 bonus for troops, reserves and Guard members in Iraq and Afghanistan. He says he wants to hold the Iraqi government accountable for managing their affairs, but voted against benchmarks for success, and even attacked Democrats for proposing them.

The truth is that it doesn't matter what Jim Gerlach says. It's his record of rubberstamping George Bush in Iraq that counts.

Case #1: Accountability

Jim Gerlach's Rhetoric

  • Suggested Limiting Iraq War Funding to Hold Iraqis' Feet to the Fire
    "Do we need to put things out in front of the Iraqi government that makes them realize they have to do certain things to continue the support of the American people? Absolutely," Gerlach said on CNN. [CNN (Lou Dobbs), 5/08/07]

The Real Jim Gerlach Record

  • ... After Attacking Democrats for Proposing Legislation to Hold Iraq's Government Accountable...
    "Instead of providing our troops in the field with the resources they need to fight and win, the Democrat Majority has managed to craft legislation that could put our troops at risk and waste taxpayers' money," Gerlach said. [US Fed News, 3/23/07]



Case #2: Iraqi Government

Jim Gerlach's Rhetoric

  • Claimed Iraqis Were Responsible for Ending Violence
    "Cessation of that turmoil [in Baghdad] is the direct and immediate responsibility of the Iraqis themselves," Gerlach said. [Allentown Morning Call, 1/11/07]
  • Gerlach Opposed 'Blank Check' to Iraqis
    According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Gerlach said that "Congress needs to get much more proactive and assertive" in assessing the Iraqi government's capabilities. [Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/19/06]
  • Gerlach: I Will Push for Holding the Iraqi Government Responsible
    "I will continue to push for Congress to be more involved in holding the Iraqi government responsible for their own internal security so we can bring our troops home as soon as possible," Gerlach said. [US Fed News, 2/16/07]
  • Gerlach: No Blank Checks
    "We cannot continue to allow the Iraqis to operate as if they have a blank check in American lives and tax dollars," Gerlach said. [US Fed News, 2/16/07]
  • Gerlach: Iraq Must Manage Their Own Internal Affairs
    "My plan for victory would fully train Iraqi forces up to the force level necessary to manage their own internal affairs, so we can begin bringing our troops home." [Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/30/06]
  • Gerlach: Iraqis Can Not Have Blank Check
    "The Iraqis need to know that American patience and support are not blank checks that Iraqi politicians can cash with American lives and tax dollars," Gerlach said. [Gerlach Statement, 6/8/06]

The Real Jim Gerlach Record

  • Opposed Requiring Iraqi Government to Meet Benchmarks
    In 2007, Gerlach voted against a bill that set a goal of redeploying most U.S. combat troops in Iraq by the end of March 2008, if the president can certify the Iraq government is meeting benchmarks, and by the end of 2007 if he cannot. [HR 1591, Vote #265, 4/25/07]
  • Rubberstamped Bush Veto of Benchmarks for Iraq
    In 2007, Gerlach voted against an attempt to override President Bush's veto of legislation to require accountability in Iraq. The bill set as a goal of redeploying most U.S. combat troops in Iraq by the end of March 2008, if the president can certify the Iraq government is meeting benchmarks. [Congressional Quarterly; HR 1591, Vote #276, 5/2/07]
  • Voted Against Benchmarks for Iraqi Government
    In 2007, Gerlach voted against legislation to require the president to report on progress the Iraqi government has made toward meeting specified benchmarks and goals. [Congressional Quarterly; HR 2206, Vote #333, 5/10/07]
  • Opposed Requiring Bush to Report on Progress in Iraq
    In 2007, Gerlach voted in favor of a motion to kill a requirement that the Bush administration report to Congress on benchmarks for success in Iraq. [HR 2206, Vote #332, 5/10/07]
  • Opposed Accountability in Iraq, Redeployment of Troops
    In July 2007, Gerlach voted against a bill to require the Defense secretary to begin redeploying U.S. troops and contractors out of Iraq within 120 days of the bill's enactment. [Congressional Quarterly; HR 2956, Vote #624, 7/12/07]
  • 2006: Endorsed Bush Policy in Iraq
    In 2006, Gerlach voted for a resolution endorsing President Bush's Iraq policy while declaring that the United States will prevail in the war against terrorism. The resolution also took a stand against setting withdrawal dates. [CQ Today, 6/16/06; HRS 861, Vote #288, 6/16/06]



Case #3: Congressional Oversight

Jim Gerlach's Rhetoric

  • Gerlach: Congress Must Conduct Oversight of Iraq
    "Congress must do its job proactively evaluating the current level of progress of the Iraqi government and comprehensively report these findings to our colleagues and the American people." [Gerlach Press Release, 5/18/06]

The Real Jim Gerlach Record

  • 11/3/05: Gerlach Voted to Kill Hearings on Bush Iraq Policy
    In 2005, Gerlach voted to kill a bid by Democrats for the House to begin conducting oversight hearings into a wide range of administration actions and policies relating to the war in Iraq. [Washington Post, 11/06/05; Motion to Table the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair, Vote #562, 11/03/05]
  • Opposed Investigation into Contractor Spending in Iraq
    In 2005, Gerlach voted against the establishment of a select committee to investigate reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, including contracting procedures, protection against money laundering, and the allocation of contracts to foreign companies and small businesses. [HR 1268, Tierney amendment, Vote #72, 3/15/05]



Case #4: Escalation Plan

Jim Gerlach's Rhetoric

  • Waffled on Bush Escalation Plan...
    "... I support the President's call for more military resources being deployed to the Anbar province in order to assist the Iraqis in stamping out the Al-Qaeda presence there. But I have significant concern over sending more troops to Baghdad in support of Iraqi efforts to quell Shia-Sunni violence." [Gerlach Press Release, 1/11/06]

The Real Jim Gerlach Record

  • ... Then Rubberstamped Bush Agenda to Increase Troops
    In 2007, Gerlach voted against a resolution expressing support for U.S. military personnel serving in Iraq while disapproving of President Bush's decision to deploy more than 20,000 additional U.S. combat troops to that country. [HCONRES 63, Vote #99, 2/16/07]



Case #5: Salary Bonus

Jim Gerlach's Rhetoric

  • Gerlach Says He Support the Troops...
    "I don't want to do anything to hurt the morale of the troops," Gerlach said in 2007. "If troops from the Sixth Congressional District are going into harm's way, I want them to know they have a congressman who supports their mission." [Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/11/07]

The Real Jim Gerlach Record

  • ... But Opposed A Salary Bonus For Our Troops, Guard, Reserve
    In 2003, Gerlach voted against providing service members a $1,500 salary bonus to every American service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, including National Guard and reserve forces. [HR 3289, Vote #554, 10/17/2003]



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