Sestak Iraq vote came over constituent protests

When U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Delaware) joined other Democrats and Republicans to vote for approval of continued funding for the war in Iraq, he did so over the objections of many constituents, The DelCo Times reports.

Sestak, who faces Republican Craig Williams for reelection in November, voted to continue funding the war as Democrats largely gave up on forcing President Bush to change course before he leaves office next year.

But David Gibson of Coalition for Peace Action said he delivered a petition with 1,284 signatures oppoosing the vote to Sestak before the Thursday vote.

“We call on Congressman Joe Sestak to stand up and vote for a responsible redeployment of our troops from Iraq and refuse funding requests for continued occupation that doesn’t include an exit strategy ending U.S. occupation,” the petition read, according to The DelCo Times.

Sestak later defended his vote by saying he would not put deployed troops in danger by cutting off their funding.

“I don’t believe you put the troops between us and the president,” he said. “What this does is ensures our troops are safe out there, so I’ll be in the minority of the Democrats, but it’s the right thing to do.”

Gibson said his non-profit group would keep up the pressure on Sestak, and hinted that Sestak might feel the opposition's wrath in the fall.

“We don’t want to pick a fight with him, but we want him to know where his constituents stand,” Gibson said.. “He knows we’re friendly, but he also knows this is a bone of contention with us … Polls show a majority of the people want this war over.”