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February 16, 2006--Finding wider support in Congress for ending the war in Iraq topped the agenda of a February 13 small-group meeting between Rep. John Olver (D-MA, 1st) and PDA activists. At this latest in a series of such meetings, planned by the Western Massachusetts chapter of Progressive Democrats of America, participants repeatedly challenged him to engage more directly in progressive initiatives.
PDA's Susie Patlove of Charlemont opened the meeting by urging Rep. Olver to sign on as co-sponsor of HR-4232. This bill, offered by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA, 3rd), is titled the "End the War in Iraq Act of 2005." It calls for a cut-off of funding for military operations in that war-ravaged country.
Always a strong opponent of the Iraq venture, Rep. Olver balked at cutting off any funding. This tactic, he said, is used against us to level charges of failing to support our men and women in a time of war. Clearly, he agreed with the gathered critics of the war, but he resisted more open support of the McGovern bill. "I have great angst about cutting funds for the military," he said.
When PDA activist Kaaren Smith of Hatfield asked the Congressman's endorsement of a bill offered by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA, 9th) that would outlaw presidential launching of preemptive war, he responded forcefully, "If we had a natural president, one we could trust, such legislation wouldn't be necessary."
To Ms. Smith's urgings that the House unite to say presidents don't have this right, his reply was the now familiar harsh words for the Bush administration. But referring to recent sharp criticism of the war by conservative Democrat John Murtha (D-PA, 12th), Rep. Olver said, "When Jack Murtha came out against the war I was hopeful. There is no legal or moral standing for this war." He went on to lament the blistering attacks made on Rep. Murtha.
The local resonance of the war, in lost revenue to struggling towns, was addressed by John Cevasco of Northfield. The growing threats voiced against Iran and Venezuela were also discussed. In jocular response, the Congressman said he was comforted by the stance of Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales, and other Latin American leaders in their challenge to the administration.
Rep. Olver lamented that the adventure in Iraq might drag out for many years, yet he feared the administration will create some face-saving way to withdraw, one as shameless as their invasion. The larger harm, he said, is that "salt thrown on wounds may create conflict with Islam that lasts a thousand years."
Late in the meeting, PDA activists Eric Wasileski of Irving, a Navy veteran of Operation Desert Fox, turned to the group's request that the Congressman co-sign HR 635 the bill authored by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI, 14th) that seeks investigation of details of the administration's actions and intent to go to war in Iraq. Rep. Olver asked to be reminded of the dates of that engagement.
"That was President Clinton's 1998 attack on Iraq during the Monica Lewinsky affair," Mr. Wasileski said. "Our ships launched many Tomahawk missiles onto targets in Iraq."
John Olver's silence after the veteran's very emotional statement encouraged members of the group to believe, in conferring afterward, that their representative might yet sign on to the bill. Members of Western Mass PDA say they are pleased with their Congressman's voting record, but they continue to urge they be represented with greater assertiveness. Knowing the votes may not be there to pass or even to consider progressive legislation, they say nevertheless want their representative standing often to be counted.
Following the meeting, PDA National Director Tim Carpenter who also was part of the delegation followed up with Rep. Olver's staff. The good news: Rep Olver will be joining the fight in support of HR 635 the Conyers Bill that would create a select committee to investigate the Administration's intent to go to war before congressional authorization, manipulation of pre-war intelligence, encouraging and countenancing torture, and retaliating against critics, and to make recommendations regarding grounds for possible impeachment. This was a clear victory for PDA's efforts to build congressional district teams. PDA is all about relationship building and reminding our elected officials we are in this for the long run! Working together we can elect a progressive majority of Democrats who will do the right thing.
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