Six House Democrats Say Virginia Lawmaker Should Not Seek Re-Election (Moran)

TBO.com ^

[Sub-Driver]

Six House Democrats Say Virginia Lawmaker Should Not Seek Re-Election The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Six Democratic House members called on Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., not to seek re-election in 2004 in the wake of controversial comments about Jews and the possibility of war with Iraq. Moran's comments are "not merely wrong, offensive and ignorant," the six, all Jewish lawmakers, wrote in a letter Wednesday, "They are grossly irresponsible, and were given at a sensitive time when inflammatory comments - regardless of outrageous factual flaws - can unleash unintended and dangerous consequences."

Moran's office had no immediate comment.

The Virginia lawmaker sparked a controversy several days ago when he said, "If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq we would not be doing this. ... The leaders of the Jewish community are influential enough that they could change the direction of where this is going and I think they should."

Moran apologized for his comments on Tuesday. He said he framed his comments as he did because he was responding to a questioner who said she was Jewish. "I regret doing that," he said.

In a letter to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, the six House Democrats said that Moran's comments "violate the basic standards we hold ourselves to as Democrats."

"We hope that as Jim reflects on his actions, he will decide not to seek re-election to the House of Representatives. Should he seek re-election in 2004, however, we cannot and will not support his candidacy."

The letter was signed by Reps. Henry Waxman and Tom Lantos of California, Martin Frost of Texas, Sander M. Levin of Michigan, Benjamin Cardin of Maryland and Nita M. Lowey of New York.

[cdefreese]

If he gets the Dem nod to run, then a Republican will probably win the district. They reason they do not want him to run has nothing to do with what he said. They simply do not want to loose another House seat. If he doesn't run, then they will have an untarnished Dem that would fair better against a Republican...

Simple politics behind their stance, not ethics.

[afraidfortherepublic]

It seems to me he is ripe for the picking in '04 if the R's want to fight for the seat.

I'm told that he occupies a Dem "safe seat" -- suburban Washington -- most of the residents are Govt. employees.

[Almondjoy]

Well there is a certain amount of respected given to your own party members. There wasn't exactly a huge republican outcry against Lott.. and there should of been. At any rate what you haven't seen is a huge republican reaction to it(unless i've missed it). Which tells me two things. One the democracts trumped them(i find that hard to believe) or the republicans feel it's their own house and they should be the one's to clean. Which is how the democrats should of handled the deal with Lott. They didn't even give them a chance before they started frothing at the mouth about how the whole Republican party must be racist.

[bigunreal]

I would think it was very obvious. Can you deny the power of the Israeli lobby on lawmakers? The Bush administration is dominated by neoncons who are devoted to Israel; Perle, Cheney, Wolfowitz, etc. Israel has a good reason to be concerned about Iraq or any other Islamic countries in the Middle East. I don't think America does.

[Coop]

Israel has a good reason to be concerned about Iraq or any other Islamic countries in the Middle East. I don't think America does.

Years ago I found comments like this laughable. Post September 11th I find them insultingly absurd.

[xsmommy]

Israel has a good reason to be concerned about Iraq or any other Islamic countries in the Middle East. I don't think America does

you've gotta be kidding???