Posted on 09/25/2004 4:02:24 AM PDT by kattracks
As a young Navy officer in World War II, I was one of the first Americans to see Hiroshima after the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. That experience lives with me today, and it helped to shape the view I held during my public service career: a view that war is wrong in nearly every circumstance.As Oregon's governor, I was the only governor in the nation who refused to sign a statement supporting President Johnson's Vietnam War policy.
As a senator, I joined with Sen. George McGovern in an unsuccessful effort to end that war. I was the only senator who voted against both the Democrat and Republican resolutions authorizing the use of force in the 1991 Gulf War.
In my final years in the Senate, I opposed President Clinton's decision to send American troops to Bosnia.
During my 30 years in the Senate, I never once voted in favor of a military appropriations bill.
I know that this record will cause many to wonder why I am such a strong supporter of President Bush and his policy in Iraq. My support is based on the fact that our world changed on Sept. 11, 2001, a day on which we lost more American lives than we did in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
I know from my service in the Senate that Saddam Hussein was an active supporter of terrorism. He used weapons of mass destruction on innocent people and left no doubt that he would do so again. It was crucial to the cause of world peace that he be removed from power.
Having seen atrocious loss in World War II, I understand the devastation of armed conflict. We have paid dearly with American and Iraqi lives for our commitment, but we cannot afford the alternative. Nor can we afford a president who puts a wet finger in the air and turns over his decisions to pollsters.
President Bush has indeed taken heat for his resolve in pursuing the war on terrorism and efforts in Iraq. His steadfastness and resolve in the face of his critics are deserving of praise.
As terrorists continue to plot against our country and our interests, the American people must choose between action and inaction, between security and insecurity.
I believe the choice is clear. I will proudly cast my vote for President George W. Bush.
Mark O. Hatfield served as a Republican U.S. senator from Oregon from 1967 to 1997.
I think Senator Hatfield shows himself to be sincere, but very mixed-up and inconsistent. Howard Dean correctly criticized Kerry for opposing the 1991 Gulf War and supporting (in '02) the Iraq war. The 1991 war had a stronger justification than this one did. It is goofy to have opposed the first and supported this one (unless you acknowledge your mistake on the first one).
--Having said all that, God bless Senator Hatfield. The Lord will accept him as a repentent sinner, not as a great politician!!
Poor Mark Hatfield. He got booted from the Senate for chasing a woman around his desk. I agree that sexual harrassment should not be tolerated!
I think you are confusing the pious teetotaler Hatfield with his former colleague, Robert W. "Bob" Packwood, another OR Republican liberal.
when many of his views were antithetical to Christianity.
Were? How about "ARE"?
VIVA KABUL!
One issue that Hatfield and Packwood parted company on is abortion. Hatfield was consistently prolife, but Packwood never heard of an abortion that he did not favor and want to support with state or federal funds. On the other hand, Snowe and Collins are in competition to see who is the most "pro-choice".
Respectfully, however, anyone who pats himself on the back for all the liberalism with which he aligned himself and championed in this article, who teamed up with McGovern on anything, and abandoned Reagan in our post-1970's military and defense restoration, politically speaking remains nothing more than a RINO.
Just last night I was working on an article which mentions Hatfield's collaboration with the North Vietnamese and the VVAW during the Winter Soldier Investigation and Dewey Canyon III--when he and McGovern passed $50,000 to the VVAW--so I have to wonder if there is a motive beyond his stated one for his sudden about-face. A leopard doesn't change its spots, and a man who betrays his country continuously for 35 years doesn't usually become a patriot overnight.
Okay; FESS UP!
Who has been playing with MSWord again?
They ARE antithetical to Christianity.
George W. Bush will win reelection by a margin of at least ten per cent.
This should help Bush with some of the "security GRANDmoms".
Gene McCarthy supported Reagan.
Yes, McCarthy (who disliked or distrusted Jimmuh Carter, imagine why?) voted for Reagan in 1980, but did he vote for his former MN colleague Mondale in 1984? I cannot recall.
Not sure either.
Denizen=Netizen.
Yes, definitely addicting. Two days away, physical labor in HHold, and jumping to get back. Two-year lurker, then just couldn't keep from jumping in . . .
Norski
Oh, THAT Mark Hatfield. Now I remember.
Apparently, he was a "sexual addict/predator of the same caliber as BJ Clinton.
I'm not impressed.
Oops. Saw post 28. You are right. Sorry.
At least he gets it now. There are plenty who still are clueless.
You may be thinking of the former Repblican Governor Vic Atiyeh. Some Dims I know used to refer to him as "that rug merchant".
I think you are right.
30 years of weakening the nation plus the loss of over 3,000 completely innocent victims may have added more quilt to his conscience than he could bear.
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