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Madison says ‘yes’ to war initiative
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by Heather Quitos
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
A majority of Madison residents voted Tuesday to pass a referendum proposing to immediately withdraw U. S. troops from Iraq.
Support for the referendum received 24,344 of the total 35,596 votes, reflecting approximately 68 percent of the total vote.
As of press time, three of the city's 136 wards voted against the referendum, and 32 wards had not reported their election results.
"It's a big win for us," Steve Burns, program coordinator for the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, said. "We think it's a very clear message to Congress they've got seven months to respond."
The referendum, while not legally binding, displays the city's public opinion on the issue, which may affect legislators' actions in Wisconsin and in the United States.
Burns said while the large margin of victory in Madison is important, more significant victories came from "conservative" communities that voted to support the referendum.
Ald. Austin King, District 4, agreed with Burns' sentiments, and added such communities that vote yes are "unbelievable."
"There are communities that voted for [President George W.] Bush that are saying no to the war," he noted. "It's not just from Madison, where everyone expects it to pass."
Burns cited the village of Ladysmith as an example of a conservative community supporting the referendum.
"Ladysmith voted 51 percent for Bush," he said. "What I think what we're seeing is people in the state of Wisconsin are agreeing on the issue and showing there's no division on the state of Wisconsin between Madison and the other cities."
While the city of Madison was expected to pass the referendum, King said the statistics will emphasize the victory.
"I think it's important that it wins by a landslide," he said. "It's not even close and that's very exciting."
King said the referendum should directly affect U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., who has supported the war.
"Herb Kohl is running for re-election and continues to support the war," King said. "If he doesn't listen, it's going to cost him at the ballot box."
Madison is one of 32 cities in Wisconsin to issue the referendum, and according to King, it spurred Milwaukee to put its own referendum on the November ballot.
Bill Richardson, treasurer for opposing organization Vote No to Cut and Run, said while he was "disappointed" about the election results, he was also "realistic."
"We tried and made a great effort … [but] we knew Madison is extremely liberal," he added. "What I found interesting is that it really touched a nerve to the left-wing, and that alone was worth the effort [to campaign]."
While the referendum passed, Richardson said VNCR will not give up on its campaign, because organizations supporting troop withdrawal from Iraq will continue to push the referendum in the state.
And Burns confirmed Richardson's remarks, saying WNPJ will help "anyone in the state of Wisconsin" put a referendum on the ballot.
Despite the defeat, Richardson felt the referendum does not have any big impact right now, and is overall "meaningless."
"City Councils don't set foreign policy whether you like it or not," he noted. "I would rather have people with expertise form policy."
But Tuesday night, Burns enjoyed the fruits of his labor.
"A lot of people worked very hard to put this on the ballot," he said. "They really earned this victory."
Irene Heinstein (April 5, 2006 @ 4:31am):
Any method of expressing public opinion is valuable. It is our government and we need to always remind Washington of that.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 4:36am):
Who cares? War is sometimes necessary. I guess you would rather have Americans die on our own soil, helpless, civilians. Great plan guys!
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 4:37am):
"City Councils don't set foreign policy whether you like it or not," he noted. "I would rather have people with expertise form policy."
I love this quote! Look at the mess the so-called "experts" have gotten us into! I think "we the people" have a better grip on what's going on than the "experts".
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 8:05am):
Why doesn't the stop the war folks put it on the State Wide Ballot??
THey won't because they are afraid it will fail. They need small communities to push around and liberal ivory towers to win, a state wide vote would hurt them.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 8:33am):
Interesting headline selection. Pretty deceiving to someone who doesn't live in Madison (viewing over the Internet). To the common observer, it would appear Madison supports the general Iraqi war initiative. . .. .
At a minimum it should have read something like "Madison says 'yes' to troop withdrawal referendum"
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 8:34am):
Gasp, Liberal Madison votes to end war, This is news?
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 8:38am):
Leave now, stop the senseless killing.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 8:42am):
The war in Iraq as a garden or a lawn.
http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.php?t=289896
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 8:54am):
To the commentor who wanted the headline to read "Madison says 'yes' to troop withdrawal referendum" ... did you ever stop and think that MAYBE that headline wouldn't fit? I mean seriously, look at the paper and the size. Obviously you've had some experience with sizing and fitting headlines because you know that your headline would fit over the one that was written. Way to go genius.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 8:56am):
"Herb Kohl is running for re-election and continues to support the war," King said. "If he doesn't listen, it's going to cost him at the ballot box."
Seriously, are you that out of touch? I know you have to put out your spin, but come on. Kohl is going to be a senator until he retires or dies.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 8:58am):
Yes, conduct war by committee, that'll work!
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 10:27am):
The usual suspects haven't weighed in yet, so i'll add:
You're all traitors! You all hate America! I hope when the terrorists come here to kill your mothers and children you get what you deserve! Now the terrorists will know there's Americans on their side, and they can sleep easier at night! Now the terrorists will start winning!
that's all i got.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 10:46am):
This story's headline, "Madison says 'yes' to war initiative," conveys a meaning wholly opposite to that of the events.
'Madison says 'yes' to withdrawal initiative' would convey what transpired.
I wish I trusted your paper's journalistic practices enough to believe that the misleading headline was merely an inadvertent error.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 11:23am):
Congratulations to all who voted for the referendum. This was one of the limited opportunities we have to voice our opinions in a way that will be heard loud and clear by public officials.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 11:34am):
If this had gone to state-wide ballot, the results would have been similar to those of Watertown...the referendum would have FAILED. We all need to remember, this may be a more liberal city, but Wisconsin is a conservative state.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 11:44am):
King said the referendum should directly affect U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., who has supported the war.
"Herb Kohl is running for re-election and continues to support the war," King said. "If he doesn't listen, it's going to cost him at the ballot box."
This is ridiculous. The job of a representative is not to make the decision that will get him reelected. If that's what you people want, then what is the point of honesty or integrity. Your state elected this man just like our country elected our president. Their jobs are to make decisions, not to try to please everyone. Let the government do its job.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 11:47am):
"Now the terrorists will know there's Americans on their side, and they can sleep easier at night!"
Presisely correct! If they can just hold out until Bush is gone and the voters come to their senses and voter in ine of their betters to run things then the terrorists will have it made.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 12:16pm):
It's funny (sad?) that some people still believe that a war in Iraq prevents terrorism here at home. Anyway, I don't think a terrorist attack in Wisconsin is something you should lose sleep over.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 1:10pm):
You liberals think you know everything about the war overseas because you watch the news and hear of things, you really don't know anything. Even if all the liberals want the war out there is no way that the U.S. could just pick up and move out. It would totally lose face with the world and Iraq fall into anarchy.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 1:16pm):
It's about time.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 1:52pm):
I wonder how those on Flight 93 would have voted - if they hadn't been killed by terrorists on American soil?
****
Students of American character should pay close attention to Flight 93. A random sample of American adults was subjected to the highest possible stress and organized themselves in a terribly brief period, without benefit of training or group tradition other than their inherent national consciousness, to foil a well planned and executed terrorist attack. Recordings show the passengers and cabin crew of Flight 93 - ordinary Americans all - exemplified the virtues Americans hold most dear.
Certain death came for them by surprise but they did not panic and instead immediately organized, fought and robbed terror of its victory. They died but were not defeated. Ordinary Americans confronted by enemies behaved exactly like the citizen-soldiers eulogized in Victor Davis Hanson's Carnage and Culture.
http://www.keshertalk.com/archives/2006/04/flight93heroes.php
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 3:05pm):
"...we have to voice our opinions in a way that will be heard loud and clear by public officials."
Do you actually think anyone of importance actually cares about the stupid referendum?
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 3:50pm):
Good idea- getting US troops out of Iraq. It is down-wind from Iran, and we wouldn't want our troops exposed to the nuclear fallout when we drop it on the Iranians!!
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 4:29pm):
To those of you who said the referendum would fail on a statewide election, here are the results from the Mil. Journal "Iraq-related measures were on the ballots in 32 communities. Results late Tuesday showed that 24 of them - including Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, La Crosse and Madison - approved the measures." That's 75% who voted yes...statewide! So...what were you saying?
We are at more of a risk to terrorists now than we were before we attacked Iraq. Granted Saddam was a tryant and treated many people in his country terribly, but that is probably more desirable on a whole than creating instability in the most volatile region in the world. And how about a civil war on top of that! This war was a great idea and I feel safer because of it! Let's not listen to the U.N. in the future and declare war on whoever we want, great policy when we're trying to get the rest of the world behind us.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 5:13pm):
Baraboo citizens, who aren't very liberal and certainly not living in an ivory tower, also voted for the anti-war referendum.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 7:01pm):
"Granted Saddam was a tryant and treated many people in his country terribly, but that is probably more desirable on a whole than creating instability in the most volatile region in the world."
"Treated terribly" - that's a pretty big understatement for those fed into the grinders or poison gassed.
I agree though, it would have been much better to let Saddam keep Kuwait and then take Saudi Arabia. He'd be pumping them dry to finance a war with Iran and Saddam would have no qualms about doing whatever it took to make sure that Iran did not have nukes. He might have nukes (and use them) but who cares about that - my gas would be much cheaper.
Bonus - no 9-11 because no US troops ever in Saudi Arabia!
Maybe a little hard on the people of the area but good for me.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 7:33pm):
"We are at more of a risk to terrorists now than we were before we attacked Iraq."
Hmmmmmmm, no attacks on US soil since 9-11, unlike some other countries.
Maybe we're just lucky? Maybe Bush is that good?
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 9:03pm):
Hello?
There is no direct legislation process at the state level. If there was, we would have used it.
Hello again?
Every poll that has been done of Wisconsin residents in the past 6 months shows majority support for immediate withdrawal. Face it. Those who support "staying the course" are a minority. Getting smaller every day. A bunch of warmongering loony toons, in fact. Go play with your toy soldiers. And leave running the country to the peace-loving majority.
Anonymous (April 5, 2006 @ 11:01pm):
Once again the city of Madison embarreses itself. The biggest misconception among Madison natives is that they are the trend setters when it comes to American beliefs. In all reality, Madison is a city of 200,000 people surrounded by reality. These referendums on the war are pointless and accomplish nothing. The only people that even went to vote were the ones that had a vested interest, which are those that oppose the war. Why would someone that opposes the referendum bother going to vote when the results have absolutely no effect on anything. While Madison thinks they've done something great, I gurantee you that more people in this state still favor continuing in Iraq as opposed to just leaving without finishing. I honestly feel sorry for the liberal morons from our state capitol
Anonymous (April 6, 2006 @ 1:23am):
MADISON SAYS YES TO WAR....
Love your wonderful headings; they reveal so much about your care and love for Jesus and Madisonians.
Anonymous (April 6, 2006 @ 3:24am):
"It's funny (sad?) that some people still believe that a war in Iraq prevents terrorism here at home. Anyway, I don't think a terrorist attack in Wisconsin is something you should lose sleep over."
DON'T BET ON IT!!
