On December 14 I sent you the good news that Robert Wexler, Luis
Gutierrez, and Tammy Baldwin are calling for hearings in the Judiciary
Committee. Wexler asked for 50,000 signatures on an internet petition.
Almost immediately he got 100,000. Now he's seeking 250,000. Bub
Feuer, who is running on an impeachment platform in the 1st district
of Massachusetts, exhorts us to follow through; see (1) below in
response to communicaiton from Wexler's office (2) below. The original
Dec 14 message is at (3) below for your reference.
Richard Duffee
(1)
Dear Friends,
Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) sits on the House Committee on the
Judiciary which was charged on 6 November by majority vote of the full
U.S. House of Representatives to take up H. Res. 799, f/k/a H. Res 333.
On 7 November, Congressman Wexler authored a strong letter to his 39
fellow committee members, and to the Committee's Chairman, Congressman
John Conyers, Jr., to immediately take up the full house majority
mandated impeachment investigations of Richard B. Cheney, VP.
His Judiciary Colleagues, Reps. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Tammy
Baldwin (D-WI), both senior members of the U.S. Congress have now joined
him in taking further action with the committee. The national media
ignored their call and rejected an op-ed they penned to demand immediate
action.
Below is an urgent Call to Action by Congressman Wexler. I implore
you to take ten more minutes out of your busy Holiday activities, Go To
<_www.WexlerWantsHearings.com_
<http://images.myngp.com/LinkTracker.aspx?crypt=IVi0ax2%2b6UBSinc%2fCPYaKUEFsqOTrJU9vFj23ziqy03KVZ5Y0Na8gN%2b5%2f0utWoD99mSVvOgTtpssTfwNr387EYBAJMsvASaIqN6dtfKsSHw0Q8x7YdNP6A%3d%3d>>,
and join me and 100,000 other Americans in signing onto Congressman
Wexler's call for immediate impeachment action against Dick Cheney, VP.
The pass this on to each of your e-lists. As Joe Trippi titled his
recent book on the Howard Dean Campaign, /The Next Revolution Will not
be Televised./ With major media blockage, this must be done only by
those of us on-line. Please show thanks and praise for these three
brave, senior members of Congress.
Bob Feuer.
(2)
> Dear Robert,
> _*We have already reached 100,000 supporters. Thank You. *
>
> _/Now We Need Each of You To Send an Email to Ten More People to Get
> 250,000 Signed Up at WexlerWantsHearings.com by the End of the Year/.
>
> I can guarantee that your 100,000 voices calling for impeachment
> hearings will now be heard in Congress. Together, through our new
> Quarter Million Person Challenge, let's now set a new goal of 250,000
> Americans signing up to demand action.
>
> It has been just 5 days since I called for impeachment hearings for
> Vice-President Dick Cheney and already over 100,000 people - including
> you - have answered that call by adding your name as an impeachment
> supporter at _www.WexlerWantsHearings.com_
> <http://images.myngp.com/LinkTracker.aspx?crypt=IVi0ax2%2b6UBSinc%2fCPYaKUEFsqOTrJU9vFj23ziqy03KVZ5Y0Na8gN%2b5%2f0utWoD99mSVvOgTtpssTfwNr387EYBAJMsvASaIqN6dtfKsSHw0Q8x7YdNP6A%3d%3d>.
> This is a truly remarkable response that demonstrates the power that
> average, everyday Americans can have when we come together to pursue
> justice and accountability.
>
> Never mind that the national media ignored my call and rejected an
> op-ed that I wrote along with my Judiciary Colleagues Rep. Luis
> Gutierrez (D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). The Netroots and citizen
> activists like yourself are spreading our message and demanding action.
>
>
> *Quarter Million Person Challenge*
>
> Our movement continues to grow by the hour and the day. But, with the
> media blackout, I need your help to grow our effort. With 100,000
> supporters already signed-up, if each of you e-mail ten of your
> friends (a "Chain-ey letter") about _www.WexlerWantsHearings.com_
> <http://images.myngp.com/LinkTracker.aspx?crypt=IVi0ax2%2b6UBSinc%2fCPYaKUEFsqOTrJU9vFj23ziqy03KVZ5Y0Na8gN%2b5%2f0utWoD99mSVvOgTtpssTfwNr387EYBAJMsvASaIqN6dtfKsSHw0Q8x7YdNP6A%3d%3d>
> and the need for Cheney impeachment hearings we will reach over a
> million Americans and perhaps we can reach a new goal of 250,000
> signers by the end of the year!!
>
>
> *Join Me Thursday Night on Blog Radio to Discuss Our Next Steps*
>
> On this Thursday at 9:00 p.m. (EST) and 6:00 (PST), please join me as
> I appear on live on the Internet to discuss my efforts to convince
> Congress to hold impeachment hearing.
>
> _Congressman Wexler Live on Blog Radio:_
>
> *WHEN:* Thursday, December 18, 9:00 pm (EST)/6:00 pm (PST)
>
> *WHERE:* _http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fpc_
> <http://images.myngp.com/LinkTracker.aspx?crypt=IVi0ax2%2b6UBSinc%2fCPYaKW8lfC7QOopHJ6wgoO6HXHk%2fyi%2fVebyY9kzItvFE2KUr3mo3EBBYIbtKf4LZORxroRQc3ssx9lLQcEcHoMF44GGGWWUuP7ox4Q%3d%3d>
> (a link will be posted at _www.wexlerwantshearings.com_
> <http://images.myngp.com/LinkTracker.aspx?crypt=IVi0ax2%2b6UBSinc%2fCPYaKUEFsqOTrJU9vFj23ziqy03KVZ5Y0Na8gN%2b5%2f0utWoD99mSVvOgTtpssTfwNr387EYBAJMsvASaIqN6dtfKsSHw0Q8x7YdNP6A%3d%3d>
> and _www.wexlerforcongress.com_
> <http://images.myngp.com/LinkTracker.aspx?crypt=IVi0ax2%2b6UBSinc%2fCPYaKUEFsqOTrJU9bSaorYKVc5zkasAeJSuSbFs4xiEu0WAP6pMcH2Z11nlSWaguaDfp1kS3cvhCYoRjGZcwok1oohvPy62HI%2bHlMg%3d%3d>
> )
>
> *WHO:* Rep. Wexler will appear live on Florida Progressive Radio with
> host Kenneth Quinnell of the Florida Netroots Caucus, Bob Fertick of
> Democrats.com, as well as Dave Lindorf, author of "The Case for
> Impeachment," and David Swanson with AfterDowningStreet.org.
>
>
> *More on the Media Blackout *
>
> The New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, USA Today, and Boston
> Globe have all rejected our op ed (though the Miami Herald just put an
> edited version in its "Letters to the Editor" section). We have heard
> from the editors of some of these publications and they are telling us
> that they are getting overwhelmed with phone calls and letters of
> complaint. (Well done everybody!)
>
> */In short - we need to keep the pressure on if this news will spread
> far beyond the Netroots community/*.
>
>
> With warm regards,
>
> *Congressman Robert Wexler*
>
> _www.WexlerWantsHearings.com_
> <http://images.myngp.com/LinkTracker.aspx?crypt=IVi0ax2%2b6UBSinc%2fCPYaKUEFsqOTrJU9vFj23ziqy03KVZ5Y0Na8gN%2b5%2f0utWoD99mSVvOgTtpssTfwNr387EYBAJMsvASaIqN6dtfKsSHw0Q8x7YdNP6A%3d%3d>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Paid for by "Wexler for Congress"
>
>
>
> PO Box 810669
> Boca Raton, FL 33481
>
>
> Forward this message to a friend
> <https://www.myngp.com/NGPWEB/app/tools/broadcast/broadcastforward.aspx?value1=5602764&value2=1614&value3=14103&NB=true>
(3)
Here's the December 14 message:
Dear Impeachment Person,
If you are on ctimpeach, you have already seen this. (Ron--I think
Suresha--sent it.) But even if I'm making a mistake and haven't
realized you get ctimpeach, I'm sending it anyway because it is the
first piece of good news in 5 weeks. AT LAST some progress!
Richard
Rep. Wexler Will Urge the Judiciary Committee to Hold Immediate
Hearings on Impeachment !!!
Go to www.WexlerWantsHearings.com to add your support!
A CASE FOR HEARINGS
By Representatives and Members of the Judiciary Committee:
Robert Wexler (D-FL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
On November 7, the House of Representatives voted to send a resolution
of impeachment of Vice President Cheney to the Judiciary Committee. As
Members of the House Judiciary Committee, we strongly believe these
important hearings should begin.
The issues at hand are too serious to ignore, including credible
allegations of abuse of power that if proven may well constitute high
crimes and misdemeanors under our constitution. The charges against
Vice President Cheney relate to his deceptive actions leading up to
the Iraq war, the revelation of the identity of a covert agent for
political retaliation, and the illegal wiretapping of American
citizens.
Now that former White House press secretary Scott McClellan has
indicated that the Vice President and his staff purposefully gave him
false information about the outing of Valerie Plame Wilson as a covert
agent to report to the American people, it is even more important for
Congress to investigate what may have been an intentional obstruction
of justice. Congress should call Mr. McClellan to testify about what
he described as being asked to "unknowingly [pass] along false
information." In addition, recent revelations have shown that the
Administration including Vice President Cheney may have again
manipulated and exaggerated evidence about weapons of mass destruction
-- this time about Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Some of us were in Congress during the impeachment hearings of
President Clinton. We spent a year and a half listening to testimony
about President Clinton's personal relations. This must not be the
model for impeachment inquires. A Democratic Congress can show that it
takes its constitutional authority seriously and hold a sober
investigation, which will stand in stark contrast to the kangaroo
court convened by Republicans for President Clinton. In fact, the
worst legacy of the Clinton impeachment – where the GOP pursued
trumped up and insignificant allegations - would be that it
discourages future Congresses from examining credible and significant
allegations of a constitutional nature when they arise.
The charges against Vice President Cheney are not personal. They go to
the core of the actions of this Administration, and deserve
consideration in a way the Clinton scandal never did. The American
people understand this, and a majority support hearings according to a
November 13 poll by the American Research Group. In fact, 70% of
voters say that Vice President Cheney has abused his powers and 43%
say that he should be removed from office right now. The American
people understand the magnitude of what has been done and what is at
stake if we fail to act. It is time for Congress to catch up.
Some people argue that the Judiciary Committee can not proceed with
impeachment hearings because it would distract Congress from passing
important legislative initiatives. We disagree. First, hearings need
not tie up Congress for a year and shut down the nation. Second,
hearings will not prevent Congress from completing its other business.
These hearings involve the possible impeachment of the Vice President
– not our commander in chief – and the resulting impact on the
nation's business and attention would be significantly less than the
Clinton Presidential impeachment hearings. Also, despite the fact that
President Bush has thwarted moderate Democratic policies that are
supported by a vast majority of Americans -- including children's
health care, stem cell research, and bringing our troops home from
Iraq -- the Democratic Congress has already managed to deliver a
minimum wage hike, an energy bill to address the climate crisis and
bring us closer to energy independence, assistance for college
tuition, and other legislative successes. We can continue to deliver
on more of our agenda in the coming year while simultaneously
fulfilling our constitutional duty by investigating and publicly
revealing whether or not Vice President Cheney has committed high
crimes and misdemeanors.
Holding hearings would put the evidence on the table, and the evidence
– not politics – should determine the outcome. Even if the hearings do
not lead to removal from office, putting these grievous abuses on the
record is important for the sake of history. For an Administration
that has consistently skirted the constitution and asserted that it is
above the law, it is imperative for Congress to make clear that we do
not accept this dangerous precedent. Our Founding Fathers provided
Congress the power of impeachment for just this reason, and we must
now at least consider using it.
For more info on this campaign go to www.WexlerWantsHearings.com .
