Clarifying Rep. Sherman's remarks on martial law:

[Hannah Bell]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaG9d_4zij8

Transcription: emphases mine.


"The only way they can pass this bill is by creating & sustaining a panic atmosphere. That atmosphere is not justified.

Many of us were told in private conversations that IF WE VOTED AGAINST this bill - on Monday - that -the sky would fall, the market would drop 2 or 3 thousand points the first day, another couple thousand the second day, and a few members were even told that there would be MARTIAL LAW IN AMERICA IF WE VOTED NO.

That's what I call fear-mongering. Unjustified, proven wrong. We've got a week, we've got two weeks, to write a good bill. The only way to write - to pass - a bad bill - keep the panic pressure on."


Some folks here at DU seem intent on convincing people Sherman was talking about Congressional martial law.

It's clear he was not.

Rather, he says someone tried to convince members that if they didn't vote for a bailout, things would get so bad martial law would have to be declared in the US.

[zeemike]

1. That is the gun held to the head.

Give me a trillion or we will shoot.

[tom_paine]

2. Makes you wonder who they all are...

I mean, I know most people are clueless. Less so, at DU, of course.

But...wow. One guy was earnestly telling everyone that Sherman didn't say what that YouTube shows he said.

:rofl:

[Hannah Bell]

6. it's not cluelessness. That became pretty clear once neither explanation,

video, or transcripts could stop the perp.

[magellan]

3. "But we don't want the smoking gun to be a mushroom cloud." - Rice, Jan 10, 2003

"And according to the British government, the Iraqi regime could launch a biological or chemical attack in as little as 45 minutes." - Bush**, Sept 26, 2002

Same tactic, and why not? It worked for them last time. But Sherman called them on it here.

[malaise]

7. Ding ding

we have a winner.

[onenote]

4. they also apparently told him "the sky would fall"

How were they going to do that?

If Sherman (or others) were told this, why haven't they identified who told them? WHat would they have to lose?

[Hannah Bell]

5. It's clear what Sherman meant. I'm not sure why there are folks trying to muddle it or diminish

its significance.

"Hey, nice country ya got there, but if you don't give us 700 billion right now, it won't be so pretty anymore..."

[kayakjohnny]

8. Exactly. It's totally clear he meant the whole country.

Now he should spill the beans on who made the threat. Name names. Name the time and place it was said, and who was present. It's all about fear with these guys, but fear doesn't work on everyone.

[clear eye]

11. Which bank or brokerage do you work for?

He was speaking of Paulson's and Bernanke's communications with House members. He couldn't use direct quotes because as these were private communications it would be an invitation for them to lie about it.

You know nothing about Rep. Brad Sherman if you think he would just make stuff up out of whole cloth.

[onenote]

12. I don't work for any bank or brokerage house thank you. And I know

enought about Brad Sherman from my work on Capitol Hill to know that he, like many members of Congress (and many members of DU for that matter) doesn't hesitate to engage in hyperbole.

[clear eye]

16. Schumer, who voted for the bill in the Senate, also

reported that he was told avoidance of complete economic Apocalypse (not the exact words) depended on the bill. He said his reaction to Paulson's JEC report was, and I quote, "gulp".

[Waiting For Everyman]

9. Hell no! Again.

If the House votes for this, they won't be Reps. very long.

[Bandit]

10. Was Peloisi using those scare tactics or who???

Who was it that was trying to terrify Congress into this vote?

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

13. That's the 700 billion dollar question

Joe Courtney, who voted against the bill on Monday, is on call-in radio show right now. I'll try to get thru and see what he says about this

[peacetalksforall]

14. There is only one person who could phrase what he is repeating - Cheney.

The first casualty - the elections.
The ethics of it - criminals with guns to the head.

I believe it. History and clues point to it.

But like a street criminal - they can point the gun and order you to sign then shoot you anyway - same with Cheney - sign the bill and declare martial law anyway.

I believe Sherman for now. This should not fade.

[satya]

15. His remarks are on page H10692 of yesterday's Congressional record. Link:

Sherman's remarks