Polling tells us that the conflict in Iraq is top of mind for Americans as they vote or prepare to. That suggests we might take a minute to peruse the congressional rankings of what may be its single most relevant private organization, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
They are self-described as "Founded in June 2004, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is the nation's first and largest group dedicated to the Troops and Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the civilian supporters of those Troops and Veterans." And it says that "The IAVA Rating is based on this legislator's voting history on issues that affect US troops, Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, and military families."
Like other interest groups, they track legislation and congressional action, and also like many, they rate the members of Congress, in this case by letter grade. Here is how they rate the members of Congress from the Northwest.
| office | Idaho | rating | Oregon | rating | Washington | rating |
| Senate | Craig (R) Crapo(R) |
D- D |
Wyden (D) Smith (R) |
B+ C- |
Murray (D) Cantwell (D) |
A- A- |
| House | Otter (R) Simpson (R) |
C C |
Wu (D) Walden (R) Blumenauer (D) DeFazio (D) Hooley (D) |
B C+ C+ B A- |
Inslee (D) Larsen (D) Baird (D) Hastings (R) McMorris (R) Dicks (D) McDermott (D) Reichert (R) Smith (D) |
B+ A B C D A- C- D+ A- |