MyDD :: Republicans join call for debate on Iraq War

Republicans join call for debate on Iraq War

by keshini, Mon Apr 03, 2006 at 05:35:29 PM EST

This coming Wednesday, April 5th, three Republican and three Democratic members of Congress will announce their support for a resolution that will ensure a full and open debate on the Iraq War in the floor of the House. Read the reprint of the Roll Call article that reported this event..

Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Ike Skelton (D-MO), and Marty Meehan (D-MA) will join Walter Jones (R-NC), Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD), and Ron Paul (R-TX) to publicly declare their support for the measure. These three Republicans will then march to the well of the House to sign the resolution, joining 76 Democrats and Jim Leach of Iowa (the first Republican), who've already paved the way.

Could it be that the People's House will actually start to represent the people, who are deeply concerned and divided about our course in Iraq and wonder why Congress is AWOL on this issue?!!!

More below...

Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) is the author of H. Res. 543 (technically known as a discharge petition), which is a vehicle to get a full and open debate on the Iraq War. Abercrombie is not pushing a particular policy solution, but is asking for an honest discussion. He explained his reasoning at a teleconference hosted by DC for Democracy (DCFD) and Democracy for America, to kick off the national rollout of Change the Course, a campaign mobilizing a nationwide grassroots effort to lobby House members to sign H. Res. 543 and put Congress front and center of the debate that is raging today in the op-ed pages.
Listen to Abercrombie's speech at DCFD's website (under heading "Rep. Abercrombie hosts National Rollout").

When 218 members of the House sign H. Res. 543, it will be pulled out of committee and sent to the floor for a full debate, controlled equally by Republicans and Democrats, where any member can propose any amendment and have it voted on. Even Ron Paul, who apparently never signs discharge petitions, signed this one because he understands that this is not about a particular resolution, but about generating an honest and informed debate, which is way overdue.

What can you do?
Find out here if your Rep has signed the discharge petition. If he/she has not, call before April 5th and ask why. If it's a Dem, ask him/her why Republicans are challenging the Administration and their own party leadership, while they're sitting on the sidelines. Ask them: No matter what you think about the war, how can you possibly be against a debate?

Tags: Iraq, Abercrombie, DC for Democracy, DFA, H Res 543 (all tags)

Permalink :: 8 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Republicans join call for debate on Iraq War (none / 0)

Kesh, great update! Change the Course is gaining momentum every day. In the last month, we've had 15 or so new Congressional members sign on? Grassroots action is what's going to make this happen.

For folks in and around the DC area, please join DC for Democracy at our MeetUp on Wednesday night to learn more and get involved. Click Here for more information and to RSVP.

For folks everywhere else, please join this effort. April recess is coming up soon and we need to have you setting up meetings with targeted members in their home districts. We'll follow-up once they're back in DC and continue adding more names to the list.

by CAat14K on Mon Apr 03, 2006 at 05:50:00 PM EST

Re: Republicans join call for debate on Iraq War (none / 0)

Will there be a press conference when Jones, Paul, Gilchrest, Abercrombie, Skelton, and Meehan announce their support for the open and full debate? What's the time and place?

by fresh aire on Mon Apr 03, 2006 at 06:18:24 PM EST

Re: Republicans join call for debate on Iraq War (none / 0)

Yes, the press conference is on Wednesday. I don't know the exact time - I suggest Googling it.

by SeanFromIT on Mon Apr 03, 2006 at 08:55:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Republicans join call for debate on Iraq War (none / 0)

A good friend told me it's on Wed, April 5th at 11 AM in the Cannon building (near Capitol South Metro), Room 122.
Will someone confirm this?

by keshini on Mon Apr 03, 2006 at 10:44:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Republicans join call for debate on Iraq War (none / 0)

Yes, that's correct.

by SeanFromIT on Wed Apr 05, 2006 at 04:13:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Republicans join call for debate on Iraq War (none / 0)

It is a huge story that 4 Republicans will break with party discipline and support the discharge petition so that there can be a real debate on the Iraq War. Anyone who has worked in the legislative branch knows that its one thing to announce a position, it is quite another to go against the party on a proceedural issue. This is effective grassroots action at it's best and is an example of why this Clark '04 supporter is impressed with Democracy for America. This effort is still a long shot but at least DFA is trying something creative.

by howardpark on Mon Apr 03, 2006 at 08:48:29 PM EST

Re: Republicans join call for debate on Iraq War (none / 0)

I have to say the response of DFA groups around the country to this campaign has been amazing! Here I am, a nobody in DC, and they're returning my phone calls and emails! I've talked with DFA folks in Chicago, Detroit, St. Paul, and Kansas City just this week. These folks have started contacting their Reps already (Betty McCollum's office got a call from Rod Olsen in St. Paul), and they're planning to unveil this at their Meetups this week. My buddy in Detroit, Jim Kruer, is getting his pals to deliver hand-written letters to Sander Levin at a fundraising event during the April recess!

Talk about grassroots democracy in action!

by keshini on Mon Apr 03, 2006 at 10:51:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Republicans join call for debate on Iraq War (none / 0)

April 4, 2006

There are 2 vacancies in the House of Representatives. Do u still need 218 signatures?

by fresh aire on Tue Apr 04, 2006 at 03:26:23 PM EST

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