As the US government flirts with becoming more directly involved in yet another war, Democrats are largely in support or complain of procedural process. They do not criticize the empire nor challenge the military-industrial-technology complex.
Former President Barack Obama recently took time away from his busy cashing-in schedule to warn about the dangers of authoritarianism. He made no mention of war. That was entirely unsurprising, but provides a nice jumping off point to our current stage of imperial collapse.
Not only did he, much like Trump, ride opposition to foreign wars into office only to change his mind once in the oval office. Not only did he launch a foreclosure party while bailing out banks and allow Citigroup to pick his cabinet, launch a nationwide paramilitary crackdown on Occupy, destroy Syria and Libya, ramp up Project Ukraine, and so much else, but perhaps worst of all was his fateful decision to effectively bless torture and wars of agression:
“We don’t look backwards, we look forward.” —President Obama
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 26, 2012
And with that all the crimes of Bush administration—from an illegal invasion of Iraq that killed hundreds of thousands to a global torture regime—were swept under the rug. It is a decision that has reverberated ever since, growing with ferocity, and bringing us to the current moment of support for genocide, torture, and another illegal war against Iran. Not only did he cement the lawlessness by deciding not to go after torturers, but he prevented any consequences for members of his own party who cheerleaded the slaughter of Iraqis.
Instead so much remains the same with even Benjamin Netanyahu playing a lead role in both. Back in 2002 he urged US politicians to invade Iraq: “If you take out Saddam, Saddam’s regime, I guarantee you that it will have enormous positive reverberations on the region.” And so it goes—except Iran 2025 isn’t Iraq 2003.
Here we do have the opportunity to look back at Democrat support for that war and forward to more madness from the US lawless mafia state. It’s perhaps unfair to place so much at the feet of Obama. He is, after all, just another smooth-talking used car salesman that the system pumps out and promotes. If it wasn’t him, it would have been someone else. He did, however, come at a turning point: when there was popular support to turn back the tide of lawlessness and set the US on a course for a graceful journey into multipolarity.
With that said, let’s look back at the Democrats that supported the Iraq War and what became of them. This is important because it shows that while some might have been held accountable by voters, they were rewarded by the system for their bloodthirstiness. That helps explain why Democrats today are either mum or in full support of war with Iran.
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Of the 29 Senate Democrats (58% of the 50 at that time) who voted for the resolution, two are still in the Senate:
Maria Cantwell (WA). Voted to fund Israeli genocide in Gaza. In 2017, she co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, which would have made it a federal crime, punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Supporter of Project Ukraine and Project Taiwan.
Chuck Schumer (D-NY). What else can be said about the weasel of weasels? If it was revealed he bathes in children’s blood, it wouldn’t be surprising at this point. He’s spent recent weeks trying to push Trump into war with Iran.
If TACO Trump is already folding on Iran, the American people need to know about it.
No side deals. pic.twitter.com/T4gnekrGhT
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 2, 2025
Of the 81 House Democrat YEA votes for the Authorization of the Use of Military Force (AUMF) for Iraq in October 2002, six are currently still in the House, and one is in the Senate.
Here are the seven in the House:
Brad Sherman (CA-30). He is leading a resolution expressing support for Israel’s unprovoked and illegal assault on Iran.
Sanford Bishop (GA-02). The 78-year-old is now the dean of Georgia’s congressional delegation after the death of John Lewis. He’s a Blue Dog, voted to provide Israel with funding for its genocide, supports the National Security Agency’s powers to spy on Americans without a warrant, and is an all-around embodiment of the Black Misleadership Class.
Steny Hoyer (MD-05). He supports Israel’s illegal agression and says that “America needs to do its part to counter further Iranian strikes against Israeli and American targets in the region.” Hoyer opposed Trump’s planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria and Afghanistan. He supported military action in Syria, the destruction of Libya, and Project Ukraine. Oh, and he also supports genocide in Palestine.
Stephen Lynch (MA-08). A longtime supporter of American intervention in the Middle East. He was one of seven Democratic representatives who voted against an amendment to the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act prohibiting “unauthorized military force in or against Iran.”
Adam Schiff (CA-28). A wholly-owned stooge of the military-industrial complex. Became a hero of liberal “resistance” for his Russiagate promotion. This weasel has voted for every increase in the defense budget during his time in Washington, is a major backer of Project Ukraine, and he supported the Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya wars, and regime change in Syria.
Adam Smith (WA-09). Has supported military actions in Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Ukraine, as well as Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Is opposed to war with Iran without Congressional vote, however, and has indicated he is opposed.
And the one who has moved up to the Senate:
Ed Markey (D-MA). He has categorized his vote for the Iraq War as a “mistake”—albeit not one he has paid for or learned from. He continues to support militaristic policy against China and others. An example of what passes for Left in the US, he wants Trump to get Congressional approval for Iran war.
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A pretty repulsive list, and yet there’s more. Because just focusing on these losers who remain in office rather than cashing in doesn’t do the party full justice.
Here are all the other Senate Democrats who voted YEA and moved up to higher government positions, skedaddled out the revolving door, or went elsewhere.
Max Baucus (D-MT). Despite not being able to speak Mandarin, Baucus became ambassador to China in 2014 and stayed in that role until 2017. He then joined the Board of Advisors of Alibaba Group. He started his own lobbying group and is currently representing companies such as Binance, Earnin, Infervision, Montana Technologies, Tonix Pharmaceuticals, ASAAP, Q-Cells, Rose Lake Capital and ZhenCai. He also writes op-eds advising Democrats that their political fortunes depend on maintaining low, low tax rates for wealthy heirs.
Evan Bayh (D-IN). Became an adviser to the private equity firm Apollo Global Management, as well as as a partner at the D.C. law and lobbying firm McGuireWoods, and got positions on the boards of Berry Plastics Group in Evansville, Ind.; RLJ Lodging Trust in Bethesda, Md.; Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati and Marathon Petroleum Corporation in Findlay, Ohio. His wealth skyrocketed despite only working part time.
Joe Biden (D-DE). “The Big Guy” became VP and later POTUS. Long known for his war mongering and adorable “gaffes,” they really blossomed during his time as president when his mind got stuck on permanent gaffe, and he brought the US to the brink of war with Russia and killed tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza.
John Breaux (D-LA). Retired from the Senate in 2005 and embarked on a long and illustrious lobbying career.
Jean Carnahan (D-MO). She was appointed to fill the Senate seat of her husband Mel Carnahan, who had been posthumously elected after his death three weeks before the election. She didn’t last long, losing the special election in 2002, but voted for war during her brief stint. She returned to Missouri and largely wrote books before her death in 2024.
Max Cleland (D-GA). Spent some time as lobbyist and eight years as Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission. Died in 2021.
Hillary Clinton (D-NY). Secretary of State where she helped get slave markets going in Libya. 2016 presidential candidate when she ran a lazy campaign and lost to Trump. Helped launch Russiagate. Clinton Foundation donations are way down since Hillary’s exit from the political stage, but don’t worry, the foundation had built up a substantial endowment —which increased during the Covid equities boom.
Tom Daschle (D-SD). He continues his lobbying work for The Daschle Group, a Public Policy Advisory of Baker Donelson. His clients have included the government in Taiwan, lobbying to get it into the Trans Pacific Partnership pushed by the likes of Hillary and Obama. He’s gotten very rich doing so.
Chris Dodd (D-CT). Retired in 2010 to become chairman and chief lobbyist for the Motion Picture Association of America from 2011 to 2017. Was an advisor and surrogate to the 2020 Biden campaign, which he turned into a senior advisor position at Teneo, the public relations and strategy giant that has shady clients from across the globe.
Byron Dorgan (D-ND). A Senior Policy Advisor at lobbying giant ArentFox Schiff and Co-Chair of the firm’s Government Relations practice.
John Edwards (D-NC). Ran for president in 2004 and 2008. Was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2011 on six felony charges of violating multiple federal campaign contribution laws to cover up an extramarital affair. After his political career ended, Edwards co founded the law firm Edwards Kirby in Raleigh, specializing in medical malpractice cases.
Tom Harkin (D-IA). As far as I can see, did not cash in. Has been involved in disability rights causes and the Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement at Drake University.
Fritz Hollings (D-SC). Did not cash in. Wrote op eds and contributed to the HuffPost. Was also on the board of advisors as a distinguished visiting professor of Law with the Charleston School of Law. Died in 2019.
Tim Johnson (D-SD). Doesn’t appear to have cashed in.
John Kerry (D-MA). Democrat’s presidential nominee in 2004. Secretary of State 2013-2017. US special presidential envoy for climate 2021-2024.
Herb Kohl (D-WI). Was already plenty rich. From the family that owned the Kohl’s department stores chain, and he was company president from 1970 to 1979. Owned the Milwaukee Bucks.
Mary Landrieu (D-LA). Became an energy industry lobbyist, as well as a paid consultant for the Walton Family Foundation, working on projects to “transform” public schools in New Orleans and Baton Rouge. She was also on the board of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers.
Joe Lieberman (D-CT). One of the all-time great “centrist” warmongers.
Spent time as senior counsel at Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman, a law firm in New York City whose notable clients include Donald Trump, and co-chairman of the American Internationalism Project at the American Enterprise Institute, among other activities.
Blanche Lincoln (D-AR). Has had a successful self-enriching lobbying career since leaving office.
Zell Miller (D-GA). Immediately became a registered lobbyist for the firm of McKenna, Long and Aldridge—despite revolving door rules prohibiting ex-Congressmen from lobbying their old colleagues for one year after they leave office. Also a Fox News contributor.
Bill Nelson (D-FL). In 2019 after leaving office was appointed to serve on NASA’s advisory council and then became Administrator of NASA in 2021 where he helped fan space race flames with criticism of China and Russia’s activities in space.
Ben Nelson (D-NE). After the famous “Cornhusker Kickback” claim attached to Obamacare, he became the CEO of the influential National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2013. Also started his own lobbying firm.
Harry Reid (D-NV). Mainly dealt with illness. Retired in 2017. Died in 2021. Did co-chair the MGM Resorts Public Policy Institute at UNLV with former House Speaker John Boehner, focusing on “bipartisan solutions” to workforce issues. Had already gotten plenty rich(er) during time in office.
Jay Rockefeller (D-WV). Joined the Council on Foreign Relations as a distinguished fellow.
Robert Torricelli (D-NJ). Became partner in real estate firm Woodrose Properties, which is invested in over 50 multi family or commercial properties in 10 states. He also founded business and government affairs consulting firm Rosemont Associates. Among his clients is the Iranian opposition group/cult, the MEK.
Senator Tom Carper (D-DE). Retired 2025. Has yet to take on new position. One of his final votes was against a resolution, proposed by Bernie Sanders, to apply the human rights provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act to U.S. aid to Israel’s military.
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Died in 2023. She continued to “serve” even when she was not much more than a corpse being rolled around in order to vote for more war and surveillance that her husband’s company profited from. She was still calling for US military action in Iraq in 2014, and her final vote included a bunch of money for Project Ukraine.
Due to time constraints I can’t track down all the other 73 members of the Democrat caucus who voted YEA, but it’s probably safe to assume most of them are out there somewhere screwing over working people and/or lobbying for more war to vaporize brown people across the globe while proudly brandishing a BLM yard sign in their gated community.
Democrats like those who recently supported a resolution backing war on Iran know it’s unpopular with the voters, but are also sure they’ll be rewarded financially if those people vote them out. They certainly won’t be punished by the party whose big tent now recruits spooks.
Obama’s effective pardon for all the war crimes of the Bush administration led directly to the rise of the CIA Democrats like Abigail Spanberger, Mikie Sherrill, and Elissa Slotkin— military-intelligence officers who moved from the Blob to Congress in 2018. And they’re being heavily promoted by the party with Slotkin, a senator from Michigan, chosen to give the Democratic response to President Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress. So the question is:
Would things be different if Dems who voted for the Iraq War were punished instead of promoted? Biden (VP, president); Clinton (Sec of State, presidential nominee); Hoyer (House leader); Schumer (current Senate leader); Smith (current ranking member of Armed Services Cmte) https://t.co/KiBLP6YlcY
— Stephen Semler (@stephensemler) June 17, 2025
I’d say yes, but that was never going to happen. What the above brief bios show is that just as imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism, getting rich is the highest plane for our elected leaders who are overseen from cradle to grave by their plutocratic masters. These forces are combining to fuel the accelerating death spiral of the US and its “rules-based” order and help ensure that our “leaders” continue to support war despite overwhelming public opposition and no matter how stupid the plan, the record of failure, or the long term blows to the country.
