Well………..off to the races!! First, we have Nancy Pelosi doing the idiotic by supporting John (unethical) Murtha as House Majority Leader which, as we all know, bombed…and NOW we have Charlie Rangel attempting to ONCE AGAIN to bring back the draft!!
On 01/07/03 Congressman Rangel introducted H.R. 163 (Universal National Service Act of 2003), more popularly called “Reinstate Draft Bill” requiring:
….that all young persons in the United States, including women, perform a period of military service or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes.
This bill got no where and a vote was taken to pass the bill which was rejected by 402-2. The only to “yes” votes were from John Murtha and Pete Stark. Charles Rangel, author of the bill, even voted “no”. This “bill” was the biggest waste as it was not even put forward to pass but to try and “prove a point” about the war and the President.
H.R. 163
Excerpt from Charles Rangel:
….It just seems to me as many times as the administration says that they are against a draft, all we hear on the Internet and around the country is that, after the election, they are going to have the draft.
If they are going to have the draft, I support this legislation, even though, quite frankly, I would have preferred that the bill be referred to the Committee on Armed Services, ……
Excerpt by Liberal Democrat, S.Jackson from Texas:
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, well, I just want to echo the dean, and I want to congratulate the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for his courage.
Frankly, let me say to my colleagues on the floor of the House, there is a secret plan for the draft. And there is nothing, there is nothing that this debate will do to dispense with that rule more and that secret plan. ………
Mr. Speaker, this debate is imperative to those who are listening. To the young people, I am voting no.
But this was a protest to say to the President and the administration in January of 2003 when this war was raging, what is your exit strategy? What is your strategy to win the peace? We have none. …..
Congress Joe Wilson of SC and a member of the Committee on Armed Services stated:
…the bill we are voting on today has been used by Democrats to scare young voters and their parents with the lie of an impending draft.
In South Carolina, the Democratic Party sent out a despicable campaign letter, disguised as a draft notice. The Democratic Presidential Candidate John Kerry speaks disingenuously about a “back door draft.” He has said to elect him President because he “will give us a foreign policy that absolutely makes it unnecessary to have a draft.” Democrats’ false rhetoric has helped fuel a nationwide scare campaign.
As a retired veteran of 31 years service in the Army National Guard, and with three sons today in the military, one of whom is serving in Iraq, I agree with the Newsweek magazine’s exposé (Oct. 12th) which discredited the rumors as having no basis in fact. Crying wolf about the need for a draft causes doubt about the ability of our Armed Forces, and hurts our morale and recruitment.
Let’s be clear.
The all-volunteer American military is succeeding in the War on Terror, and retention remains high. We have the best-trained, best-equipped, most competent military in history. We have a new greatest generation that I have visited three times in Iraq who are dedicated patriots protecting American families by taking the war to the terrorists.
There is absolutely no need for a draft. Not one person in the executive branch supports or has talked about reinstating the draft.
Clearly, by resorting to the politics of fear, KERRY and the Democrats have no positive agenda for America. Americans deserve more. …..
Other “interesting” snipets from the “debate” on this bill:
I am stunned by the fact that my friend from New York stands up in his beginning comments and sites the reason we have to deal with this is because the Internet is saying so,…..
……What our bill does is address the growing disparity in socio-economic background between those who go to fight our nation’s conflicts and those who send them. The statistics show that minorities and the working class segments of society constitute a disproportionate percentage of the military. …
…It is plain fact that the military does not come from the higher socio-economic status of society…..
….I say in all disappointment, an incredible insult to the men and women who wear the uniform. Why is it an insult? Because our men and women are the best, brightest, best trained, best equipped, most effective that the world has ever known. They are a tribute to the education process in this country and the ability of young people to stand up and serve their country. ….
Those who are in favor of this legislation declare the draft is necessary for two reasons. They argue that recruiting and retention of our armed forces are falling at alarming rates and they asset that the military is disproportionately comprised of poorly-educated individuals.
….This is one of the greatest insults to our military I have ever heard. Today our armed forces are the most professional, best educated, most integrated and best trained in the world. All one needs to do is spend a few moments with our troops. ….
I think everyone gets the jest of the proprosed 2003 bill! Does anyone else see that farce as totally disgusting?? You can also see how the DEMS also feel about our military!!!
And now, Charlie baby is wanting to bring this up again! Watch out though…the dems will now be in control of Congress and the Senate!!
His reasonings, in my opinion, have NOTHING to do with making America more secure but it his continued attempts as class warfare and the race card.
“There’s no question in my mind that this president and this administration would never have invaded Iraq, especially on the flimsy evidence that was presented to the Congress, if indeed we had a draft and members of Congress and the administration thought that their kids from their communities would be placed in harm’s way,” Rangel said.
…has said the all-volunteer military disproportionately puts the burden of war on minorities and lower-income families. AOL News
Mr. Rangel, first of all there is a Selective Service System in place which is a federal agency under the Military Selective Service Act. This Selective Service System was reinstated by Democratic President Jimmy Carter in the summer of 1980. The requirement is that all men between 18-25 register with the Selective Service and would be used as EMERGENCY manpower if called upon by Congress and the President in a case of a national emergency (let’s see….if your cut/run policy allows bombs to be dropped in the US, for example!)
Many of the Dems are attempting to get ROTC banned from schools and colleges, where our young people have a chance to learn discipline, pride in themselves and in their country!! In fact, ROTC has been banned from schools…where…oh yes..in San Francisco, the area of your soon to be speaker…Nancy Pelosi!!! And then YOU people have the nerve and the guts to say “reinstate the draft”!!! You people are totally unbelievable!!!
We have a WONDERFUL, every educated, determined, skilled and patriotic military made up of volunteers who WANT to serve our country, despite people like Rangel, Murtha, Pelosi, Kerry, etc!! They are from ALL walks of life and should be honored and respected for their desire and willingness to serve!! It angers and disgustes me that the “leaders” (which I put mildly) of our country seem to have so little regard for these brave men and women!!
Other Reads on this subject:
Wake Up America