“I don’t want any action in this chamber to prevent us from pursuing what would be the optimal policy. It’s for this reason that I can’t support the Kerry amendment that we will be debating next.” — Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Senate floor, June 21, 2006 “[M]y sense is that a specific deadline is not the most helpful policy at the moment.” — Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), NPR, June 20, 2006 “[Iraqis are] looking for leadership. But this leadership, I think, comes in not adopting some type of arbitary timetable or deadline.” — Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Senate floor, June 21, 2006 “[A] hard and fast arbitrary deadline for withdrawal offers our commanders in the field and our diplomats in the region insufficient flexibilitly…” — Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), Senate floor, June 21, 2006 “I may disagree with those who call for a date certain for a withdrawal, but I do not doubt their patriotism.” — Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Senate floor, June 21, 2006

Kerry’s comback, meanwhile, seems to be that the Reed/Levin plan is no better than Bush’s.