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March 20, 2007

Wayne Scott's Unjustified Accusation

Oregon House Minority Leader Wayne Scott says the House Democrats' push for HJM 9, urging President Bush not to escalate the War in Iraq, but rather to pull troops out by August 1, 2008, is merely political posturing and "petty partisanship" on the part of Democrats. Maybe instead of jumping to point fingers at the left, he should take a moment to listen to the ultra-conservative Constitution Party, which happens to support the bill.

House Republican Leader Wayne Scott (R-Canby) said HJM 9 was nothing more than an effort to position House Republicans for the 2008 campaign.

“HJM 9 doesn’t accomplish anything; it is only fodder for the next campaign, plain and simple,” Rep. Scott said. “I urge House Democrats to get to work on the education budget, State Police funding and other issues that the Legislature has the power to resolve.”

Rep. Scott also expressed his disappointment over the message that today’s vote sends to our troops and their families. “I’m concerned that the House’s action on HJM 9 calls into question the dedication and sacrifices of our service members and their loved ones. As a Vietnam War veteran, I know from personal experience how important public support is to maintaining troop morale,” Rep. Scott said.

“In November, the Majority Leader told the press that House Democrats would not bring up divisive issues this session,” Rep. Scott said. “Rather than work on the real issues, House Democrats only want to follow their ‘roadmap’ to petty partisanship.”

The Constitution Party explains its stance very well on its website and its explanation makes it clear what it means to be an American, first and foremost, as opposed to being a partisan hack, as seems to be the case with Rep. Scott.

The President, the Congress, and the Federal Courts receive their sole authority for conducting any business by the enumerated powers listed in the U.S. Constitution. All public officials are bound by an oath of office that pledges their support of this constitution. The president's oath further binds him, to the best of his ability, to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States". Nowhere does the Constitution grant the office of president the authority to declare war. Only Congress has that authority.

Jack Alan Brown, Jr., Chairman of Constitution Party of Oregon, said, “Congress has been criminally negligent in funding a war upon the sovereign soil of another nation which has not declared war and has not engaged in hostile attacks on American soil. The issue is perjury on the part of all who authorized an open-ended 'war on terror' by the President. This authorization has resulted in the invasion and occupation of other nations, and the unconstitutional suspension of our God-given rights here at home. It has also resulted in blatant disregard for historically established tenants of the “Just War” concept, as well as violation of a treaty to which we are party - namely, the Geneva Convention.”

The Constitution Party of Oregon calls upon all our representatives (from the courthouse to the state house to the Congress) to generally pursue all remedies for this intolerable state of affairs. We especially call upon Congress to rescind the unconstitutional authorization of the president to conduct this war against terror on the soil of Iraq or any other sovereign nation against which there is no specific declaration of war.

We enthusiastically support those in the State Legislature who are seeking to memorialize Congress regarding this matter, regardless of their party affiliation.

Mr. Scott, I know it has been quite awhile since your party cared more about what was right than about what was politically expedient, but some people pursuing legislation are motivated by principles. And many of them are quite offended when people like you want to try to smear their own dirt on something that is clean and good.

Posted by Becky at March 20, 2007 06:49 PM