A growing body of data demonstrates clearly that Wisconsinites want the US to leave Iraq. First we saw the results of the Green Party sponsored April 4th referenda across the state, in which 40,043 voters (61%), including voters in 6 communities that went for George Bush in 2004, said YES to immediate withdrawal.
Now we have the results of a WPR/St. Norbert College poll, in whch 51% were in favor of this statement: A number of communities in the state of Wisconsin have placed on their local ballots a question about withdrawing troops from Iraq as soon as possible. If this were on your local ballot, would you vote in favor of withdrawing troops or against withdrawing troops?
Today in a WPR discussion of that poll, conservative blogger Owen Robinson of Boots and Sabers told Joy Cardin and John Nichols that the "as soon as possible" in the question would have allowed even war supporters to say yes. Robinson believes the US should leave Iraq "as soon as possible after victory."
But another poll, this one sponsored by the Strategic Vision firm, suggests strongly that Wisconsinites do in fact want the US to leave Iraq as close to immediately as possible. In a poll conducted April 7-9 (scroll down to question #7), 55% said YES to the question, "Would you like to see the United States withdraw all troops from Iraq within six months?"
Local activists will soon make a decision as to whether to attempt a November referendum for the city of Oshkosh. Since Bush toadies and war apologists (both of whom seem more than willing to fight the war to the last drop of other peoples' childrens' blood) will continue to try to undermine the results of local referenda, I agree with Xoff that we should have a statewide referendum.
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But have "the people" really spoken? Absolutely not. Wisconsin has 1,266 towns and only 32 voted on the referenda. That amounst to a mere 8 percent of the state's 2004 electorate, of which, only 2 percent cast ballots for the referendum. The 32 towns were also heavily Democratic, and a smaller percentage voted for a pullout (60%) than voted for Kerry in 2004 (69%). So, the referendum actually did not do well at all, considering the circumstances.
Since Kerry won these towns with 69% of the vote, it cannot be claimed that they accurately represent Wisconsin, which Kerry narrowly won 49% to 48%. If Democrats give any credence to this story, then you know they are really desperate to exaggerate any signs of opposition to the war in Iraq.
You can not compare Kerry with anti-war sentiment. Kerry argued for continuing the war until the job was done - and even advocated sending more troops to Iraq than Bush had sent. Votes for Kerry were not anti-war votes.
Tony pointed out pretty clearly that a number of those towns voted for Bush in 04 and then voted to bring the troops home last week. It isn't a Dem-Rep issue here.
If this sample of towns is not satisfying, then lets have a state wide referendum. The reason the Bush-lovin' state legislature won't do this is because they know what the outcome will be - Wisconsin will vote to bring the troops home. Write your State Senator and Rep - ask them to push for a state wide referendum.
Or support an effort to put the referendum question on your town ballot in November.
We need to get this on our ballot here and I hope the Peace and Justice Center will make another effort at this.
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