We've scored a transcript of the NPR feature about Tim Walz, Minnesota's Democratic Rep. Walks Line on Iraq War, by David Welna:
And now how the fight over funding the war in Iraq is playing in one congressional district. Last week, lawmakers authorized money for the war through September without the troop withdrawal deadlines that President Bush had vetoed before. Most House Democrats voted against the bill but the majority of the chamber's 30 newly elected Democrats voted for it. They represent districts long held by Republicans.
Congressman Tim Walz is one such Democrat. NPR's David Welna went to the first congressional district in southern Minnesota this week to see how Walz' vote is going over with his constituents.
DAVID WELNA: At a Memorial Day event shaded by oak trees in Nicollet, Minnesota, the band was small, so was the crowd of about a hundred. That's because the town itself is so small. But not too small for the burly man on the suit being introduced by local American legion commander Dell Vulcan(ph).
Mr. DELL VULCAN (American Legion Commander): We have a special honorary guest with us. And it's very rare that in a small town such as Nicollet, we have a Congressman from our neighboring suburb of Mankato.
WELNA: Commander Vulcan hailed Tim Walz who's a retired army National Guard master sergeant [sic--Walz retired as a command sargeant major] as the highest-ranking former enlisted soldier in Congress. Then he highlighted Walz' vote last week to fund the Iraq war.
Mr. VULCAN: I asked him this morning, when he come in, I put him right on the pedestal because I do have a couple of boys over there in Iraq. I asked him how he voted on our funding of our troops in Iraq. And Tim said he departed from the party and he voted for it. So let's give a round of applause for Tim Walz.
WELNA: Though Walz campaign last year calling the Iraq war a fiasco, he was smiling gratefully as he stepped up to the microphone.
Representative TIM WALZ (Democrat, Minnesota): Thank you so much. Thank you especially to Post 510 for having me here today and giving me the honor to speak on Memorial Day.
WELNA: In his remarks, Walz avoided any mention of the Iraq war or his vote to keep funding that war. But in an interview, he called that vote a tough decision, one that angered some supporters.
Rep. WALZ: I received numerous emails of frustrations, many people who believed that they've lost - that I have lost my core of what they voted on. And that challenges me, but they also sent me there to make the hard decisions and to provide that leadership. So, and that's what I did.
WELNA: But Walz also pointed out he's one of only two freshmen Democrats who voted for the war funding, but also for an amendment sponsored by Massachusetts Democrat Jim McGovern calling for the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq within 90 days had it passed.
Representative JIM McGOVERN (Democrat, Massachusetts): I tried to do everything within my power that constitutionally available to me and try to convince my colleagues that the McGovern amendment and the timetables and the benchmarks were the right way to go. But once it became apparent the president wasn't going on that, I also cannot see withholding the funds because I know how this will work. It won't be the bullets down range, it will be the training for the National Guard soldiers back here that will be cut.
(Soundbite of soldiers marching)
WELNA: At another Memorial Day event in Walz' hometown of Mankato, former Marine and Vietnam veteran Tom McLaughlin(ph) praised the Congressman's 24 years of service in the National Guard.
Mr. TOM McLAUGHLIN (Vietnam Veteran): Many of you may also know him as a teacher of at West High School, where he served until, I believe, 2006 when he got his new job. So I don't know if he's retired or if he plans to stay in the new job awhile, but it's his decision, I guess.
WELNA: That prompted this quick reply from Walz.
Rep. WALZ: Thank you so much. As far as keeping the new job, actually that's your choice, not mine. So...
WELNA: And that it's up to the Republican Party. Voters in Minnesota's First District next year will choose once more to be represented by a Republican as they have been for 12 years until Walz run. Ron Carey is the party's state chairman.
Mr. RON CAREY (State Republican Party Chairman): Tim Walz is a very, very vulnerable and first year incumbent and we're looking forward to really taking the race to the voters and I think we have an excellent chance of turning our district back to the Republicans.
We're entertained by the notion of Mr. Carey calling anyone "very, very" vulnerable.
WELNA: University of Minnesota Congressional expert Kathryn Pearson says like many other freshman Democrats, Walz has competing challenges to keep his democratic base happy, but also to retain those who wants back Republican Gil Gutknecht, the incumbent he replaced.
Ms. KATHRYN PEARSON (Congressional Expert): He should be more concern about the swing voters and the moderate voters in the middle. Those moderate Republicans who voted for Gutknecht in the past, but were dissatisfied with President Bush's performance and de factoed in 2006. He really needs to be most concerned about hanging on to those voters.
WELNA: One such voter is political independent James Mason(ph). This disabled Vietnam veteran from Mankato initially was for the war in Iraq. He previously backed then GOP incumbent Gutknecht, but last fall he voted for Walz as a fellow veteran opposed to a war Mason has soured on.
Mr. JAMES MASON (U.S. Army Veteran): What are we getting out of Iraq? We are not get nothing. We're losing - being that, you know, us people had been wounded or seen a lot of wounded, you know, to me, every time I pick up a paper and see somebody, you know, it just - it kind of brings tears to my eye because we're wasting lives.
WELNA: Mason says he supports Walz decision to keep funding the war so does school teacher Bryce Stencil(ph) who thinks Walz was caught in a very difficult position.
Mr. BRYCE STENCIL (Teacher): Much like Abraham Lincoln was when he was a congressman back in the 1840s. Lincoln voted to support the troops fighting the Mexican war but that doesn't mean he [supported] the policy and I see Mr. Walz in a much the same position.
WELNA: As do many other constituents in this district where many oppose the war, yet don't want the troops shortchanged.
David Welna, NPR News.
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