2020 MA Senatorial race: on War & Peace


Ed Markey: 2003 Iraq war vote was a mistake; 2013 Syria vote was not

Kennedy was particularly critical of Markey's votes to authorize the use of military force in Iraq in 2003 and his present vote in committee a decade later in 2013 on a resolution authorizing military action in Syria. Markey said he voted present on Syria because the Obama administration had not provided all the information he needed to make a decision. He called the ultimate release of the information by the administration a "disinfectant" that led to the withdrawal of the resolution.

"A present vote is not a disinfectant. It's hard for me to understand when a present vote is going to be a profile in courage," Kennedy said.

Markey said that he regretted his Iraq war vote, which he blamed on being lied to by President George W. Bush. "It was a mistake," Markey said, noting the support his campaign has received from groups like Mass Peace Action.

Source: Fall River Herald News on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate Feb 18, 2020

Joe Kennedy III: Opposed 2003 Iraq war; opposed 2013 Syria war

Kennedy was particularly critical of Markey's votes to authorize the use of military force in Iraq in 2003 and his present vote in committee a decade later in 2013 on a resolution authorizing military action in Syria. Markey said he voted present on Syria because the Obama administration had not provided all the information he needed to make a decision. He called the ultimate release of the information by the administration a "disinfectant" that led to the withdrawal of the resolution.

"A present vote is not a disinfectant. It's hard for me to understand when a present vote is going to be a profile in courage," Kennedy said.

Markey said that he regretted his Iraq war vote, which he blamed on being lied to by President George W. Bush. "It was a mistake," Markey said, noting the support his campaign has received from groups like Mass Peace Action.

Source: Fall River Herald News on 2020 Massachusetts Senate debate Feb 18, 2020

  • The above quotations are from 2020 Massachusetts Senatorial race: debates and news coverage.
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Candidates and political leaders on War & Peace:

Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Sep 17, 2022