RUBBER STAMP
Republican Dave Reichert
(WA-08)

Dave Reichert has consistently rubberstamped the Bush Administration's failed positions on Iraq, and says that he sees American troops remaining in Iraq for many years to come. He opposed setting timetables for withdrawal, he opposed setting benchmarks for success in Iraq, he voted against accountability in spending in Iraq, and voted against measures to support our troops.

Perhaps most telling of all, though, was Reichert's decision to skip a vote on Iraq in order to attend a fundraiser with President Bush.

Dave Reichert's Rhetoric

Accountability Matters

  • A Change in Direction
    "At some point, if I'm not making any progress, the sheriff will come to me and say, 'Lieutenant, what's going on?' And if I don't have the right answers, the direction is going to change." [Seattle Times, 7/19/07]



Dave Reichert's Record: Case #1

Opposing Accountability

  • Voted Against Setting Benchmarks for Success in Iraq
    In 2005, Reichert voted against requiring President Bush to set benchmarks for measuring U.S. progress in Iraq in areas such as defeating the insurgency, establishing democratic institutions and bringing U.S. troops home. [HR 2601, Vote #398, 7/20/05]
  • Voted to Kill Hearings on Bush Iraq Policy
    In 2005, Reichert 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 Requiring Iraqi Government to Meet Benchmarks for Success
    In 2007, Reichert 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]
  • Voted Against Benchmarks for Iraqi Government
    In 2007, Reichert 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 Accountability in Iraq, Redeployment of Troops
    In July 2007, Reichert 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]



Dave Reichert's Record: Case #2

Iraq: "Many Years To Come"

  • Reichert Supported U.S. Involvement in Iraq for "Many Years to Come"
    "I see us being in Iraq for a while. I see us being involved in a war on terror for many years to come," Reichert said in 2006. [Speech to Bellevue Chamber of Commerce, 8/16/06]
  • Reichert Opposed Timeline for Troop Withdrawal Exit Strategy
    "I would have voted to go to war with the majority of Congress and support the president's decision," Reichert said in 2005. "And what I do is that when you ask me, as a sheriff, should there be a timeline? It is clear to me: no." [Speech to Seattle City Club, 1/23/06]
  • Opposed Bringing Troops Home by August 2008
    In 2007, Reichert voted against a bill that would set in motion a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq by August 2008. [CQ House Action Reports, No. 110-3, 3/20/07; HR 1591, Vote #186, 3/23/07]



Dave Reichert's Record: Case #3

Bush's Lapdog

  • Missed Vote on Resolution Endorsing Bush Policy in Iraq
    In 2006, Reichert didn't vote when the House passed 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]
  • Reichert Skipped Iraq Resolution Vote to Raise Money with Bush
    Reichert joined President Bush on Air Force One to attend a fundraiser while his fellow representatives were holding a debate about Iraq. The event at Microsoft executive Peter Neupert's estate in Medina was attended by 400 and raised about $800,000. [Seattle Times, 6/17/06]
  • Voted to Rubberstamp Bush Escalation Plan
    In 2007, Reichert 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]
  • Rubberstamped Bush Veto of Benchmarks for Iraq
    In 2007, Reichert 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]
  • Opposed Requiring Bush to Report on Progress in Iraq
    In 2007, Reichert 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]



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