Democrats Still Ducking on Iraq

On the advice of top party consultants, many Democrats in the run-up to the 2006 midterm vote are either ignoring Iraq and shifting to domestic issues (the strategy in the 2002 midterm elections) or supporting the war while criticizing Bush's handling of it (the strategy in the 2004 presidential election). Three years into the conflict most Democrats can finally critique how the Bush Administration misled the American people/mismanaged the Iraqi occupation, but they're unwilling or unable to suggest clearly how the United States should extricate itself from that mess. For now, many prominent Democrats continue to follow the advice of the party's risk-averse consultants and foreign policy intelligentsia -- a cautious tack that is unlikely to satisfy voters' desire for change on the crucial issue of the day.

For the full story, please read my new Nation article The Democrats: Still Ducking