Code Pink ready to put pressure on Obama

[jefferson_dem]

Code Pink ready to put pressure on Obama
By Sam Youngman
May 24, 2007

The anti-war protest group that has been dogging Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) said Thursday that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) can expect similar attention if he votes in favor of the Iraq supplemental bill that does not include timelines for withdrawal.

“I think he’s been opposed to the war, and I would be disappointed if he voted to continue the war,” Code Pink spokeswoman Gael Murphy said. “If this is becoming rhetoric, yeah, he’s going to hear it from his constituents.”

Murphy said if Obama votes in favor of the measure it will be a “contradiction” and the “height of hypocrisy.”

Code Pink, always decked out in pink attire with a seemingly endless supply of anti-war slogans and methods of criticizing Clinton and other lawmakers who have continued to vote for war funding, has gone after Obama before.

But thus far, Clinton and other Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill have borne the brunt of the group’s criticism.

Clinton in particular has come across the group at countless campaign events, as it often portrays her as the face of the pro-war wing of the Democratic Party.

<SNIP>

http://thehill.com/campaign-2008/code-pink-ready-to-put-pressure-on-obama-2007-05-24.html

[rinsd]

1. Someone should kindly inform Code Pink that Hillary and Obama have the SAME VOTING RECORD!

[flpoljunkie]

2. I think Code Pink is well aware of the differences in their positions on the Iraq War.

[Bullet1987]

4. The reason it hasn't effected them is because the media doesn't acknowledge them...

[jefferson_dem]

6. But but but...Hillary's spin-meisters say...and Hillary apologists on DU dutifully parrot...

Surely, Code Pink must be misinformed on the Iraq issue. :sarcasm:

[rinsd]

8. And what is the difference in their positions?

They both have voted for every funding measure.

Here's Hillary's plan for Iraq

Hillary opposes President Bush's plan to escalate the war and proposed, along with Senator Robert Byrd, legislation to end authority for the war in Iraq. The legislation will propose October 11, 2007 -- the five year anniversary of the original resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq -- as the expiration date for that resolution.

The President would be required to come to Congress to seek new authority. Following deauthorization, Senator Clinton would not support any new legislation that did not start to remove our troops from the middle of this sectarian civil war.

She has also proposed a cap on troop levels to January 1, 2007 levels and put forth a comprehensive roadmap for ending the war. If it is followed, Hillary's bill, the Iraq Troop Protection and Reduction Act of 2007, will end the war before the next president takes the oath of office. But she has also been clear: if George Bush refuses to end the war, when she is president, she will.

Hillary opposes permanent bases in Iraq. She believes we may need a vastly reduced residual force to train Iraqi troops, provide logistical support, and conduct counterterrorism operations. But that is not a permanent force, and she has been clear that she does not plan a permanent occupation.


Here is Obama's

At the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations in November 2005, Senator Obama called for: (1) a reduction in the number of U.S. troops; (2) a time frame for a phased withdrawal; (3) the Iraqi government to make progress on forming a political solution; (4) improved reconstruction efforts to restore basic services in Iraq; and (5) engaging the international community, particularly key neighboring states and Arab nations, to become more involved in Iraq. In January 2006 he traveled to Iraq and met with senior U.S. military commanders, Iraqi officials and U.S. troops in Baghdad and Fallujah.

Senator Obama introduced legislation in January 2007 to offer a responsible alternative to President Bush's failed escalation policy. The legislation commences redeployment of U.S. forces no later than May 1, 2007 with the goal of removing all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008 -- a date consistent with the bipartisan Iraq Study Group's expectations. The plan allows for a limited number of U.S. troops to remain in Iraq as basic force protection, to engage in counter-terrorism and to continue the training of Iraqi security forces. If the Iraqis are successful in meeting the 13 benchmarks for progress laid out by the Bush Administration, this plan also allows for the temporary suspension of the redeployment, provided Congress agrees that the benchmarks have been met.

[jefferson_dem]

3. LOL! Obama spoke out against Chimpy's "dumb war." Hillary gave Chimpy the rubber stamp treatment.

That's clear as a bell...regardless of the Hillary camp's efforts to spin the issue and blur the differences.

Nice try. :bounce:

By the way, i'm happy to see Code Pink step up and challenge other candidates on this issue.

[rinsd]

7. Did I miss Obama opposing any of the funding bills?

[jefferson_dem]

12. Way to go! Carville and Bill would be proud of you. Keep repeating the line.

For those who didn't see Hillary's rejection of Code Pink's plea ... and her initial capitulation to Chimpy's war machine in March 2003, i posted a video a couple days ago.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x30355

[rinsd]

16. If Bill is proud of me, I know I have done right.

Again, can you point me to the difference in Obama's and Clinton's voting record when it comes to Iraq?

Hillary voted for the IWR. Obama was unable to vote. Both have voted for every funding bill.

[jefferson_dem]

22. "Hillary voted for the IWR. Obama was unable to vote." Disengenuous.

And you know it. She voted for it. He called it a dumb war and said, if he could, he would vote against. If you don't consider that to be an important *difference*... oh well ... Back to your talking point, eh.

[rinsd]

23. They both voted for every funding bill, something Code Pink is against

So now that we've dispensed with the past let us look at the future. Below are the respective plans for Iraq from each candidate's website.

Here's Hillary's plan for Iraq

Hillary opposes President Bush's plan to escalate the war and proposed, along with Senator Robert Byrd, legislation to end authority for the war in Iraq. The legislation will propose October 11, 2007 -- the five year anniversary of the original resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq -- as the expiration date for that resolution.

The President would be required to come to Congress to seek new authority. Following deauthorization, Senator Clinton would not support any new legislation that did not start to remove our troops from the middle of this sectarian civil war.

She has also proposed a cap on troop levels to January 1, 2007 levels and put forth a comprehensive roadmap for ending the war. If it is followed, Hillary's bill, the Iraq Troop Protection and Reduction Act of 2007, will end the war before the next president takes the oath of office. But she has also been clear: if George Bush refuses to end the war, when she is president, she will.

Hillary opposes permanent bases in Iraq. She believes we may need a vastly reduced residual force to train Iraqi troops, provide logistical support, and conduct counterterrorism operations. But that is not a permanent force, and she has been clear that she does not plan a permanent occupation.


Here is Obama's

At the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations in November 2005, Senator Obama called for: (1) a reduction in the number of U.S. troops; (2) a time frame for a phased withdrawal; (3) the Iraqi government to make progress on forming a political solution; (4) improved reconstruction efforts to restore basic services in Iraq; and (5) engaging the international community, particularly key neighboring states and Arab nations, to become more involved in Iraq. In January 2006 he traveled to Iraq and met with senior U.S. military commanders, Iraqi officials and U.S. troops in Baghdad and Fallujah.

Senator Obama introduced legislation in January 2007 to offer a responsible alternative to President Bush's failed escalation policy. The legislation commences redeployment of U.S. forces no later than May 1, 2007 with the goal of removing all combat brigades from Iraq by March 31, 2008 -- a date consistent with the bipartisan Iraq Study Group's expectations. The plan allows for a limited number of U.S. troops to remain in Iraq as basic force protection, to engage in counter-terrorism and to continue the training of Iraqi security forces. If the Iraqis are successful in meeting the 13 benchmarks for progress laid out by the Bush Administration, this plan also allows for the temporary suspension of the redeployment, provided Congress agrees that the benchmarks have been met.

[jefferson_dem]

28. I have NOT dispensed with the past. Despite the Hillary spin machine, many others haven't either.

Will you do what your candidate has not done -- call that IWR vote a mistake?

[rinsd]

29. You would rather have an apology than a solution?

"Will you do what your candidate has not done -- call that IWR vote a mistake?"

I certainly think it was a mistake. And Hillary has said she would not vote the same way knowing now the intelligence was flawed.

Now what do I think her strategy of not apologizing? I think its spot on. Hard core progressives hate her anyway and would call her a panderer if she came to them on bent knee. And the GOP would nail her as some sort of flipflopper like they will should Edwards win.

So she remains focused on the future rather than the past.

[jefferson_dem]

31. Points well taken. Good post.

n/t

[Missy M]

5. But that wouldn't fit their agenda....

or others. Some comments I've seen on the upcoming vote is Obama is thinking about it right now, but Hillary is putting her finger up to see which way the wind is blowing.

[rinsd]

9. It kills me.

She has the same positions as other candidates yet she is the only one to get shit for it.

And people claim there is no hatred of her.

[Breeze54]

11. She is NOT the only one!

[edwardsfeingold08]

27. It stinks, doesn't it?

She and Edwards both voted for the IWR and you feel the need to bash Edwards for it in multiple Edwards threads. I don't see you bashing Clinton for her vote.

You want to look to the future and show Clinton and Obama have the same plan for Iraq? Then, why won't you look forward with Edwards too? You want to ignore Obama's past, but not Edwards's past. You want to ignore Edwards' future, but not Obama's future. You make my head hurt.

[Breeze54]

10. Their agenda is to Stop The War and PEACE!

;)

They are NOT a political group. They're a Peace Activist group.

[Missy M]

13. That is a good agenda and I'm all for it.......

but they should be be equal in their treatment of the presidential candidates.

[Breeze54]

15. Have you checked their website?

They're doing a lot of actions and they aren't the only group involved.

[Breeze54]

17. Occupation Project

Occupation Project

http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?list=type&type=192

CODEPINK and Voices for Creative Nonviolence is organizing the Occupation Project, a campaign aimed
at the offices of Representatives and Senators who won't stop funding the war. The campaign began
the first week of February, 2007, when Bush introduced the new Supplemental Spending Bill.
The Occupation Project encourages ongoing visits, sit-ins, and of sustained nonviolent civil disobedience
to put the pressure on our elected officials to support our troops and stop funding war!


Participating Organizations include:

*
Gold Star Families for Peace (www.gsfp.org)
*
Veterans For Peace (www.veteransforpeace.org)
*
Iraq Veterans Against the War (www.ivaw.org)
*
United for Peace and Justice (www.unitedforpeace.org)
*
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space (www.space4peace.org)
*
North Carolina Peace Action (www.ncpeaceaction.org)
*
The Declaration of Peace (www.declarationofpeace.org)
*
Bloomington Peace Action Coalition (www.bpac.info)
*
Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition (www.nwopc.org)
*
After Downing Street (www.afterdowningstreet.org)
*
Voters for Peace (www.votersforpeace.org)
*
International Solidarity Movement - Chicago Chapter
*
The Collateral Repair Project -- Seattle (www.collateralrepairproject.org)
*
Texans for Peace (www.texansforpeace.org)
*
Alaska Peace Center (www.alaskapeace.org)
*
North Star Veterans for Peace - Fairbanks, Alaska
*
Women in Black -- Seattle, Stand Up Seattle
*
Green Party of Washington State (www.wagreens.us)
*
North Alabama Committee for Nonviolent Action
*
Liberty Tree Foundation for the Democratic Revolution (www.libertytreefdr.org)
*
National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (iraqpledge.org)

-------

Read blogs from the Occupation Project:

* DC Youtube links from Midge Potts
* Lori Perdue


LA Occupation Project Blogs:

* Maggie Freilich
* Marcy Winograd
* Linda Millazzo

--------------------


Office occupations to end the Iraq war

http://vcnv.org/office-occupations-to-end-the-iraq-war

By Bruce Gagnon

On Dec. 15, 2005 I was arrested, along with 18 others, in the Bangor office of Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). Seventy-five of us had gone to Sen. Snowe’s office asking her to admit she had been lied to about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. We delivered a letter signed by 450 Mainers calling for an end to the war. We asked, for the hundredth time, for the senator to hold a town hall meeting on the war so the public could speak to her about their concerns. All we got was a visit to the Penobscot County jail.

[CTLawGuy]

14. nope

IWR: Hillary "Aye"
Obama (not in congress but disapproved of it)

[rinsd]

18. Hence the term voting record.

[CTLawGuy]

19. Hillary's was a vote....

NT

[Clovis Sangrail]

32. Obama didn't vote for the IWR... Hillary did

just sayin'... their voting records are not the same

[SaveElmer]

20. Code Pink is irrelevent...nt

[TwilightGardener]

21. What better way to win conservatives/Republicans over to the

end-the-war position than naming yourselves "Code Pink"? :eyes:

[Breeze54]

24. They've done a lot for you.

learn more...spout less!

:eyes:

[TwilightGardener]

26. I stand by my statement. Dumb name.

[Breeze54]

30. Yes..waging peace is bad.

:sarcasm:



In 2003 women around the US started standing up in PINK, --reclaiming a color many of us thought we’d never wear,
as a women’s statement for peace -- and daring to resist an administration on the brink of war.

Over the years we have supported many women in bringing peace to the forefront of their communities.

http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?list=type&type=206

* CODEPINK is one of the only international groups getting aid to the war-terrorized people of Iraq.
We delivered over $600,000 in humanitarian aid to Iraqi civilians after the destruction of Fallujah.

* We launched Women Say No to War, an urgent appeal from the women of the United States, Iraq,
and worldwide, and delivered 100,000 signatures to the White House.

* We held an amazing 24-hour vigil in front of the White House to reclaim Mother's Day
as a day to work for peace.

* We supported war resisters Suzanne Swift, Lt. Ehren Watada, Army Specialist Mark Wilkerson,
Kyle Snyder and Agustin Aguayo in their courageous refusal to participate in the illegal war in Iraq.

* Whether at Presidential Inauguration, John Bolton's Senate confirmation hearing, Condoleezza Rice's
address at the SF Commonwealth Club, Donald Rumsfeld's talk at the Beverly Hills Hilton, or Dick Cheney's
fundraiser in Houston, we consistently infiltrated Bush administration gatherings to say,

"Stop the Killing, Stop the Torture, No More Lies."

* We unveiled our new book, Stop the Next War Now, an amazing collection of essays by visionary women,
and embarked on a book tour that has taken us to over 75 cities.

* We delivered over $20,000 in aid to survivors, and during the Thanksgiving holiday we sent a delegation
to New Orleans help rebuild homes. In the following months we established a presence in New Orleans and
held work camps during the summer months of 2006.

* We created an online anti-war petition, onemillionreasons.org, that became a vibrant tapestry of individual
voices to end the war and in September 2005, we delivered them in person to the White House.

* We've built global ties through a peacemaking delegation to Iran, a peace tour through Italy, the war
tribunal in Turkey, Britain's Stop the War assembly, a gathering in Thailand of women worldwide,
and our participation in the World Social Forum in Brazil.

* We have taken up residence at house in DC blocks from the Capitol, to keep the pressure
on Congress to Stop Buying Bush's War!

* We hold our leaders accountable by camping outside of Nancy Pelosi's home on both coasts and continuously
"bird-dogging" Hillary Clinton at nearly all her major fundraisers and events. We have also partnered on the
Occupation Project to occupy offices of representatives and senators across the country.

--------------------------------------

Just the Beginning:

http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?list=type&type=3

CODEPINK came to the face and space of the national leadership to protest the pre-emptive strike
in Iraq. Medea Benjamin, Starhawk, Jodie Evans, Diane Wilson and approximately 100 other women
kicked off this new women's initiative on November 17, 2002. They marched through the streets
of Washington, DC and set up for a four month vigil in front of the White House.

The name CODEPINK plays on the Bush Administration’s color-coded homeland security advisory system
that signals terrorist threats. While Bush’s color coded alerts are based on fear, the CODEPINK
alert is based on compassion and is a feisty call for women and men to “wage peace.”

Since then, CODEPINK has become a worldwide network of women and men committed to working for peace
and social justice. There are over 250 active local groups around the country and the world.

[TwilightGardener]

34. Some of that's good. Some of it I don't agree with--like helping military

members "resist"--that's called desertion, or refusal to obey orders--not cool. Or disrupting proceedings or places of residence. Some of those tactics are not my style.

[Breeze54]

35. baloney!

That's called FREEDOM OF SPEECH!!!

How do you think the war in Vietnam ended?? :shrug:

Look up : "Yes Sir, No Sir"

[Breeze54]

25. Not.

[DU GrovelBot]

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