Steven
-----Original Message----- From: owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com [mailto:owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com] On Behalf Of Marta Russell Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 10:11 PM To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com Subject: So CA ADA and Gephardt
Is this more productive? marta
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AMERICANS FOR DEMOCRATIC ACTION [SoCalADA] CALLS FOR RESIGNATION OF HOUSE MINORITY LEADER RICHARD GEPHARDT
by Don White
LOS ANGELES Oct. 15 -- In a stinging denunciation of his role in the recent House vote empowering the president to wage war in Iraq and citing the repudiation of his leadership by the majority of House Democrats, the Southern California chapter of Americans For Democratic Action (ADA) called for the immediate resignation of minority leader Richard Gephardt in a nearly unanimous vote last night.
In a strongly worded resolution put before the organization's large Board, the group called on the House minority leader to "resign immediately and subordinate your political ambitions to the good of the country and the world."
The resolution cited "your abject surrender to President Bush's political goals by supporting his resolution which is both unconstitutional and extremely dangerous to the country and to world peace." Speaker after speaker pointed out that the passage of the resolution also ran contrary to the wishes of the majority of the American people and to the majority of Democrats in Congress.
A majority of the House Democrats, 126, voted against the resolution and most House and Senate offices reported a 90% constituency response against the war.
The resolution bluntedly pointed out to Congressman Gephardt that "your resignation will permit the Democrats, under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi, to capture the House majority." Congresswoman Pelosi, the minority whip from California, would assume the leadership position if Gephardt resigns.
The ADA resolution called for the Gephardt resignation to allow the Democratic party "to represent the will of the American people for peace, diplomacy and world cooperation."
The resignation request was faxed to the House minority leader within an hour of passage and will sent to all Democratic members of the body.
-- Marta Russell Los Angeles, CA http://www.disweb.org