Berman Blows It

From LA Daily News - Berman with GOP on Iraq:

Capping two days of rancorous partisan debate, Rep. Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys, broke with most of his party Friday and voted to approve a Republican-backed resolution to reject a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq.

So many Democrats wag their fingers at progressive activists, saying that we're more concerned with the shade of blue our Democratic representatives are, instead of worrying about gaining a Democratic majority in Congress. But do we really want the sort of "Democrat" in Congress who will vote along GOP lines? One who says:

"I voted for today's resolution on Iraq because I agree with what it calls for: success in the 'mission to create a sovereign, free and united Iraq.' I still have hope that we can accomplish that mission," Berman said in a statement.

Some have said that the Iraq War is not the only issue that liberals have to worry about, so we shouldn't "use it as a litmus test" in the support of political candidates. But when the Iraq War is siphoning off so many resources that it horrifically impacts the majority of issues liberals care about and causes the deaths of our soldiers and Iraqis, it becomes the main issue we should act upon. And it becomes the main issue for which we should hold our electeds - as well as prospective electeds - accountable.

Personally, I want my Democratic representatives to be as blue as blue can be, not bright magenta. I know I'm not the only progressive Democrat who thinks so.