Lawmakers charge White House with stifling anti-war dissent

Politics - AFP via Yahoo! ^ | Thu Mar 27, 7:52 PM ET | unknown

[Houmatt]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A small but increasingly vocal contingent of Democratic lawmakers opposed to the US-led invasion of Iraq (news - web sites) accused the White House of stifling dissent by those who oppose the war.

"What we're beginning to see is a concerted attempt to attack anyone who dissents," Congressman Sam Farr said at a press conference called Thursday by a handful of Democratic politicians who feel that the war against Iraq is misguided.

Even among legislators in the Republican party, "there are consequences to pay if you don't go all with the administration's leadership," Farr said, arguing that Republicans who voted against the White House budget proposals have been threatened with the loss of coveted committee seats.

"Where are we going? Healthy dissent is as American as apple pie," Farr said.

The California congressman added that he saw a certain irony in the alleged White House pressure tactics, noting "our troops are fighting for (Iraq) to be able to have freedom of speech."

Another Democrat, Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, said alleged efforts by US leaders to hush the voices of dissenters extend even to other countries traditionally allied with Washington, citing in particular Mexico and Canada.

"I think we are making a very dramatic mistake to isolate longstanding allies on the basis of their sovereign decisions not to proceed in a coalition on the war in Iraq," she said.

With respect to street demonstrations in this country, Jackson Lee said: "We are doing a great disservice by maligning and disrespecting and accusing protesters of being filled with communist ideas."

Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, who has said he will run for the White House in 2004, organized the press conference, is a longstanding opponent to the war which he described to reporters as "unjustified."

[Argus]

The Ba'ath wing of the US Democrat Party speaks up.

[Houmatt]

Check this out PING!!

[MHGinTN]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A small but increasingly vocal contingent of Democratic lawmakers opposed to the US-led invasion of Iraq (news - web sites) accused the White House of stifling dissent by those who oppose the war. Ah yes, the Axis of Acorns trying to facilitate their 'brownshirts' clogging the streets during this time of terrorist threats here in AMerica. Figures.

[Flyer]

accused the White House of stifling dissent

No one is stifling a damn thing! The Communist dupes are just pissed that they are being exposed and the MAJORITY of Americans don't fall for their crap.

[Lexington Green]

If I want to say - with my words or dollars - that you are unpatriotic swine, that’s my free speech, too.- Jonah Goldberg

[merrin]

So, the only evidence of this fascist anti-free-speech campaign is that some Republicans who defied their party leadership were threatened with being deprived of committee seats which are in the gift of their party leadership.

Ooooooh, horrors!

Liberals don't want free speech, they want freedom from criticism.

[merrin]

So, the only evidence of this fascist anti-free-speech campaign is that some Republicans who defied their party leadership were threatened with being deprived of committee seats which are in the gift of their party leadership.

Ooooooh, horrors!

Liberals don't want free speech, they want freedom from criticism.

[Frank_Discussion]

With respect to street demonstrations in this country, Jackson Lee said: "We are doing a great disservice by maligning and disrespecting and accusing protesters of being filled with communist ideas."

It's not an accusation, its an exposure of the facts! They blatantly advertise the communist organizations that fund and organize their protest ops. Once again, she is TOTALLY ignorant of the facts, but opens her pie-hole anyway. (Let's send her to Mars to look for the flag the astronauts placed there...)

[merrin]

Sorry. I accidentally double-clicked on "Post."

[TLBSHOW]

How did I know it was all commie democrats and terrorist lovers that this was about. Gee if we love our country you can be sure a rat will be right behind you to rip it apart.

[Paul Atreides]

If you can get up and whine that you are being suppressed, doesn't that contradict your whine? Or, does that make too much sense?

[Poohbah]

"What we're beginning to see is a concerted attempt to attack anyone who dissents," Congressman Sam Farr said

...notably without providing any evidence to support his claim.

[Frank_Discussion]

Ohhhh... I'm getting dizzy... *BARF*

:-)

[EternalVigilance]

Another vivid demonstration of why the Democrats are now in the dustbin of history...

[Numbers Guy]

"What we're beginning to see is a concerted attempt to attack anyone who dissents,"

I love this sort of logic.

1) "I have free speech so I have the right to express my opinion". Fine.

2) "And you have no free speech right to express your opinion of my opinion, because that's attacking someone who dissents."

Huh?

[x1stcav]

The California congressman added that he saw a certain irony in the alleged White House pressure tactics, noting "our troops are fighting for (Iraq) to be able to have freedom of speech."

This is the latest 'straw man' argument of the left. The best retort I've heard yet is that freedom of speech only protects a citizen of this country from jail. It doesn't immunize someone who voices an opinion from other reprisals.

And speaking of worms, this creep, Sam Farr, was a local attorney from the area I lived in for years and I can attest to just what a corrupt individual he is.

[Paul Atreides]

I saw Kucinich on the news the other night. He looks like something out of the infamous "Home" episode of The X Files.

[jnarcus]

I only wish that the administration actually would stiffle some of the useful idiots...but we won't these are the same dupes that claim millions of people will die----oh my where is chicken little when you need her?

[Paul Atreides]

Maybe those Dimbulbcrats should visit Free Republic and see how many articles we have posted about anti-war protestors. Also, I can't turn on the television without seeing them featured.