Once again the right wing just doesn’t get it. The 12 Senate Democrats who voted against Condoleezza Rice for secretary of state expressed their strong view she misled the public repeatedly in the face of evidence that what she was saying was just not true.

Her statements on the aluminum tubes shipped to Iraq is a perfect example. Rice claimed those tubes could only be for the production of nuclear material long after the administration’s own Nuclear Regulatory Commission said the tubes were not suitable for this purpose. The president went on TV and said the same thing, when he knew it wasn’t true. Rice also made statements that hurt our interests around the world when she said we should punish the French and ignore the Germans because they wanted more time to evaluate the evidence of weapons of mass destruction. It turns out they were right and she was wrong. Now she is going to convince them she wants to work with them for the benefit of everyone? I don’t think so.

Rice is a very intelligent and hard-working person who has shown great ability. She is also guilty of misleading the county repeatedly and alienating our friends around the world.

Sometimes principle dictates you have to vote against a capable person you can’t trust. Congratulations to the Democrats who had the principles and the courage to vote no.

Mike Mitte

Edmonds