Les AuCoin has an interesting take on his former defense appropriations committee-mate Charlie Wilson at Blue Oregon today.
A major point in AuCoin’s tale is that WIlson “was a social and economic liberal who defied his Bible-thumping conservative district and its history of racial bigotry. He was a strong supporter of civil rights, minimum wage increases, Medicaid, and anti-poverty programs.” He supported abortion rights, the ERA, and progressive economic issues.
But on the matter of foreign policy, he was a complete and total hawk, supporting Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza prior to his Afghan adventure. Like so many other Democrats, Wilson was more than willing to fight ideological battles with as many dollars and foreign lives as he could throw at it.