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At the birth of Progressive Democrats of America last year, we made a solemn promise to organize and mobilize the antiwar movement within the Democratic Party. We promised to represent true progressive values, from the grassroots all the way up to Congress. Your activism, your commitment to this shared vision, is making an impact. From the streets of New York City where we protested the Republican National Convention, to the halls of Congress where we worked with UFPJ to bring over 1,000 activists to lobby on the issue of the war, strategic planning and your dedication toward ending this war is moving the mountain.
Representatives Woolsey and Lee, Chairs of the Progressive Caucus, have heard your cries. The leadership of Representatives Waters and Rangel has resulted in moving forward with an Out of Iraq Caucus in the House. They too have heard your call. The Democratic leadership in the House has heard your demand to bring our troops home!
On Thursday (October 6th, 2005) President Bush took to the airways (again) to parade the need to "stay the course" in Iraq. He continued to report "facts" about how well this occupation is going. Democrats were quick to argue the true facts. All too often in the past, we have seen many Democrats take a soft, even cowardly, stance toward this war that made the two parties seem very similar. Because of your hard work to refashion the Democratic Party into a true opposition party that stands up for progressive values based on sustainability and human rights, our party leadership has begun to speak with our words. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement Thursday in response to President Bush's speech:
"Today was an opportunity for the President to be candid with the American people about the status of democracy in Iraq, and when he will bring our troops home. Instead, the President offered little more than empty rhetoric, claiming that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror - a position that is simply not supported by the facts. The President went into Iraq under a false premise, without a plan, and has totally mismanaged our involvement. Now he is trying to justify his actions with a series of excuses.
"Democrats are committed to fighting and winning the war on terror. But the Iraq war has made us less safe, and led to squandered opportunities to fight global terror because of the allocation of resources in Iraq."
Our continued meetings, as antiwar Democrats, with the House Leader and her staff have no doubt been effective. Your letters and calls to the Congressional Progressive Caucus, of which House Leader Pelosi is a member, have also played a part. The Inside/Outside approach that is at the heart of PDA's strategy has achieved incredible results.
Many will take Rep. Pelosi to task and ask for more then just rhetoric, and ask for true leadership in moving legislation through Congress on this issue. To that we say: she has begun already. Leader Pelosi introduced an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill, which says to the President:
"Within 30 days of enactment of this legislation, Congress expects an accounting from you as to what the strategy for success is." Not only did she introduce this, but the House Democrats caucused and whipped on the issue. The vote was a straight-up party-line vote, and every Democrat voted in support. We need more leaders like Pelosi who will stand up for what is right, who will truly lead on this issue.
Pelosi has not stopped with this amendment. She has sent an email to the Democratic Party base asking for citizens to sign on to her amendment.
Senator Barbara Boxer has recently supported this effort in the House by putting forward her own citizens' petition in the Senate! Please sign this petition, too.
The Democratic leaders in the House have heard our call. Senators are beginning to take notice. With leaders like Senator Boxer, hope is growing. We will continue to push. With your support we will pursue this to the point that both houses of Congress, and indeed the White House, will have no option but to bring our troops home.
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