Jared Polis fired off an attack Wednesday on congressional opponent Joan Fitz-Gerald after digging up her 4-year-old state Senate votes in support of ousting Saddam Hussein and another backing President Bush.
Polis’ strike helped escalate the Iraq war to the top of the Democratic campaign agenda in the liberal 2nd Congressional District, which includes Boulder and other mountain towns.
Polis, a former state school board member, contends he was protesting the war in 2003 when Fitz-Gerald, now state Senate president, voted for a resolution that supported President Bush and his “unwavering determination to either disarm Saddam Hussein or remove him from power.”
“I was quite upset that one of our candidates for U.S. Congress supported George Bush’s war,” Polis said of his decision to challenge Fitz-Gerald on those votes.
Fitz-Gerald, D-Jefferson County, shot back with a two-page fact sheet outlining her position on Iraq, including her repeated calls for troop withdrawal. She accused Polis of trying to distort her record.
As for her 2003 vote in support of removing Hussein, Fitz-Gerald said voters should view it in “historical context.”
“We were lied to about Saddam Hussein’s capabilities,” she said. “I’m the one with the voting record and I suppose that makes me fair game.”
Fitz-Gerald pointed to her support this year of a resolution criticizing the president’s decision to send more troops to Iraq.
Polis, a Boulder Democrat, called on Fitz-Gerald to “apologize for voting twice to praise the leadership of President Bush on the matter of Iraq.” The second resolution, which passed unanimously in 2003, focused on supporting the troops but also “commended” Bush’s leadership.
Fitz-Gerald campaign manager Mary Alice Mandarich questioned whether Polis supports the troops and said she was disappointed he was “attempting to divide us on the most critical issue facing the nation.”
The candidates’ current stances on Iraq don’t differ dramatically.
Fitz-Gerald is for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Polis vowed Wednesday not to support any funding for the war that is not tied to a “firm schedule for withdrawal.”
The third Democrat in the race, Colorado Conservation Trust executive director Will Shafroth, said he would not approve any additional funding without “a timetable of withdrawal.”
“I’m not saying that we have to be out in 30 days or 90 days or 180 days,” Shafroth said. “There are some logistical realities.”
The Boulder resident said he was “on record in my family and my community” as being against the invasion of Iraq and that he would not have voted for the 2003 resolutions that Fitz-Gerald supported.
“Under no circumstances would I have given the president a thumbs-up,” Shafroth said.
The three are vying to replace Democrat Mark Udall of Eldorado Springs, who is running for U.S. Senate.
Staff writer Jennifer Brown can be reached at 303-954-1593 or jenbrown@denverpost.com.
Senate Joint Resolution 03-016
Be It Resolved …
That the General Assembly expresses its support of President George W. Bush and his Cabinet, in cooperation with the United States Congress and the United Nations, for their unwavering determination to either disarm Saddam Hussein or remove him from power, and also expresses its support of the men and women of the United States armed forces for their courage and dedication to this mission.
House Joint Resolution 03-1041
Be It Resolved …
(1) That the General Assembly and the people of the state of Colorado commend and express gratitude and support to all members of the United States Armed Forces who are carrying out their mission with patriotism and bravery.
(2) That the General Assembly recognizes the sacrifices of the families of the men and women serving in the Armed Forces and expresses appreciation and support to them.
(3) That the General Assembly commends and supports the efforts and leadership of President George W. Bush in the conduct of military operations in Iraq.
(4) That the General Assembly expresses sincere gratitude to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his government for their courageous and steadfast support, as well as gratitude to other allied nations for their military support, logistical support, and other assistance in the campaign against Saddam Hussein’s regime.
