Brad Sherman and Howard Berman both want to represent
California’s new 30th Congressional District. Sherman beat Berman by 10 points in the
June primary, but they are facing-off again in November according to the new
rules about “top 2” primaries. They are
both Democrats.
The Democrats in the district may all have already made up
their minds about whom to support, but that still leaves Republicans with a
possible key role in determining who represents the overwhelmingly-Democratic
district in Congress.
Two Republican Senators, John McCain and Lindsay Graham, and
Independent Joseph Lieberman today endorsed Berman for the seat. Here’s what Sherman’s office had to say in
response:
“THREE SENATORS
BACK BERMAN:
“CITE HIS
STRONG SUPPORT OF THE IRAQ WAR
“Senator's COS confirms endorsements
are a result of Sherman questioning Berman's pro-Iraq War stance.
“Today
the Howard Berman campaign released endorsements from Senators John McCain,
Lindsay Graham and Joseph Lieberman.
“The
Sherman campaign spoke to the Chief of Staff of one of the Senators this
morning and was told: ‘We have seen the mailers you sent out attacking Howard
Berman on Iraq. Iraq is very important to us.’
“As the Almanac of American Politics explains:
“Berman played a
critical role in winning passage by a wide margin of the Iraq War Resolution in
October 2002. He strongly supported military action in Iraq, and in September
came out from behind the scenes and organized a group of Democrats who shared
his views. They broke off from the negotiations between Republicans and John
Spratt (a moderate Democrat and senior member of the Armed Services Committee)
who ended up offering up an alternative to the administration’s resolution, and
[Berman] talked directly to the Bush Administration. He didn’t seek the
permission of Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, but Berman’s discussions led to
Gephardt’s agreement with the administration on the terms of the resolution --
talks that undercut the demands of Spratt, Minority Whip Nancy Pelosi, and
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Joseph Biden.
“’It seems odd that Berman wants to highlight his role in
initiating the Iraq War fiasco,’ stated Sherman campaign consultant Parke
Skelton. ‘Berman was the key organizer in the House for the passage of
the resolution and worked with the Bush Administration to undermine Democratic
efforts to prevent or limit the scope of the war. When Brad Sherman
offered the Sherman Amendment in the Foreign Affairs Committee to
prevent the war if Hussein allowed unfettered weapons inspections, Berman voted
No.’
“Berman was one of
the very last Democrats in Congress supporting the Iraq War, voting in lockstep
with the Bush Administration until mid-2007.”
Will Republicans who supported the Iraq War now be more likely to support Berman on the basis of their shared support for that undertaking? Or will anti-Iraq War Democrats be reminded of Berman's role in the instigation of that conflict, losing him more Democratic votes than he gains from like-minded Republicans?
The election is on November 6th.
