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Posted on 10/01/2002 2:40:58 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
Congressmen Take Heat for Iraq Visit
By MELANTHIA MITCHELL
The Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) - They have been called dupes of Saddam Hussein, at best. Their harsher critics have called them traitors.
But in their home districts, four Democratic members of the House appear to be suffering little political fallout from their visits to Iraq.
Reps. Jim McDermott of Seattle, David Bonior of Michigan and Mike Thompson of California were due to return Tuesday night after a visit organized by Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Interfaith Network of Concern for the People of Iraq. Rep. Nick Rahall of West Virginia was in Iraq earlier in a trip was sponsored by the San Francisco-based Institute for Public Accuracy, a consortium of policy researchers.
Two weeks ago, McDermott won 77 percent of the vote in the state's open primary from his liberal Seattle constituency. After the visit to Baghdad, columnist George Will called him a ``useful idiot'' for Saddam.
George Dignan, 58, of Seattle, said he applauded McDermott's willingness to take an unpopular stand: ``I appreciate a politician who will act on his convictions rather than what the opinion polls tell him to do.''
McDermott, who opposes U.S. military intervention in Iraq, said he wanted to see for himself the likely consequences of a U.S. military campaign to oust Saddam and to urge Iraq to comply with U.N. weapons inspectors. The congressman also has questioned the war in Afghanistan.
The Bush administration is trying to persuade Congress and the United Nations to authorize the use of military force to oust Saddam, saying the Iraqi leader is stockpiling biological and chemical weapons and trying to obtain nuclear bombs in violation of U.N. resolutions.
McDermott was sharply criticized by Republicans after he suggested the president might be misleading the American people about the need for military action.
Speaking from Baghdad, McDermott and Bonior said Iraqi officials assured them that they will allow weapons inspectors full access.
The Senate's second-ranking Republican, Don Nickles of Oklahoma, said the Democrats ``sound somewhat like spokespersons for the Iraqi government.''
In Macomb County, north of Detroit, some Bonior constituents said they did not oppose the visit but questioned its effectiveness.
``I don't really agree with him,'' said Debra Skrinner, 40. ``I think we should go ahead and bomb Iraq because we've had nothing but problems with Hussein.'' Of Bonior, she said, ``I think he's trying to do his job.''
In Thompson's district, which stretches from the San Francisco suburbs to the Oregon state line, some of those interviewed said they thought the visit would help the Iraqi people.
``There are a lot of people suffering over there. It's good to try to help them,'' said Stephene Cardoza of Eureka, Calif.
Others were less sure.
Mike Anderson, owner of a logging company in the Northern California town of Fort Bragg, said of the Democrats' visit: ``I frankly just thought it was comical. Four know-nothings going over there to put on a show.''
I read an article earlier that said Bonior and McDermott were receiving a lot of negative mail from their constituents. I'm sorry, I don't have time to look for the link right now.
No link needed. It stands to reason that they are.
It is codified in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 953
Sec. 953. Private correspondence with foreign governments
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both. This section shall not abridge the right of a citizen to apply, himself or his agent, to any foreign government or the agents thereof for redress of any injury which he may have sustained from such government or any of its agents or subjects.
I have not seen anyone ask the question, so I will. I wonder if the bombs would ever start to fall on Iraq, while a bunch of traitors, like these congressmen, are still over there? If not, then all the Demon Cats need to do, is to make sure there are always some other Demon Cats there. Holy moly, I better not give them any ideas.
I would bet money that this is a bold-faced lie from the likes of AP.
I bet it is spin from both McDermott and Bonier's congressional staff and of course the AP is their propaganda machine spinning this story. The statement in the story means that there are people that are fuming and they are just trying to get the 'sheeple' back on track with what they should think about the visit.
I would call them "non-uniformed enemy combatants".
Most of them walk the walk too.
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