Madison voters will be able to cast their ballots on the long-held debate over the war in Iraq today. A Madison referendum calling for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq is one of 31 throughout Wisconsin.
Voters can vote yes or no to the following resolution: The United States should bring all military personnel home from Iraq now.\
Although the results of today's referendum will make no official changes on the war in Iraq, both supporters and opponents are looking to it as an indication of public sentiment about the ongoing conflict.
Antiwar groups in Madison collected enough signatures throughout the city to place the issue on today's ballot. The UW-Madison campus was a large source of signatures in support of U.S. withdrawal.
Wisconsin Green Party Co-Chair Ruth Weill said referenda across the state were initiated to give a voice to the people.
""Many people have the feeling that they have been lied to and that they weren't getting a voice,"" Weill said.
Steve Burns, Program Coordinator for the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice, said the referendum would give voice to opposition to the war in Iraq. He added that the referendum being on ballots across the state showed a broad commitment to ending the war.
""It's not just happening here in Madison,"" Burns said, ""but in 31 other communities.""
Burns said the referendum would also put pressure on state politicians to speak out against the Iraq war as their own elections near.
""We think this is a really good time to try to get their attention,"" he said. ""Because if we win this referendum, I think it will put pressure on congress to oppose the war.""
However, Bob Delaporte, Communications Director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, said the referendum is unnecessary.
""Frankly I think it's pretty much an embarrassment,"" Delaporte said.
""The left-wing activists that think they know what's going on are watching the media, are trying to tell people who have actually been in [Iraq] and people who are running the war what they should do,"" Delaporte said. ""It's ridiculous.""
Delaporte cautioned that voting to immediately withdraw U.S. troops would be ""sending the wrong message"" and would undermine American soldiers.
But Weill insisted antiwar groups had soldiers in mind when they pushed to get the referendum on today's ballot.
""Just because we don't believe that the war is a just war does not mean we don't support the troops,"" Weill said. ""We support the troops, that's why we want them home.""
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