War in Iraq

WELLESLEY - Congressman Barney Frank and his opponents laid out very different plans for how to reduce the nation's growing budget deficit at a debate here Sunday.

Frank, a Newton Democrat, suggested five principles for reigning in spending. First, he said he "would begin by pulling out of that miserable, mistaken war in Iraq." The war, he said, has cost the country $600 billion. Frank also said he would reduce military spending.

"We are by far the strongest military power in the world and I think we should be," the Democrat said. "But it can get overdone...We now spend far too much on the military. We are continuing to build weapons aimed at defeating the Soviet Union."

OXON Hill-Activist and congressional nominee Donna Edwards (D-Fort Washington) told PolitickerMD.com today that the housing and mortgage crisis would be her immediate top priority if she is elected today to represent the people of Maryland's 4th Congressional District.

Edwards, who is expected to easily win the special election, said her potential constituents "deserve someone who will be fighting for them everyday," saying she was ready to get to work "right away."

Speaking with PolitickerMD.com as she greeted voters at various polling locations throughout Prince George's and Montgomery Counties, Edwards said the Congress needs to "send a bill to the president dealing with the housing and mortgage crisis."

SAVAGE--Times have changed for Dr. Mike Hargadon (R-Woodstock).

Dr. MIke HargadonBack in December, the career dentist told PolitickerMD.com that he did not “intend to raise money or make a serious challenge” to Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Baltimore) in Maryland’s 7th Congressional District. Six months later, with a small campaign team behind him, Hargadon is moving forward, and held his first significant fundraiser before a crowd of a few dozen supporters Friday night in Savage.

“This is the first time we’re trying to do something on this scale,” Hargadon told PolitickerMD.com last night.

Asked about his previous comments, Hargadon said, “At that time I did not have a committee. I didn’t expect that I would be able to raise money.”

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Baltimore) voted today against a measure that will provide $165 billion in additional funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan into next spring, while Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Baltimore) voted in favor of the resolution, which passed 70-26.

"The senator voted against the war funding bill because he believes we need a new direction," Sue Walitsky, Cardin's communications director, said to PolitickerMD.com.

Meanwhile, Mikulski's communications director, Melissa Schwartz, told PolitickerMD.com, "Senator Mikulski's vote today is consistent with her position since voting against the war. She will continue to vote for a strategy to bring soldiers home safely and swiftly, but she will not vote against funding for our troops on the battlefield."