EDITOR: In the early morning hours of March 21, Congressman Mike
Honda cast one of the 11 votes in the House of Representatives not
supporting House Concurrent Resolution 104.
EDITOR:
In the early morning hours of March 21, Congressman Mike Honda cast one of the 11 votes in the House of Representatives not supporting House Concurrent Resolution 104. This resolution expresses the support and appreciation of the nation, for the president and the members of the Armed Forces who are participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The final vote on the resolution was 392 – yes and 11 – no.
Admittedly “shocked” but not in “awe” of Honda’s vote, I immediately searched the Congressional website www.house.gov to read the exact language of the resolution. Finding nothing in the resolution that caused me concern, I checked Congressman Honda’s home page for any explanation of his “no” vote on HCR 104. What I found in his statement regarding the resolution deeply disappointed me.
Honda states the House Republican leadership decided to politicize the issue by drafting a resolution that included language in support of President’s Bush’s misguided Iraq policy which he says he could not support. He continues in his statement that by drafting a resolution that mixes support for our troops and support for President Bush’s misguided policies, Republicans sought to coerce members opposed to the war into voting for the resolution.
What puzzles me is the fact that numerous Democrats in the House of Representatives including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and former local Congressional Rep. Zoe Lofgren, both on the record opposing the war prior to its beginning, voted for the resolution as bombs were falling on Baghdad. Lofgren warned, “Great caution should be exercised so a wrong impression is not given.”
Morgan Hill Congressman Richard Pombo, who also supported the resolution, said he felt citizens who oppose the war should exercise their right to protest. But for members of Congress, he said, “The time has passed to make those statements. We have to show a unified voice on foreign policy.”
In my opinion, Congressman Honda is the one who has chosen to politicize the issue with his no vote on HCR 104, not the Republican leadership. This country is at war and this is not the time to identify yourself as a Democrat or a Republican but rather as an American in full support of our troops risking their lives to preserve the rights and freedom we have in this country.
After the successful completion of the mission stated by our President in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the return of our troops to these shores, there will be ample time for our elected representatives to analyze and discuss the merits of this war. In the meantime, I urge everyone to pray for our troops, our country’s leadership and the innocent civilians in Iraq. Their opportunity to escape the shackles of a cruel regime and enjoy freedom is at hand.
Jane Howard, Gilroy
