Edwards Calls Them Out

Thanks to Kos:

John Edwards released the following statement today:

The administration's credibility on Iraq collapsed today. Over the past 24 hours, the President, the Vice President, the Secretary of Defense and the Under Secretary of State have all contradicted each other on elections in Iraq.

For a President who is fond of saying we should not send mixed messages - you need a scorecard today to keep up with all the different and contradictory statements from the White House.

The President also talked about the need to support Prime Minister Allawi. The best lesson for any fledgling democracy is that leaders should tell the truth, to always be straight with the people. Prime Minister Allawi's trip to the United States was filled with all the wrong lessons, lessons from an administration that just can't seem to tell the truth when it comes to Iraq.

This is what he's talking about -- they're falling apart:

BUSH SAYS IRAQ WILL HOLD ELECTIONS IN JANUARY

"They're going to have elections in January in Iraq. When America gives its word, America will keep its word. We'll stand with the people of Afghanistan and Iraq."

- [9/22/04, Remarks by the President at Victory 2004 Rally , Latrobe, PA]

CHENEY SAYS IRAQIS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO HOLD ELECTIONS

"First of all, I'll be happy to pass along the message. I will see Mr. Allawi, as I mentioned, on Thursday -- both in the Congress, and then he'll come to the White House for a meeting with the President and myself. He has indicated repeatedly that he wants to keep that January deadline. We agree wholeheartedly. It's important to remember this is an Iraqi decision."

- [Dick Cheney, Lansing, Michigan, 9/21/04]

RUMSFELD SAYS ELECTIONS CAN BE OPEN TO 3/4 OR 4/5 OF IRAQ

"Let's pretend hypothetically that you get to election time in January and lets pretend that its roughly like it is, or a little worse, which it could be, because you've got to expect it to continue. They're not happy the way its going. They don't want a government elected in that country...badly, they don't want that. And let's say you try to have an election and you could have it in three-quarters or four-fifths of the country, but some places you couldn't because the violence was too great. So be it. Nothing is perfect in life. So you have election that's not quite perfect."

- [Donald Rumsfeld, Senate testimony 9/23/04]

DICK ARMITAGE SAYS ELECTIONS ARE OPEN TO ALL

"We're going to have an election that is free and open and that has to be open to all citizens. It's got to be our best effort to get it into troubled areas as well,"

- [Dick Armitage, House testimony, 9/24/04]