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Friday, April 11, 2008

"History will not judge us kindly if we sacrifice four generations of Americans because of the folly of one"

That was newly-elected California Democratic Congresswoman Jackie Spears in her inaugural speech in the House of Representatives. She was chosen in a special election to fill the term of Rep. Tom Lantos, who passed away recently. See Speier blasts Iraq war in first House speech by Zachary Coile San Francisco Chronicle 04/11/08.

Some of the Republican girlie-men in the House were so shocked that they stalked out:

"The process to bring the troops home must begin immediately," Speier told a packed House presided over by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco. "The president wants to stay the course and a man who wants to replace him suggests we could be in Iraq for 100 years. But Madam Speaker, history will not judge us kindly if we sacrifice four generations of Americans because of the folly of one."

While Democrats applauded, Republicans began a chorus of low boos. Some Republicans who had congratulated her just moments before, including Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista (San Diego County), walked out of the hall in protest.

Gosh, if the Republicans are so thin-skinned they retreat in fear when a female Representative states the national majority opinion on the Iraq War, how will they ever be able to stand up to The Terrorists?

More of this from the Dems, please, please, please. For this kind of thing, I ain't too proud to beg:

After her speech, Speier said she had held more than 60 public meetings while campaigning for the 12th Congressional District seat and the most common question was, "When will we get out of Iraq?" She said didn't expect the negative reaction from Republicans, but it didn't bother her.

"That's the combat that goes on here," she said. "I'm not a newbie to this process."

The Chronicle editorially congratulated her in A Washington welcome:

It didn't take long for Jackie Speier, the newest member of the U.S. House of Representatives, to put her straight-ahead style on display. Just as quickly, some of her new Republican colleagues greeted her with a sample of Washington-style partisanship. ...

Some Republicans booed [her speech]. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Vista, walked out of the chamber. Speier, an 18-year state legislator known for taking on tough issues and interests, was nonplussed at the mini-controversy.

"The truth is, I think it was a minority of Republicans that were booing - and they represent a minority of Americans who still support the war," Speier said by phone Thursday. She also made it plain that she would have no hard feelings about the ingracious reception by a few."

A Democrat who thinks working against the Iraq War from Day 1 in Congress and not being deterred by the whiny Republican wimps who think patriotism equals supporting the crooked, reactionary Republican Party. Let's hope this kind of display of backbone on the Democratic side will become a habit for more of the Dems.

jackie speier

posted at 10:42:00 AM by Bruce Miller

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