RUBBER STAMP
Republican Heather Wilson
(NM-01)

Heather Wilson has been a staunch supporter of President Bush and his war in Iraq. She voted for the war, called it the "right thing," and even suggested that "we're making progress" in Iraq. Her record of voting in lockstep for the Bush administration's Iraq policy even drew raves from Bush himself, who praised Wilsons commitment to "complete the mission." But now, Heather Wilson is trying to have it both ways. See more of Heather Wilson's "cheap talk" below.

Case #1: Making Progress

Heather Wilson's Rhetoric

  • Wilson in 2006: Situation Not Improving
    "There is no question that the situation in Iraq is very dangerous and not improving, particularly in Baghdad with respect to the sectarian violence," Wilson said in December 2006. [Albuquerque Journal, 12/31/06]
  • Wilson: Mission Unclear
    "I also have not seen a clarity of mission, and I think that's the greatest weakness that we have right now." [CNN, 1/5/07]

The Real Heather Wilson Record

  • Wilson in 2002: Voted for War in Iraq
    In 2002, Wilson voted to allow the President to use the military force in Iraq. [HJR 114, Vote #455, 10/10/2002]
  • Wilson in 2003: U.S. is Doing the Right Thing by Being in Iraq
    "We did the right thing going into Iraq," Wilson said in 2003. [Albuquerque Journal, 10/30/03]
  • Wilson in 2004: Opposed Investigation on Abuse of Iraqi Prisoners
    In 2004, Wilson voted against the establishment of a select committee to investigate the treatment of detainees in the global war on terrorism, including all allegations of abuse of Iraqi prisoners. [HR 4200, Vote #205, 5/20/04]
  • Wilson in 2005: Voted to Kill Hearings on Bush Iraq Policy
    In 2005, Wilson voted to kill a bid 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]
  • Wilson in 2005: We're Making Progress in Iraq
    "I think we've made quite a bit of progress in the past eight months," Wilson said. [Albuquerque Journal, 11/27/05]
  • 2006: Wilson Praised by Bush for Standing with Him on Iraq
    At a June 2006 fundraising event in Albuquerque, President Bush exclaimed, "We will not cut and run. It's important to have people in the United States Congress who understands the stakes in Iraq and the need to complete the mission, and Heather Wilson is such a person." [New York Times, 6/17/06]
  • 2006: Wilson Skipped Vote on Iraq Policy to Attend Fundraiser with Bush
    While Bush was praising Wilson's commitment to rubberstamping his policies in Iraq, she was skipping a vote in Congress on whether to endorse 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 #2: Timetables

Heather Wilson's Rhetoric

  • Wilson in 2005: U.S. Troops Can Begin to Stand Down in 2006
    "But I continue to believe that if political and security progress continues on roughly the course we are on, American forces should be able to start being drawn down in significant numbers during the course of next year. Redeployments should be based on conditions in the field. As the Iraqis stand up, we can stand down." [Wilson Press Release, 12/16/05]

The Real Heather Wilson Record

  • Wilson in 2007: No Self-Imposed Timetables in Iraq
    "... [T]here can be no timetable for withdrawal of U.S. military forces or limitations on the kinds of missions they can undertake after certain dates," Wilson said in a May 2007 statement. [Wilson Press Release, 5/7/07]
  • 2007: Wilson Opposed Bringing Troops Home by August 2008
    In 2007, Wilson 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]
  • 2007: Opposed Accountability in Iraq
    In 2007, Wilson 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]
  • 2007: Opposed Accountability in Iraq, Redeployment of Troops
    In July 2007, Wilson 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]



Case #3: Equipment Repair

Heather Wilson's Rhetoric

  • Wilson: Restoring and Replacing Equipment is a Priority
    "Restoring and replacing equipment for all of the troops that come home - Guard, Reserve, and Active - is a priority in the Congress." [Wilson Press Release, 3/15/07]
  • Wilson: Troops Must Have Equipment They Need
    "Our troops are shouldering great responsibilities, and American men and women in dangerous areas must have the equipment to do the job. Nothing less is acceptable." [Wilson Press Release, 5/16/07]

The Real Heather Wilson Record

  • Opposed Equipment Repair, Quality of Life Enhancements for Troops
    In 2003, Wilson voted against a $3.6 billion to pay for quality of life enhancements for U.S. service members, including the repair and replacement of damaged equipment, medical and dental screening of military reservists, family assistance centers, pre-paid phone cards for the troops in Iraq, the transportation of troops on rest-and-relaxation leave. [Washington Post, 10/17/03; HR 3289, Vote #547, 10/16/03]



Case #4: Diplomacy

Heather Wilson's Rhetoric

  • Wilson in 2006: Criticized Iraq Study Group, Which Proposed "Diplomatic Offensive"
    "In early December, Wilson criticized the findings of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, which called for a 'diplomatic offensive' in Iraq." Wilson said the report was "naive and simplistic" and "compared the study group's report to hors d'oeuvres when she was 'expecting a steak dinner.'" [Albuquerque Journal, 7/6/07]

The Real Heather Wilson Record

  • Wilson in 2007: Ratchet Up Diplomatic Effort
    "We need an intensive diplomatic effort to move the parties forward," Wilson said in a June 2007 press release. [Wilson Press Release, 6/7/07]



Case #5: The Surge

Heather Wilson's Rhetoric

  • Wilson Opposed Bush Surge...
    "I think it would be the wrong way to go." [Albuquerque Journal, 12/31/06]
  • ...Then Supported Part of Surge
    "As I have said, I support increasing troops in Anbar, even though I am skeptical about the likelihood of success in Baghdad." [Heather Wilson Floor Statement, 2/14/07; Washington Post, 2/15/07]

The Real Heather Wilson Record

  • Voted Against Condemning Surge
    In 2007, Wilson voted against a resolution that would express 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]
  • Wilson: I Predicted the Surge Would Fail
    "I was skeptical that the surge would succeed before it was launched and recommended a different course of action. Unfortunately, my skepticism appears to have been justified." [Wilson Statement, 7/5/07]



Case #6: Salary Bonus

Heather Wilson's Rhetoric

  • Wilson: Our Troops Are Taking Great Risks
    "Our men and women in the military are taking great risks to give the Iraqis time and space to resolve their differences, but there is not a sense of urgency among the Iraqis to pursue reconciliation." [Wilson Press Release, 6/7/07]

The Real Heather Wilson Record

  • Wilson Opposed A Salary Bonus For Our Troops, Guard, Reserve
    In 2003, Wilson 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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