Socialism in America's Congress: A Primer (Vanity)

The war with Iraq has brought out the worst in liberals, all across America. We have witnessed those who preach "tolerance" become the most intolerant. We have listened to left wing tirades, ad infinitum, about the need for: diversity of thought, diversity of opinion, diversity of belief, diversity of values; yet when conservatives speak out, liberals insult us and assault us. Our criticism of their criticism "stifles freedom of speech." Our responses to their actions are called "hate speech" or "black listing."

Comparisons have been made of President Bush to Adolph Hitler and the Bush Administration to Saddam's "regime." Rather than blame France and Germany for failed diplomacy, on the eve of war, Tom Daschle, the "weasel of mass distortion," ¹ decreed that the fault rests entirely with George W. Bush, President of the United States of America. Members of the left are guilty of such acts as "peace riots," ² the desecration of a 9/11 Memorial, and imposing bans on patriotic displays of our flag or of yellow ribbons for our troops. On Hannity & Colmes, liberal Congressman Charles Rangel's vile remarks that our "soldiers are bombers of women and children," goes beyond the pale. Still more left-Americans cheered the edict that "a million Mogadishus" befall our soliders or prominently displayed their support for our troops only if they "shoot their officers."

Rather than condemn or show outrage to these vitriolic and reprehensible demonstrations and remarks, the DemocRats are guilty of partisan politics, justification, complicity, pacifism, or silence. As David Horowitz noted, "this anti-American support movement for America's enemies has deep roots in the Democratic Party" (America Under Seige).

One of the most egregious examples of their tactics is the anti-war lawsuit filed against our President and Secretary Rumsfeld. Of the numerous plaintiffs, 12 are members of the House of Representatives. Hadean's comment on that thread ( Decision To Throw Out Antiwar Lawsuit Upheld ) alarmed me: "the basis of the prosecution on the recent suit seemed to aim not only at the constitutional angle, but also at the sovereign right of the US to defend itself."

Many are members of the Democratic Socialists of America, "DSA," (National Director of the DSA: Frank Llewellyn). "After the Washington Times in November 1998 blew the whistle on the so-called 'Progressive' Caucus, action was taken to hide the true nature of the organization, and its membership list was eventually taken off the dsausa Web site." (November 13, 2002, Newsmax: Exposed: Pelosi's Socialist Ties.) Fortunately, through the use of the "Wayback Machine" at www.archive.org, we can see the evidence which links the DSA to the PC: http://web.archive.org/web/20020803090437/ and http://www.dsausa.org/pc/pc.members.html.

And we do not know how many may possibly be affiliated with or contribute to the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), as the SWP is allowed to keep this information secret. The SWP is exempt from "FEC reporting requirements that other political parties face, including identifying its contributors, the candidates it supports and the businesses it buys from." (March 31, 2003, by Sharon Theimer (AP), FEC Lawyers Back Socialist Workers Party.)

"The Socialist Workers Party was formed on January 1, 1938, from the Communist League of America after it was expelled from the Socialist Party by the SP's moderate leadership" and publishes The Militant. See American Red Groups for historical chart and further information about various commie/socialist groups within America.

II. What They Are About:

In my opinion, the "Progressive Caucus" is nothing more than a front name; a disgraceful and deceptive attempt to conceal what they really are: a Socialist Caucus. Members of this group align themselves with marxist/socialist ideology and causes (as above-described, generally, and as follows, more particularly). Many have been, and continue to be, supportive of questionable leaders (i.e., Fidel Castro and Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez--for more information on Chavez, please see Cincinatus' Wife's excellent compilation (complete with a photo of his friend, Saddam Hussein): Hugo Chavez - Venezuela ; also see: Venezuela's Chavez: U.S. doesn't have right to decide "what is good and bad").

In 2003, 12 Members of the Progressive Caucus challenged America's right to wage war against Iraq without first obtaining UN approval. The President had already received Congressional authority in October 2002, but that was not "good enough" for these socialists. Although the "Dirty Dozen," swore to "support and defend...to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States of America," they filed a lawsuit against George W. Bush, President, and Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, as a means to undermine and challenge the authority of the United States' Constitution and the sovereign right of the United States of America to defend and protect itself. The 12 PC members and their ilk would betray our Constitution and have our country be subject to the whims of the United Nations, an entity which has proven itself immoral and irrelevant.

12 Members of the Progressive Caucus

Here's a piece by Phil Brennan from the EtherZone from April 2002

I CALL IT DESPICABLE

THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST DEMOCRAT PARTY

I CALL IT DESPICABLE
THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST DEMOCRAT PARTY

By: Phil Brennan

The Marxists in the National Socialist Democrat Party (NSDP) call it a political strategy - I call it despicable.

I'm talking about the NSDP's frantic - and despicable - campaign to scare the hell out of America's senior citizens by lying about the Social Security system and falsely claiming that the president is somehow plotting to put the system in danger by cutting taxes or proposing that part of the system be privatized, giving working Americans some say over how their Social Security taxes are invested.

For a long time now, the NSDP has been falling back on this issue and lying through its teeth out about it. And they get away with it because few Americans understand how the system is set up and works.

Listen to Comrade Robert Matsui, NSDP congressman from California as he sets about warning Americans that the Social Security Trust funds are being robbed blind by George Bush's much needed tax cuts.

Ordinary working Americans, "like teachers, police officers and firefighters, who believe their payroll taxes are going toward their Social Security retirement are in for a surprise," he told a radio audience.

Matsui, ranking NSDP member on the House Ways and Means Social Security subcommittee let loose with this whopper: "Instead of going to the Social Security trust fund, their payroll contributions are being funneled directly into tax breaks for individuals and corporations who need them least," he said with a straight face (and the usual NSDP forked tongue).

Matsui said Republican plans to allow people to invest some of their Social Security funds would also harm the program. "The threat to Social Security does not end there," he said. "Proposals to privatize the program will drain more than $1 trillion from the trust funds over the next 10 years alone."

Let it be shouted from the housetops, over and over again: There is no Social Security Trust Fund. Got that? There isn't one red cent in the so-called Trust Fund. Nothing, Nil. Nada. It's all been spent. All of it. For years and years on every hare-brained scheme the Marxists in Congress could dream up.

The money taken out of working Americans' salaries for FICA taxes gets spent by the federal government as fast as it rolls in. Comrade Matsui knows that. He just counts on the fact that you don't because he knows that if you did you'd see him as the conscienceless liar he is.

A year ago, Fox Cable News Bill O'Reilly interviewed Michael Tanner, s director of health and welfare studies at the Cato Institute on his O'Reilly Factor.

Here are excerpts from that interview that lay out the facts about the Social Security System - the facts Comrade Matsui and his fellow Marxists in the NSDP don't want Americans to understand:

O'Reilly: "... please correct me if I'm wrong because this is such a murky thing. The government has taken in trillions of dollars over the last 50 years in Social Security payroll taxes from the workers, from us. We just give -- keep giving them money. Yet, instead of investing that money and getting a return, what have they done with it, Mr. Turner -- Mr. Tanner?

Tanner: Well, in essence, it goes to purchase government bonds, and the money from the purchase of the government bonds becomes general tax revenue and is spent by the federal government on whatever it is the federal government does.

O'Reilly: All right. So let me stop you there. This is great. So they take the payroll money from all of us. They buy government bonds, which yield 5, 6 percent, in that range, right?

Tanner: Well, they only yield it in a technical sense because the government promises to pay itself interest.

O'Reilly: Right.

Tanner: But it's not any sort of actual transfer of cash. It's all a bookkeeping function.

O'Reilly: But the actual money that they take out of the Social Security fund flows right into the general fund, and it's spent on Jesse Jackson's tax-exempt organizations and everything like that, right?

Tanner: Well, it's spent on whatever the federal government does.

O'Reilly: This is out -- but this is crazy because if they had invested that money in anything for 50 years, all of those trillions of dollars would have brought more money back into the Social Security fund, right?

Tanner: Well, that's right. Now it's really only since 1983 that they've had large accumulated surpluses within the Social Security system.

O'Reilly: All right. So that's 18 years. We could have been making pretty good money, right?

Tanner: Well, that's right. It -- but you don't -- you've got to be careful. You don't want the government to be doing that investing.

O'Reilly: Oh, I don't want -- I don't -- all I -- all I want...

Tanner: ... proposed that individuals do that investing... through private individual accounts like President Bush has proposed.

O'Reilly: Fine. We've got to stay away from that right now, but what I'm trying to say is that the -- they're saying we don't have enough money for Social Security to cover the payments of the baby boomers, and the reason is that they have mismanaged that money, taken the money, and spent it on other things. They're are not telling us the truth.

Tanner: Well, you're absolutely correct in that that money is not really there. When they talk about a trust fund ... they're talking about a collection of IOUs. Now even if every IOU in that trust fund is redeemed, Social Security will still be some $21 trillion in debt. So this wouldn't solve the whole problem.

O'Reilly: Right, but if they had... invested the payroll tax that they have taken from us for 50 years -- and you say it only had a big surplus for 18 years -- invested it in gold bars, in anything, they would have had money coming back in. That's -- that's what the government is supposed to do, manage the money. We got -- we need more from you guys."

Tanner: Well, in essence, that -- that's exactly right. There is no savings or investment of any money in Social Security, neither the... The money is either paid out to beneficiaries, or it's spent by the government.

O'Reilly: So payroll tax -- Social Security money is supposed to be available to you and to me and to everybody watching, was spent on [Jesse Jackson's] Citizenship Education Fund and all these other things.

Tanner: On everything the federal government does. No -- none of it -- when you pay $1 in Social Security taxes, you have to understand, none of that money is saved for your retirement bill in any way.

O'Reilly: For Social Security. All right. Bingo! Mr. Tanner. Thank you very much.

Tanner: It's a pleasure.

O'Reilly: I hope everybody understands it now. "

Comrade Matsui doesn't share that hope.

He and his fellow Marxists in the NSDP also do not want Americans to understand that the money they pay into the Social Security system - those FICA taxes, are not stashed away in their names - it is not theirs. If you paid in all those thousands of dollars for years, and died at the age of 64 - a year before you would have been able to start collecting your Social Security benefits all that money you paid in would be gone. You couldn't leave it to your wife or your children - you couldn't because it wasn't your money to begin with.

This get us to the real point of this scam - The Social Security system has been foisted off on the American poeple as some kind of old age insurance - you pay in a certain amount on payday and it gets put away in your name and gradually builds up into a nice nest egg you can begin to collect when you hit 65. As we've seen that's hogwash. The Social Security system is a tax that's disguised to look like an insurance premium a nifty way of taxing working Americans without their knowing they're being taxed. And the government gets to keep all that money and spend it as wantonly as governments tend to squander tax monies.

That's why the Marxists are all het up about President Bush's plan to privatize part of the Social Security system and for all Americans to have some say over how their money is invested. That way Americans would own some of the money they put aside in their Social Security funds. But if Americans had the right to invest part of their money in approved investments, that money would belong to them and could not be confiscated and spent as tax revenues.

The Marxists insist that privatization won't work. But it has worked. In Chile. And worked damned well, as José Piñera, President of the International Center for Pension Reform and Co-Chairman of the Cato Project on Social Security Privatization has explained.

As Minister of Labor and Social Security from 1978 to 1980, he was responsible for the privatization of the Chilean pension system. In a presentation made at the Mont Pelerin Society's regional meeting in Cancun, Mexico, January 17, 1996 he revealed how privatization worked in his country.

"A specter is haunting the world," he began. "It is the specter of bankrupt state-run pension systems. The pay-as-you-go pension system that has reigned supreme through most of this century has a fundamental flaw, one rooted in a false conception of how human beings behave: it destroys, at the individual level, the essential link between effort and reward--in other words, between personal responsibilities and personal rights. Whenever that happens on a massive scale and for a long period of time, the result is disaster."

"In 1980, the government of Chile decided to take the bull by the horns. A government-run pension system was replaced with a revolutionary innovation: a privately administered, national system of Pension Savings Accounts.

"After 15 years of operation, the results speak for themselves. Pensions in the new private system already are 50 to 100 percent higher--depending on whether they are old-age, disability, or survivor pensions--than they were in the pay-as-you-go system. The resources administered by the private pension funds amount to $25 billion, or around 40 percent of GNP as of 1995. By improving the functioning of both the capital and the labor markets, pension privatization has been one of the key reforms that has pushed the growth rate of the economy upwards from the historical 3 percent a year to 6.5 percent on average during the last 12 years. It is also a fact that the Chilean savings rate has increased to 27 percent of GNP and the unemployment rate has decreased to 5.0 percent since the reform was undertaken.

"More important, still, pensions have ceased to be a government issue, thus depoliticizing a huge sector of the economy and giving individuals more control over their own lives. The structural flaw has been eliminated and the future of pensions depends on individual behavior and market developments.

"The success of the Chilean private pension system has led three other South American countries to follow suit. In recent years, Argentina (1994), Peru (1993), and Colombia (1994) undertook a similar reform. In the four South American countries, around 11 million workers have a personal retirement account."

I don't think Comrade Matsui and his cronies in the NSDP wanted you to know that. You have got to remain totally ignorant of the truth about Social Security. After all, it's just about the only issue they have left to scare the American people in election years. This year they really are desperate, too. They are obsessed with the idea that they have some kind of divine right to control both Houses of Congress and they hope that this is the year they'll realize that dream. And all they have left as an issue is Social Security.

I'll let this little colloquy between little George Stephanopolis and his colleague, Cokie Roberts deal with this as they did last week on ABC's Sunday Morning show as reported by the Media Research Center:

Stephanopoulos: "One of the things that Democrats take comfort in is is that the President's popularity in the war doesn't bleed over into other issues. The problem for them is they can't figure out what issues to use. There's not going to be a recession right now. They had a big strategy meeting two weeks ago where they said Social Security is going to be the issue."

Roberts: "Which is pretty pathetic, when you think about it. I mean, this is-"

Stephanopoulos, cutting her off in order to back the tactic’s potential: "Oh, I don't know. It's worked before."

Roberts: "Well, that's the whole point. That's all that they've got is this tired old Social Security issue."

And the lies that go with it.

Despicable!

Deus Exaudi-nos

------ end of article ------

Marxist, Leninist, Communist, Socialist .. matters not, the goal is the same.

PS, I didn't see Matsui listed as a member of the "Progressives"; ie LIARS, he is the left hand of Pelosi these days , I believe. (What an ugly thought.)

....please add relevant info/links if you come across something in the future.

I had this lurking in my data base from 2002. It is a membership list with positions served in the Socialist Party.

Member/Position/District Address /Phone

Peter DeFazio (OFFICER, OREGON-04) 2134 RHOB 225-6416

Dennis Kucinich (Chairman) (CHAIR, OHIO-10) 1730 LHOB 225-5871

Barbara Lee (Vice Chair) (OFFICER, CALIFORNIA-09) 426 CHOB 225-2661

Cynthia McKinney (OFFICER, GEORGIA-04) 124 CHOB 225-1605

Major Owens (OFFICER, NEW YORK-11) 2309 RHOB 225-6231

Bernie Sanders (OFFICER, VERMONT) 2135 RHOB 225-4115

Paul Wellstone (OFFICER, MINNESOTA) 136 HSOB 224-5641

members Neil Abercrombie (MEMBER, HAWAII-01) 1502 LHOB 225-2726

Tammy Baldwin (MEMBER, WISCONSIN-02) 1022 LHOB 225-2906

Xavier Becerra (MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-30) 1119 LHOB 225-6235

David Bonior (MEMBER, MICHIGAN-10) 2207 RHOB 225-2106

Corrine Brown (MEMBER, FLORIDA-03) 2444 RHOB 225-0123

Sherrod Brown (MEMBER, OHIO-13) 2438 RHOB 225-3401

Michael Capuano (MEMBER, MASSACHUSETTS-08) 1232 LHOB 225-5111

Julia Carson (MEMBER, INDIANA-10) 1339 LHOB 225-4011

William "Lacy" Clay (MEMBER, MISSOURI-01) 415 CHOB 225-2406

John Conyers (MEMBER, MICHIGAN-14) 2426 RHOB 225-5126

Danny Davis (MEMBER, ILLINOIS-07) 1222 LHOB 225-5006

Rosa DeLauro (MEMBER, CONNECTICUT-03) 2262 RHOB 225-3661

Lane Evans (MEMBER, ILLINOIS-17) 2211 RHOB 225-5905

Eni Faleomavaega (MEMBER, AMERICAN SAMOA) 2422 RHOB 225-8577

Sam Farr (MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-17) 1221 LHOB 225-2861

Chaka Fattah (MEMBER, PENNSYLVANIA-02) 1205 LHOB 225-4001

Bob Filner (MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-50) 2463 RHOB 225-8045

Barney Frank (MEMBER, MASSACHUSETTS-04) 2252 RHOB 225-5931

Luis Gutierrez (MEMBER, ILLINOIS-04) 2452 RHOB 225-8203

Earl Hilliard (MEMBER, ALABAMA-07) 1314 LHOB 225-2665

Maurice Hinchey (MEMBER, NEW YORK-26) 2431 RHOB 225-6335

Jesse Jackson, Jr (MEMBER, ILLINOIS-02) 313 CHOB 225-0773

Sheila Jackson-Lee (MEMBER, TEXAS-18) 403 CHOB 225-3816

Stephanie Tubbs Jones (MEMBER, OHIO-11) 1516 LHOB 225-7032

Marcy Kaptur (MEMBER, OHIO-09) 2366 RHOB 225-4146

Tom Lantos (MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-12) 2217 RHOB 225-3531

John Lewis (MEMBER, GEORGIA-05) 343 CHOB 225-3801

Jim McDermott (MEMBER, WASHINGTON-07) 1035 LHOB 225-3106

James P. McGovern (MEMBER, MASSACHUSETTS-03) 430 CHOB 225-6101

Carrie Meek (MEMBER, FLORIDA-17) 2433 RHOB 225-4506

George Miller (MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-07) 2205 RHOB 225-2095

Patsy Mink (MEMBER, HAWAII-02) 2210 RHOB 225-4906

Jerry Nadler (MEMBER, NEW YORK-08) 2334 RHOB 225-5635

Eleanor Holmes Norton (MEMBER, D.C.) 2136 RHOB 225-8050

John Olver (MEMBER, MASSACHUSETTS-01) 1027 LHOB 225-5335

Ed Pastor (MEMBER, ARIZONA-02) 2465 RHOB 225-4065

Donald Payne (MEMBER, NEW JERSEY-10) 2209 RHOB 225-3436

Nancy Pelosi (MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-08) 2457 RHOB 225-4965

Bobby Rush (MEMBER, ILLINOIS-01) 2416 RHOB 225-4372

Jan Schakowsky (MEMBER, ILLINOIS-09) 515 CHOB 225-2111

Jose Serrano (MEMBER, NEW YORK-16) 2342 RHOB 225-4361

Pete Stark (MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-13) 239 CHOB 225-5065

Bennie Thompson (MEMBER, MISSISSIPPI-02) 2432 RHOB 225-5876

John Tierney (MEMBER, MASSACHUSETTS-06) 120 CHOB 225-8020

Tom Udall (MEMBER, NEW MEXICO-03) 502 CHOB 225-6190

Nydia Velazquez (MEMBER, NEW YORK-12) 2241 RHOB 225-2361

Maxine Waters (MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-35) 2344 RHOB 225-2201

Diane Watson (MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-32) 2413 RHOB 225-7084

Mel Watt (MEMBER, NORTH CAROLINA-12) 2236 RHOB 225-1510

Henry Waxman (MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-29) 2204 RHOB 225-3976

Lynn Woolsey (MEMBER, CALIFORNIA-06) 2263 RHOB 225-5161

(LOL! What a load of socialist turds.)

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Neil Abercrombie (HI) Tammy Baldwin (WI) Xavier Bacerra (CA) Corrine Brown (FL) Sherrod Brown (FL) Michael Capuano (MA) Julia Carson (IN) William "Lacy" Clay (MO) John Conyers (MI)	Danny Davis (IL) Peter DeFazio (OR) Rosa DeLauro (CT) Lane Evans (IL) Eni Faleomavaega (Am. Samoa) Sam Farr (CA) Chaka Fattah (PA) Bill Filner (CA) Barney Frank (MA)	Raul Grijava (AZ) Luis Gutierrez (IL) Maurice Hinchey (NY) Jesse Jackson, Jr. (IL) Sheila Jackson-Lee (TX) Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH) Marcy Kaptur (OH) Dennis Kucinich (OH) Tom Lantos (CA)
Barbara Lee (CA) John Lewis (GA) Jim McDermott (WA) James P. McGovern (MA) George Miller (CA) Jerry Nadler (NY) Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) John Olver (MA) Major Owens (NY)	Ed Pastor (AZ) Donald Payne (NY) Nancy Pelosi (CA) Charles Rangel (NY)* Bobby Rush (IL) Bernie Sanders (VT) Jan Schakowsky (IL) Jose Serrano (NY) Hilda Solis (CA) Pete Stark (CA)	Bennie Thompson (MS) John Tierney (MA) Tom Udall (NM) Nydia Velazquez (NY) Maxine Waters (CA) Diane Watson (CA) Mel Watt (NC) Henry Waxman (CA) Lynn Woolsey (CA)
* denotes member July 2002, not on current list. At the present time, the list is accessible through Bernie Sanders' website, http://bernie.house.gov/pc/members.asp. The following "cached" view link is provided in case that list disappears: Progressive Caucus. (And if the cached list should "disappear" in the future, I have preserved it on my computer.)

	REPRESENTATIVES	ARTICLES
	John Conyers, Jr. (Member *) Michigan-14th District Bio/Voting Record/Next Election Immigration Actions Report Card Top Contributors	April 11, 2003, by Gail Schiller: Congressional Democrats call on education secretary to resign. ...for his recent comments saying he favors schools offering "Christian values." It was signed by Reps. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.; John Conyers, D-Mich.; Henry Waxman, D-Calif.; Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Eliot Engel, D-N.Y.; Sander Levin, D-Mich.; Jose Serrano, D-N.Y.; Mike Honda, D-Calif.; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y.; Ted Strickland, D-Ohio, and Joseph Hoeffel, D-Pa. March 19, 2003, Floor Remarks of John Conyers, Jr.: Special Order on Iraq March 18, 2003, by Sherrie Gossett: Conyers Backs Away From Impeachment March 17, 2003, by Jeff Gannon: Democrat Conyers to Protesters: Impeach Bush (freeREpublic mentioned) March 16, 2003, By Denise Barnes and Patrick Badgley: "We need a Regime Change in the United States" February 7, 2001, by Walter Williams: Does America owe reparations? September 26, 2000, Newsmax: Are Democrats Preparing to Gang Up on Boy Scouts?
	Danny K. Davis (Member *) Illinois-7th District Bio/Voting Record/Next Election Immigration Actions Report Card Top Contributors	April 11, 2003, by Dennis Conrad: Nuclear Industry Offers Congressional Aides Dutch Treat . . . Doug O'Brien, an aide to Rep. Mark Kirk, and Richard Boykin, an aide to Rep. Danny Davis, were treated by the Nuclear Energy Institute to about $3,500 each in transportation, lodging and meals [to the Netherlands], according to recently filed disclosure reports.....Joining the Illinois aides on the Dutch trip were two other congressional staffers from South Carolina and Tennessee, two lobbyists from the Nuclear Energy Institute and a lobbyist from Chicago-based Exelon, which is the parent company of ComEd and operates 11 nuclear reactors in Illinois. Exelon is one of NEI's largest dues-paying members. Danny Davis has received PAC contributions from Exelon Corp totaling $7,000: 6/21/2001, $1,000; 11/14/2001, $1,000; 3/26/2002, $3,000; 7/24/2002, $2,000; see Energy/Nat.Resources;Electric Utilities at PAC link.] March 6, 2003, by David Enrich: Impeaching Bush re Iraq April 2001, BuzzFlash Interview: Congressman Danny Davis
	Maurice D. Hinchey (Member *) New York-22nd District Bio/Voting Record/Next Election Immigration Actions Report Card Top Contributors	Statement of Congressman Hinchey on War in Iraq: "...President Bush's decision to end diplomatic efforts to avert war in Iraq was a grievous error that will result in needless loss of life. This step was no surprise. It has been clear for months that the president had made up his mind on this matter and would not be dissuaded by the facts...." Attacking Iraq Would Be Dangerous And Wrong March 27, 2003, New York Post: Massacring the Truth (NY Post Bashes Rep. Hinchey for Accusing US of Massacre in Iraq) March 26, 2003, by Patricia Doxsey: NY Rep. Hinchey Under Fire for Criticizing Bush's Policy March 23, 2003, Statement by Hinchey: Upstate NY Congressman Maurice Hinchey Accuses President Bush of Committing "Massacre" in Iraq February 20, 2003, by Tree McElhinney: Critics of the Post-Sept. 11 Legislation Say it Compromises Civil Liberties Guaranteed by the Constitution: Some Mid-Hudson Communities Are Joining a National Grassroots Movement Promoting Civil Liberties and Challenging the Federal USA Patriot Act October 23, 2002, by Patricia Doxsey: Hinchey and Hillary on the stump, on the attack: . . . He said . . . President Bush is responsible for renewed problems with North Korea. October 29, 2000, by Eightbits: Attention Southern Tier, NY freepers! It's time to get rid of Maurice Hinchey: . . . During the 1998 election he received almost $500,000 from PACs, almost half of the PAC money was from labor unions. . .
	Jesse Jackson, Jr. (Officer *) Illinois-2nd District Bio/Voting Record/Next Election Immigration Actions Report Card Top Contributors	Statement on Iraqi War, March 7, 2003: President Bush still has not made the case for launching a preemptive attack on Iraq at this time. . . .However, the logical conclusion of the President's anti-UN argument that the U.S. needs no permission' to launch a preemptive attack against Iraq is an argument to replace the rule of international law and collective security with the law of the jungle (survival of the fittest) and world anarchy. . . .The President's position did not seem to be based on the truth.... February 25, 2003, by David B. Rochelson: Jackson Jr. Argues for New Amendments: . . . Constitutional amendments must be put in place to ensure equality in education, health care and housing, U.S. Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr., D-Ill., said. . . . All of these inequalities stem from the delegation of too much power to the states, Jackson said. February 25, 2003, by Kate Randall: Jesse Jackson and the Chicago Dance Club Tragedy: . . . Democratic Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., also sprang to Kyles' defense . . . The Jacksons have good reason to rally around the club's owner, despite the fact that he was operating the facility illegally. Dwain Kyles is an active supporter of Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition....
	Sheila Jackson-Lee (Member *) Texas-18th District Bio/Voting Record/Next Election Immigration Actions Report Card Top Contributors	April 14, 2003, by Jeff Johnson: Democrats Predicted Doom in Iraq, Now Want Control March 3, 2003, by Rachel Graves: Jackson Lee Unfazed by Jeers at Rally . . . Jackson Lee opposes war in Iraq. She was greeted with a mixture of cheers and boos as she approached the podium and was then drowned out by the crowd's chant of "USA! USA! USA!" and "Bush! Bush! Bush!" She was accompanied by police as she left the event.... January 21, 2003, Press Release: Sheila Jackson Lee website: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee joins peace groups to seek repeal of the authorization for military force against Iraq....Congresswoman Jackson Lee introduced legislation to repeal the Use of Force Against Iraq Resolution signed into law last October. August 19, 2002, Newsmax: Enron: A Democrat Scandal, Time Says: . . . Ken Bentsen, D-Texas, is the congressman who received the most money from Enron in the past 12 years. He got $42,750. The second-largest receiver was Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, who received $38,000.... February 6, 2002, Newsmax: Sheila Jackson Lee, Limousine Liberal: . . . On her web site Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee claims, "As your Representative in Congress, I feel that it is my duty to ensure that the government tirelessly works on your behalf." But in reality she seems to think taxpayers must work tirelessly on her behalf so she can be chauffeured one block to work. . . . Jackson Lee has a staff member pick her up in a government car each morning to take her to work. That might not be a head-turning event except that she lives . . . in an apartment building whose entrance is 200 paces - yes, paces - from the building where her office is located." February 20, 1999, by Andres Petit The Leadership of the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus visits Cuba to Evaluate the U.S. Embargo, Meets with Castro: . . . Rep. Maxine Waters, D-California, and Chair of the Black Caucus, Rep. Earl Hilliard, D-Alabama,Vice Chair of the CBC, and Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, Whip of the CBC, were joined by 3 additional CBC members and others in a delegation that arrived in Cuba on Feb 17th. . . .
	Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick Michigan-13th District Bio/Voting Record/Next Election Immigration Actions Report Card Top Contributors	March 11, 2003, by Stephanie A. Crockett: Black Lawmakers Scrutinized for Accepting Expensive Trips:. . . Reps. Jackson, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-Mich.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) were recently sanctioned for accepting an all-expense-paid Caribbean cruise last year .... February 3, 2003: Thousands Support Affirmative Action Through Protest: . . . Among the speakers, there were . . . U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick . . .
	Dennis J. Kucinich (Co-Chair *) Ohio-10th District Bio/Voting Record/Next Election Immigration Actions Report Card Top Contributers	March 13, 2003, Statement by Kucinich on Iraqi War: President's War Abroad Increases Likelihood of Terror at Home. Recent news reports that our nation will go to a dark orange' terror alert status if war breaks out is a stark reminder that the President's rush to war in Iraq is making our country, and the world, less safe. March 13, 2003, by Kim Campbell: He Sees a Society Ready to Ban War: . . . Kucinich...insists the time is ripe for humanity to make that giant leap in conflict resolution. . . .That's why the visibility of the peace movement at this time becomes so important, because government is proceeding without listening.... March 12, 2003, by Sabrina Eaton and Stephen Koff: Kucinich Used Divisive Politics in Early Years, Politicians Say February 24, 2003, by Paul M. Weyrich: Dennis Kucinich Can Bring Pro-Life Democrats Back From the Dead: . . . He has reversed his position on abortion. The Congressman has taken pro-life positions since entering the Congress. But now, he says, his perspective on this issue has been broadened.... Global Renaissance Alliance Website About Congressman Dennis Kucinich's Proposed Legislation to Establish a Cabinet-level Department of Peace
	Jim McDermott (Member *) Washington-7th District Bio/Voting Record/Next Election Immigration Actions Report Card Top Contributors	March 26, 2003, by Patriot62: "Baghdad Jim" McDermott Sponsors Resolution to Rescind Authorization for War March 16, 2003, Gannett News Service: House Vote on a Bill to Limit Malpractice Awards in Lawsuits Against Health Care Providers: . . . A yea' vote was to pass the bill. Among those voting "no" were . . . Jim McDermott." October 6, 2002, by Patriot62: A Sunday With McDermott and the Hate America Crowd October 2, 2002, by Chris Weinkopf: Saddam's Three Stooges Sept. 29, 2002, Newsmax: Lott to McDermott: Shut Up and Come Home McDermott Statement, September 12, 2002: ...I have not yet seen evidence of proximate nuclear, biological or chemical threat that demands immediate military action. July 11, 2000, by Agustvn Blazquez with the collaboration of Jaums Sutton Castro's Cockroaches: . . . Washington's James McDermot is a fanatical supporter of Castro and the infamous Venceremos Brigades...
	Jose Serrano (Member *) New York-16th District Bio/Voting Record/Next Election Immigration Actions Report Card Top Contributors	March 11, 2003, Thor Halvorssen: Comandante Chavez's Friends: . . . Hugo Chavez Supports Saddam Hussein and Terrorism. Several Congressional Democrats Support Chavez. What's Wrong With This Picture? Late last year, 16 U.S. congressmen voiced their approval for Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. Representatives Barney Frank, John Conyers, Chaka Fattah, Jan Schakowsky, Jose Serrano, and others complained in a letter to President Bush that the United States was not adequately protecting Chavez.... August 6, 2001, Alba Herrera-Rohdes: A Suggestion for U.S. Reps. Rangel, Serrano, Dodd and Waters: . . . In light of the recent vote in the House to lift the travel ban against Cuba, and knowing how much you admire Mr. Fidel Castro and his revolution, I suggest to you the following: . . . September 2000, by Hisham Aidi: Castro Revisits Harlem: Representative Maxine Waters (D) of California and Representative Jose Serrano (D) of New York, both long-time proponents of normalization of relations with Cuba, both referred to Giuliani's abrasiveness in their introductory remarks at Castro's Harlem speech. . . . Serrano recalled Castro's visit to the Bronx in 1995 and extended the greetings of New York's Puerto Rican community. "Thank you for solving a political problem in New York City.... June 6, 2000, Dr. Miguel A. Faria, Jr.: In Bed With Castro January 6, 1999, AfroCuban History: a Time Line II, 1900 - the present: U.S. Representative Jose E. Serrano introduces H.R.256, a bill to repeal the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 and the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996.
	Pete Stark (Member *) California-13th District Bio/Voting Record/Next Election Immigration Actions Report Card Top Contributors	March 20, 2003, Newsmax: Rep. Stark Accuses Bush of Terrorism February 26, 2003, by Lisa Friedman: 'No' Does Not Always Mean 'No' in Politics: WASHINGTON -- Just because a politician votes "no" on a bill doesn't mean he or she can't claim credit for it once it passes. That, at least is what Reps. George Miller, D-Martinez; Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto; Pete Stark, D-Fremont; and Lynn Woolsey, D-Marin; demonstrated recently when they broadcasted their legislative prowess in obtaining money for local flood control projects, roads, buses and schools. The only problem is, they actually voted against that local funding.... [article archived; use search term: "flood control projects" on link provided above.] January 25, 2003: San Francisco Athiests Award: . . . Congressmen Mike Honda and Pete Stark were honored with the First Amendment award for their courageous refusal to endorse the resolution condemning the Pledge decision issued by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in June.... March 20, 2002: Comments by California Congressman Pete Stark During House Debate on Concurrent Resolution on the Budget, Fiscal Year 2003: . . . "the overwhelming desire of the Republican Party is to destroy programs in the Federal Government, except those few intended for the very wealthy." [excerpt] March 20, 2002, Congressional Records: Pete Stark Compares Republicans to Nazis (on the record) June 16, 2001, Editorial, The Florida Times Union: Stark Raving Mad [Rep. Pete Stark's Vicious Attack on Rep. J. C. Watts]
	Diane Watson (Member *) California-33rd District Bio/Voting Record/Next Election Immigration Actions Report Card Top Contributors	Diane Watson's Statement on Iraqi War: Despite the steady build-up of U.S. forces in the Gulf region and the Administration's unwavering commitment to the use of force against Iraq, our government still has not made a credible case for going to war at this time.... December 19, 2002, by Laurence A. Elder: A Lott of Double Standards: . . . Congresswoman Diane Watson, D-Calif., demands Lott's resignation. . . . Watson said [in 1985], "[Ward Connely's] married to a white woman. He wants to be white. He wants a colorless society. He has no ethnic pride. He doesn't want to be black." At least Lott apologized, whereas Watson later defiantly said, "That's right. I said it.".... February 22, 2002, by Edgar B. Anderson: Leftists Rally Against Bush in Los Angeles February 2002, AP: Possible End to Cuban Embargo: . . . Recently, U.S. Representatives from California; including Diane Watson (D.-CA), Sam Farr (D.-CA), Mike Thompson (D.-CA) and Bob Filner (D.-CA), traveled to Cuba to meet with Cuban President Fidel Castro . . . When queried about the Bush administration's continued support for the embargo, Rep. Watson told the AP, "That might be the executive branch's view, but that is not the legislative branch's, and we make policy." February 2002, by Dan Clarke: Congressional Trip to Cuba: . . . Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) had dinner with Fidel Castro Sunday night, February 10th [2002]. . . . Thompson was part of a delegation from the House of Representatives, which visited Cuba over the weekend. The group, all Democrats, included Sam Farr of Monterey, Bob Filner of San Diego and Diane Watson of Los Angeles.
	Lynn Woolsey (Vice-Chair *) California-6th District Bio/Voting Record/Next Election Immigration Actions Report Card Top Contributors	April 11, 2003, by David Lightman: Aid Groups Hindered by War and Politics . . . "If the Defence Department runs the effort, you'll know we are not there to help the Iraqi people. You'll know we are there because this is a military coup," said Representative Lynn Woolsey. April 10, 2003, by Clark Mason: Woolsey backs Department of Peace bill March 12, 2003, Woolsey Statement on Iraqi War: Woolsey Against "First Strike" Military Policy March 10, 2003, AP: Bill Introduced to Repeal the Library and Bookstore Provisions of Patriot Act . . . Rep. Bernie Sanders, Ind.-VT., introduced the bill . . . its 23 co-sponsors include four San Francisco Bay area Democrats -- Reps. Barbara Lee of Oakland, Lynn Woolsey of Petaluma, Sam Farr of Carmel and Pete Stark of Fremont.... September 25, 2002, by Stephen F. Hayes: Woolsey thinks that the United States should learn about women's rights from Saudi Arabia . . ."Despite the United States' claim to be a leader of human rights, we are the only industrialized country that has not ratified CEDAW," she writes. "It's time to abandon this unfavorable distinction." And the way to do that, apparently, is not to continue safeguarding the rights of women as America does, but to sign an anti-discrimination agreement that boasts signatories such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Nigeria. February 9, 2001, Newsmax.com: Congressional Reagan-Haters Flip Gipper a Birthday Bird . . . What do Oregon's Peter DeFazio, Texan Eddie Bernice Johnson, and Californians Barbara Lee, Fortney "Pete" Stark, Maxine Waters, Loretta Sanchez, and Lynn Woolsey have in common? The seven House Democrats all refused to back a completely innocuous congressional resolution Tuesday wishing former President Reagan a happy birthday.... June 23, 2000, by David Limbaugh: The Raging Culture War: . . . Apparently frustrated that the Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts have a right to bar homosexuals from serving as troop leaders, California congresswoman Lynn Woolsey plans to introduce legislation to repeal the federal charter of the Boy Scouts, granted in 1916. "We're not saying they're bad. We're saying intolerance is bad," said Woolsey.....
* denotes position (Officer or Member) in Progressive Caucus

Socialism in America's Congress:
A Primer

I. Socialism Defined and its Objectives:

II. Warning to Americans:

The Progressive Caucus:

Who Are They and What Are They About?

I. Who They Are:

II. What They Are About:

12 Members of the Progressive Caucus