WASHINGTON — John Edwards had a point: Where have Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama been these past few weeks while others were shouting to the rooftops about the worsening debacle in Iraq? Sudden attacks of laryngitis? Cat got their tongues?
Clinton has a point, too, and so does Obama. When Edwards called them out at the Democratic presidential debate Sunday night, Clinton was right when she said that this is George W. Bush's war, not anybody else's. And Obama, who publicly opposed the war from the beginning, was right to snap at Edwards — who, like Clinton, voted to authorize military action — that his righteous outrage was "four and a half years late."
Still, Edwards is asking the right questions. If the war in Iraq is the most urgent issue facing the country — and both Clinton and Obama said bringing the troops home would be their first priority as president — then why aren't theirs the loudest, clearest, most eloquent voices in opposition to Bush's tragic misadventure? Each is asking for the opportunity to lead the nation. Shouldn't they be showing some leadership on the war?
Yes, both Clinton and Obama can point to anti-war speeches, position papers and legislation. But when push came to shove — the vote on continued funding for the war — neither of the leading contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination emerged from the Senate chamber swathed in glory.
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