When it comes to Iraq, Representative Maxine Waters and Hillary Clinton have little in common. Waters opposed the war from the start, she has never voted for a war funding bill, she wants a precipitous withdrawal of US troops and contractors. Clinton meanwhile, voted for the war, supported the war until last year when she began running for President, and has never called for a removal of contractors or opposed permanent US bases.

Regardless, one week before California's 441 delegates are awarded, Representatives Waters, a high profile progressive, anti-war African American Southern California Congresswoman decided to support Hillary Clinton. Maxine Waters, one of the most progressive members of Congress, represents much of South Central Los Angeles. Waters is one of the founders of The Out of Iraq Caucus, members who vowed to end the war in Iraq.

Clinton leaves a very open ended plan for Iraq. She says she will begin removing troops with in 60 days but offers few details beyond. In an effort to appease the anti-war sector of the Democratic party, Clinton has made central to her stance on Iraq is stopping President Bush from signing a contract with the Iraqi government that allows for a long term US engagement.

In a press release Waters says she is supporting Clinton because of her 'leadership and experience'. Waters also talks about the economy, not Iraq, in her statement of support.

Waters is not the only progressive member of Congress and member of the Out of Iraq Caucus to support Clinton. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and James McGovern (D-MA) are as well. McGovern volunteered much of his time to campaign for Clinton in New Hampshire. He told Election Unspun 'I think Hillary has the experience, maturity, and ability to bring people together to create a climate to bring this war to an end once and for all'. He said he believed Clinton would end the war, despite her resistance to promise a complete plan to do so.