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City, students react to war referendum
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by Heather Quitos
Thursday, April 6, 2006
Students and city officials did not seem to display any large amount of surprise about Madison's vote to support the "Bring the Troops Home" referendum Tuesday.
The referendum, which proposes to immediately withdraw United States troops from Iraq, passed by a large margin of 68 percent of the vote.
"I think it sends an overwhelming message and a clear signal of the discontent of Madison," Brian Shactman, chair of the University of Wisconsin College Democrats, said. "Everyone knew that the referendum was going to pass, but they didn't think it was going to pass by the margin that it did."
Shactman, a junior, voted 'yes' to the referendum, and added the more surprising results came from the results of the other 23 communities that voted for the resolution.
He noted some Wisconsin communities voted for Bush in the presidential election but voted in support of the referendum yesterday.
"I think we saw this resolution … wasn't just limited to Madison," Shactman said. "It's a growing trend on how many people are really angry."
But UW College Republicans Chair Jordan Smith felt the referendum would not influence any current legislative policy.
"I think with Madison voting the way it did, it's still not going to change anything," she said. "Part of it is people who are similar to one another congregate together … which is why Madison is mostly liberal and mostly progressive."
Smith, who voted against the referendum, speculated the referendum was created to criticize the Bush administration.
UW senior Brandon Flugaur did not vote in yesterday's election, but said he did not support the referendum because of its language, which proposes withdrawal "now."
"My feeling is bringing [troops] home now would be a mistake," he said. "I don't buy the argument that referendums will galvanize those in Iraq … I still wouldn't pull the troops, we aren't done yet."
Flugaur noted he believes the troops should come home, but instead on a timetable schedule, as proposed by U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.
"We need to set our policy and get the discussion going," Flugaur added. "We want to get serious about getting the troops home, but we should be thinking about it a little bit more."
Smith also added the "transient" nature of the university's student population — a significant portion of the Madison community — may have affected the total vote, especially in the number of students that actually voted.
"A lot of us vote back at home, we don't choose to vote or not choose to register in Madison," Jordan remarked. "It's a disappointment that people didn't come and voiced their views."
But Flugaur said the election results reflected the "liberal culture" of the city.
George Twigg, communications for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, said the mayor supports the referendum and was "pleased" to see the resolution pass. He added the city has sent a message that "speaks for itself."
The point of the referendum, Shactman said, was not to see immediate changes in policymakers' actions.
"Nobody wasn't expecting foreign policy to change overnight," he added. "But it should stimulate debate about what's going on the other side of the world."
Flugaur agreed with Shactman's sentiments by adding the referendum will indeed alert policymakers in some manner.
"I think these referendums are at least a signal to federal legislators that there needs to be discussion to be put on the table," he said.
Anonymous (April 6, 2006 @ 10:46am):
Bring the troops home from Germany, Japan and Korea!
Put them on our southern border to slow the invasion.
Anonymous (April 6, 2006 @ 10:53am):
The war in Iraq can only be lost in the streets of Madison - not in streets of Bagdad.
In ONLY this way is the Iraq war like the Viet Nam war, which was lost in the USA - not in Viet Nam.
Anonymous (April 6, 2006 @ 3:19pm):
Ah, I guess the millions of dead Vietnamese and thousands of dead Americans, French and others were all helping to win the war?
I'll support the next war, provided it isn't in the name of the United States' economic well-being, which every war the US has ever fought has been over, despite whatever you learned in high school American History.
Yellow Elephant (April 6, 2006 @ 3:46pm):
Operation Yellow Elephant invites College Republicans who are eligible to serve in our military and who support the war to consider enlisting themselves.
We've already invited Jordan Smith, as part of our nonpartisan grass roots citizens' initiative to Support President Bush.
The failure of the future leaders of our governing party to fulfill their national leadership responsibility to set a good example for the rest of us undoubtedly contributed to voters' skepticism.
Anonymous (April 6, 2006 @ 6:33pm):
Operation Dummycrat invites all Dummycrats who are against crime to show up at the Police Academy tomorrow and see if they qualify for service.
All Dummycrats against fire in inappropriate situations are invited to join the Fire Department.
Ya just can't be against crime or fire and not serve yourself now, can ya?
Anonymous (April 6, 2006 @ 6:39pm):
"provided it isn't in the name of the United States' economic well-being, which every war the US has ever fought has been over, despite whatever you learned in high school American History"
What an ignorant statement that is.
Joe Olson (April 7, 2006 @ 12:15am):
The fact that this referendum passed makes me want to take a crap on every "yes-voter's" doorstep.
Anonymous (April 8, 2006 @ 10:48am):
Support our Troops. Bring them home.
Yellow Elephant (April 10, 2006 @ 11:41am):
Joe Olson-
As long as you do that en route to the armed forces recruiting center, please feel free.
