Washington’s U.S. House delegation split along party lines on yesterday’s Iraq vote.

And while it’s not surprising that eastern WA conservatives like Cathy McMorris (R-5) and Doc Hastings (R-4) went along with Bush, it seems increasingly risky for Rep. Dave Reichert (R-8) to stand by the war in the shapeshifting (Eric Oemig, Roger Goodman, Rodney Tom) Seattle suburbs … especially if Reichert draws a stronger opponent than Darcy Burner in 2008.

The lefty PAC Americans United for Change fired off a press release blasting Reichert, which I’ve linked below the jump.

U.S. Rep. David Reichert once again votes against ending the war in Iraq

David Reichert still refusing to represent the vast majority of the people of Washington with second historic vote against bringing U.S. troops home from policing a bloody civil war in Iraq that has no end in sight

“Admiral Kelly, Captain Card, officers and sailors of the USS Abraham Lincoln, my fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed” – President George W. Bush, USS Abraham Lincoln, May 1, 2003

Washington D.C. – As the 4th anniversary of President Bush’s infamous and horribly misguided ‘Mission Accomplished’ speech on May 1, 2003 fast approaches, Americans United for Change sharply castigated U.S. Rep. David Reichert (WA-8) for his vote Wednesday night against the Iraq Accountability Act – legislation to safely and responsibly begin bringing and end to the war in Iraq. The Iraq Accountability Act passed in the U.S. House of Representatives late last night and will come to the floor of the U.S. Senate today despite a veto threat from President Bush. It marked Rep. Reichert’s second historic vote against bringing U.S. troops home from policing a bloody civil war in Iraq, coming on the heels of a his vote on March 23rd, 2007 against similar legislation to change course from the failed Bush-Cheney policy of open-ended, permanent war.

“4 years -- nearly $400 billion squandered -- over 32,000 American soldiers wounded -- over 3,200 American lives lost, yet Congressman David Reichert chose once again and without question to back President Bush’s failed ‘stay the course policy’ of U.S. soldiers policing a civil war in Iraq that has no end in sight,” said Jeremy Funk, spokesman for Americans United for Change. “Once again voting against holding the Iraqi government accountable, Rep. Reichert is refusing to represent the 60 percent of the American public and vast majority of people in Washington who support a responsible timeline for redeploying of our troops out of harm’s way in Iraq. David Reichert was given an opportunity last night to change his own course and do the right thing – but in the end, only confirmed that he is every bit as isolated, misguided, and delusional as the President himself.”

Rep. David Reichert voted against the Iraq Accountability Act, which:

Provides for a responsible redeployment of U.S. troops, with, at the latest, redeployment beginning in October 2007 with a goal of being completed by March 2008.
Fully funds our troops, providing $4 billion more for the troops than the President requested.
Honors our veterans, providing $1.8 billion more for our veterans’ unmet health care needs.
Requires accountability of the Iraqi government, by setting measurable and achievable benchmarks.
Strengthens our military, providing $2 billion more to create a Strategic Readiness Reserve and address the serious readiness crisis our military is facing.

As part of an aggressive, several hundred thousand dollar campaign, Americans United for Change recently launched TV ads across the country holding Members of Congress publicly accountable for their votes against ending the war in Iraq, including US. Reps. John “Randy” Kuhl, Jr. (NY-29), Jim Walsh (NY-25), Tim Johnson (IL-15), Dean Heller (NV-02), Mary Bono (CA-45), and Heather Wilson (NM-01), Sen. John Sununu (R-NH), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), and Senate Minority Leader and Obstructionist-in-Chief Mitch McConnell (R-KY). The ads were designed to persuade pro-Iraq war, Republican Members of Congress to change course, as the more of these Members are convinced to do the right thing by our troops -- the more likely President Bush will make significant concessions on his failed ‘stay the course’ policy of open-ended permanent war in Iraq.