opinion

Sanders, Clinton votes differ on war

My long-time friend and colleague in United Methodist ministry, the Rev. William D. Cotton, known to me as Bill, had the enviable experience of an intimate personal chat with Hillary Clinton at the Hub on a recent Sunday morning. The informal agenda focused on “the things that we believe as Methodists." ["Clinton meeting strikes authentic chord," Sept. 10]



I share with Bill his cynicism about today’s political process. However, Bill only adds to my cynicism when he claims that Hillary shares an identical voting record with “Bernie.”



For example, on the major issue of invading Iraq, Sen. Hillary Clinton voted yes, Sen. Bernie Sanders voted no. Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin also voted yes, but later in a public apology acknowledged that he should have voted no. Hillary owes us several apologies.



The United Methodist official position states that “We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ … we reject war as an instrument of national foreign policy … we oppose unilateral first preemptive strike actions and strategies … the militarization of society must be challenged and stopped.”



Secretary of State Clinton was a major player in the preemptive Libya war that proved to become a major ISIS recruiting bonanza and a refugee crisis.



Bill, could you manage to have me invited to the next friendly chat with Hillary?



— The Rev. Chet Guinn, Des Moines