According to Robin Costello, Patrick Kennedy's press secretary, the Congressman's position on his original vote in favor of authorizing the Iraq War is that "given the evidence, he voted his conscience." She said that he had been asked about this many times, and that had he known then what he knows now, the vote would have been different.

When asked about the other members of the Rhode Island delegation's stand against the President, and whether that called Kennedy's judgement into question, she replied that "he feels that he was duped," that the country was taken to war with misinformation in a way "he never felt that the President would."

Seems the question turns on an intangible element of trust. Many, many folks thought Bush was lying, but in 2002, at the time of the vote, there was scant proof. To hold Kennedy accountable for voting on the available evidence is probably too high a standard, given the magnitude of cooked data. Do I disagree with his vote on principle? Yes, but I'm fundamentally anti-war. He has a defensible position.

I very much appreciate Ms. Costello's professionalism and candor, and we had a very pleasant chat.