Six House Democrats Say Virginia Lawmaker Should Not Seek Re-Election (Moran)

TBO.com ^

[Sub-Driver]

Six House Democrats Say Virginia Lawmaker Should Not Seek Re-Election The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Six Democratic House members called on Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., not to seek re-election in 2004 in the wake of controversial comments about Jews and the possibility of war with Iraq. Moran's comments are "not merely wrong, offensive and ignorant," the six, all Jewish lawmakers, wrote in a letter Wednesday, "They are grossly irresponsible, and were given at a sensitive time when inflammatory comments - regardless of outrageous factual flaws - can unleash unintended and dangerous consequences."

Moran's office had no immediate comment.

The Virginia lawmaker sparked a controversy several days ago when he said, "If it were not for the strong support of the Jewish community for this war with Iraq we would not be doing this. ... The leaders of the Jewish community are influential enough that they could change the direction of where this is going and I think they should."

Moran apologized for his comments on Tuesday. He said he framed his comments as he did because he was responding to a questioner who said she was Jewish. "I regret doing that," he said.

In a letter to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, the six House Democrats said that Moran's comments "violate the basic standards we hold ourselves to as Democrats."

"We hope that as Jim reflects on his actions, he will decide not to seek re-election to the House of Representatives. Should he seek re-election in 2004, however, we cannot and will not support his candidacy."

The letter was signed by Reps. Henry Waxman and Tom Lantos of California, Martin Frost of Texas, Sander M. Levin of Michigan, Benjamin Cardin of Maryland and Nita M. Lowey of New York.

[Sub-Driver]

Dems cleaning house?

[Vets_Husband_and_Wife]

Just asking him to NOT RUN again is NOT good enough!!

Where is the outrage? This is the epitomy of hypocracy, in that the Dems SCREAMED like BANSHEE's when Sen. Lott said something that wasn't even as clear in its intent!!!

[Pushi]

Don't you just love it when this happens.

[HOYA97]

Will wonders never cease...(/sarcasm)

[angkor]

Where is the outrage?

Didn't you know that the Rats are all anti-Semites?

[Lucky Lyn]

Just try to convince me now that there isn't a double standard!!

[Bob J]

Cool. They're starting to eat their own.

[timydnuc]

The wonderful thing about this is that it ain't going to happen. From what I understand this guy is a real douchebag. He's bankrupt, he has assault charges he's dealing with, and he got a divorce, and he desparately needs his congressional salary to stay alive. So it doesn't look like he is "going softly into that good night" anytime soon. Which will prove what kind of crud fills the RAT ranks. Priceless PR for the Pubbies if we can get the news out.

I'll be watching Dan Rather for this story tonight...........NOT!!!!

[MinorityRepublican]

Cool. They're starting to eat their own.

About time. What's really annoying about the Democrats is that they do nothing but to obstruct, obstruct and obstruct.

[amused]

Good for them.

[Eva]

I agree, not good enough! I can't believe that Lantos, with his background is not more vocal on this.

An American by choice, Tom Lantos was born in Budapest, Hungary, on February 1, 1928. He was 16 years old when Nazi Germany occupied his native country. As a teenager, he was a member of the anti-Nazi underground and later of the anti-Communist student movement. Tom was awarded an academic scholarship to study in the United States, and he arrived here in 1947. He received a B.A. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Washington in Seattle and later earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Give it time.... It took a few weeks for the outcry over Lott to build.

[Mo1]

Fox News just did a reporting on this .. Seems Mr. Moran has a loooong history and questionable background

[flamefront]

Finally, the woodshed!

Now about that Clinton fellow ...

[NEPA]

Moran is a Virginia rep but when I heard him interviewed on Fox today he sounded more like he's from New England.

He has serious baggage. Questionable financial dealings, domestic abuse, assualting an 8 year old accusing him of trying to steal his car. Now this Jewish comment. It seems to me he is ripe for the picking in '04 if the R's want to fight for the seat.

[savedbygrace]

Moran is Ranking Member of the Legislative Sub-Committee of the Appropriations Committee.

Pelosi should force him out of that leadership position. Immediately.

[b4its2late]

The letter was signed by Reps. Henry Waxman and Tom Lantos of California, Martin Frost of Texas, Sander M. Levin of Michigan, Benjamin Cardin of Maryland and Nita M. Lowey of New York.

"The pot calling the kettle black" comes to mind....

[DoughtyOne]

I don't recall them waiting for Lott not to run for office again. Do you?

[fifteendogs]

The letter was signed by Reps. Henry Waxman and Tom Lantos of California, Martin Frost of Texas, Sander M. Levin of Michigan, Benjamin Cardin of Maryland and Nita M. Lowey of New York.

I have never held any of these people in respect and I still don't, but I am impressed that they have any idea of what's right and wrong.