Democracy for Vancouver

Baird’s war turn blew “any chance” of Iraq “compromise.”

In August, Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) returned from a two-day trip to the war-torn country, proclaiming that “real progress” was being made and that the escalation should be extended “at least into early next year.” Baird touted his new position on the war with a conservative media tour. According to a new analysis by the Politico’s Jim VandeHei and John F. Harris, it was Baird’s pro-escalation turn that ruined “any chance of a compromise” on Iraq policy:

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) told us last week his biggest fear early on was that Democrats would seek compromise solutions with moderate Republicans on the war and other issues.

Blunt suggested the strategy probably would have worked.

But once Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.), a staunch war opponent, returned from a visit to Iraq and applauded the surge, any chance of a compromise clampdown ended.

Found at Think Progress