While the left and right want to argue about the significance of the Iraq vote…

I want to say to those in Iraq who decided to vote in an atmosphere of violence and cynicism – you’re heroes. I pray that whatever the final outcome, the people of Iraq will keep their spirits up, because I expect the next few weeks to be brutal as many will pile on to discredit the vote, to destroy the elected, to rip the heart out of those who braved violence today to cast their ballot. And to those righties who infer that to oppose Bush is to somehow be against freedom – shame on you. Shame on your divisive lying and hatred. Shame on you for using the Iraq people as a political football. Hopefully those elected will help to stabilize a terrible situation and they will need honest support to do so. Not blind obedience to any political party.