US Diary: Jane Fonda's ex-husband finds something positive in Senate posturing about Iraq

Why the Senate Debate Means Progress -- by Tom Hayden

Let's not fall for the media and Republican spin that the Democrats are self-destructing over Iraq. I was in Washington last week, and met with both senators Feingold and Kerry, among others. Here is a more positive interpretation:

First, Feingold was alone last year when he called for an 18-month phased withdrawal. Today at least six senators have come around.

Second, Kerry finally has resolved to push for a deadline, as the anti-war movement [and most Democrats] has long demanded.

Third, under pressure the moderate Democrats have invented a new formulation, to set a date for beginning to withdraw this year. Therefore, instead of arguing with each other over when to withdraw, they are in agreement on when to begin leaving.

This is real progress, at least on the political level.

It's easy to understand why the Republicans want to spin it as Democrats hopelessly divided.

It's harder to understand why the media, especially the New York Times, wants to give Kerry a hard time for taking a stand. They are echoing both Kerry's Democratic and Republican critics. Maybe it's just "news," but we should never forget one thing:

With the exception of USA Today, not a single mainstream media outlet has editorially supported the US ever withdrawing from Iraq. They are with the Pentagon, White House, and Republican Party on "staying the course." That sets them against the vast majority of Democrats, and the majority of the American people.

It's a hard road. Progress in the right direction is to be welcomed, not misinterpreted.

(Tom Hayden was a leader of the student, civil rights, peace and environmental movements of the 1960s. He served 18 years in the California legislature, where he chaired labor, higher education and natural resources committees. He is the author of ten books, including "Street Wars".)

PSSST. I like how jane Fonda is edited right out of the Tom Hayden bio. Along with the fact that it cost her $40m to get rid of him -- after he cheated on her.