Iraq War

First District Congressional Candidate Ethan Strimling has called one of his opponents "inconsistent" on her Iraq war position, accusing her of "sending mixed messages".

In a statement released by the campaign, Mr. Strimling refers to a recent dust up in which Pingree made several public appearances and pronouncements supporting a withdrawal plan. The Strimling campaign has pointed out that Pingree has said she favors an immediate end to the war, yet she also signed on to a plan that withdraws troops and reduces US involvement over a period of time. That plan is known as the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq.

Chellie Pingree has a problem. Although, it remains to be seen if it is necessarily a bad problem to have. A few weeks ago she had a great PR week with her press event announcing her intention to support "A responsible plan to end the war in Iraq." PolitickerME covered the story here. In addition to a press conference with General Johns, Ms. Pingree also co-authored an op-ed with Major General Paul Eaton, a lead advocate of the plan to leave Iraq.

Fast forward to this week. On Saturday, May 10th, Major General Eaton apparently had second thoughts on his Pingree endorsement. He sent a letter to the editor of the Portland Press Herald that read in part,

"I recently agreed to allow Chellie Pingree to lend her name to an op-ed column I wrote in support of a very serious plan to end the war in Iraq responsibly ("Democrats sign on to plan to end the Iraq war") published in this paper on April 22. I am writing today to disassociate myself from Chellie Pingree's campaign and endorse Adam Cote's bid for Congress in Maine's 1st District."

Democratic Congressional candidate Michael Brennan delivered a letter to members of Maine’s Congressional delegation yesterday detailing why funding for the Iraq War should be cut off.

The letter, delivered to Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, and Rep. Tom Allen, began: