I don’t think it gets any more clearer than this from Iowa’s former Governor Tom Vilsack:

“It’s time for Congress to step up, and cut off funding for the status quo. I think it is time for us to end this war. I think it is very clear from the intelligence reports and from the American public … that this is a civil war and our kids are in the middle of it.

It is time for Congress to step up. They have constitutional and a moral responsibility to cut the funding and say to the President in very clear terms: we are listening to the American people …”

He makes it clear that Congress needs to send a message to President Bush, echoing the thoughts and opinions of the American people, and end this war.  And he says it in a persuasive way.

Sen. John Edwards says that silence is betrayal when it comes to Iraq and he is absolutely right.  Today he said a non-binding resolution against the President’s plan was essentially worthless.  Sens. Chris Dodd and Russ Feingold agreed.  I think that judging from Gov. Vilsack’s statements, he is in the same boat.

Kevin Thurman, Vilsack’s Deputy Internet Director for his campaign, posted just a few minutes ago over on Daily Kos highlighting Vilsack’s interview with Norah O’Donnell where he made the comments above.  As Kevin wrote:

“We can’t wait for things to happen two years from now when we win in 2008. It’s time to match our values with action. Time to match our hope with vision.”

Some candidates are taking the time to seriously lead on Iraq as an issue in this race.  Others are just backpedaling from earlier comments or simply treading water.  Vilsack and Edwards have taken strong and clear positions.  Dodd could even be categorized in the same boat.

Vilsack also has taken the lead in rejecting the idea of capping the amount of troops in Iraq, simply based on the logic of his position.  It clearly doesn’t make sense to support ending the war in Iraq and opposing escalation, while at the same time saying, “Well, if you’re going to keep up the war anyway, you can only X amount of soldiers.”  Instead, he’s advocating a position of actually fighting to end the war and bring troops home.

Vilsack’s right, and Democrats should unite behind the same message and in similar form: “It is time for us to end this war!”