Sun 20 Nov 2005
Whereas Congress and the American People have not been shown clear, measurable progress toward establishment of stable and improving security in Iraq or of a stable and improving economy in Iraq, both of which are essential to “promote the emergence of a democratic government”;
Whereas additional stabilization in Iraq by U, S. military forces cannot be achieved without the deployment of hundreds of thousands of additional U S. troops, which in turn cannot be achieved without a military draft;
Whereas more than $277 billion has been appropriated by the United States Congress to prosecute U.S. military action in Iraq and Afghanistan;
Whereas, as of the drafting of this resolution, 2,079 U.S. troops have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas U.S. forces have become the target of the insurgency,
Whereas, according to recent polls, over 80% of the Iraqi people want U.S. forces out of Iraq;
Whereas polls also indicate that 45% of the Iraqi people feel that the attacks on U.S. forces are justified;
Whereas, due to the foregoing, Congress finds it evident that continuing U.S. military action in Iraq is not in the best interests of the United States of America, the people of Iraq, or the Persian Gulf Region, which were cited in Public Law 107-243 as justification for undertaking such action;
Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That:
Section 1. The deployment of United States forces in Iraq, by direction of Congress, is hereby terminated and the forces involved are to be redeployed at the earliest practicable date.
Section 2. A quick-reaction U.S. force and an over-the-horizon presence of U.S Marines shall be deployed in the region.
Section 3 The United States of America shall pursue security and stability in Iraq through diplomacy.
These words are Representative John Murtha’s resolution for redeployment of American troops in Iraq.
If you read this and agree with it you are a coward. You are a traitor. You are helping Islamic terrorists kill American soldiers. You are un-American. Not just Congressman John Murtha… you. It doesn’t matter if you are a veteran. It doesn’t matter if you lost a member of your family fighting in Iraq. It doesn’t matter if you have been decorated for courage under fire fighting to protect your country. You are a coward.
That is what Jean Schmidt is saying. That is what Danny Bubp is saying. That is what every person who supports Jean Schmidt is saying. Remember that. That is what they stand for. Nothing more, and nothing less.
Now I know what Jean Schmidt and her supporters stand for, but I can’t believe that it is what all Republicans stand for. Is that what you believe? Is that the message of your party? Is that the face you want to put before the American voters? In the case of Ohio’s 2nd district the answer would have to be yes. Am I wrong?

November 20th, 2005 at 10:13 am
This is a message to all people who live, work and raise their families in Southern Ohio. I have been knocking on doors and speaking with families all over Southern Ohio in order to be your next Congressman. By November 2006, I will have tried to knock on as many as 50,000 families’ doors. I believe that serving as your next Congressman is the absolute greatest service that any person could ever offer to Southern Ohio and I believe that I am going to win.
I have a few comments about Jean Schmidt’s remarks on the House floor. I saw her stand and call Congressman John Murtha a coward. The next day, I saw the President defend her hateful remarks. Many years ago, when I grew up in a small town in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Jack Murtha was my Congressman… I voted for Jack Murtha… Jean Schmidt, you’re no Jack Murtha.
Jack Murtha has served the United States Congress and the people of his district for more than 30 years. He lives in a Congressional District that has lots of hard working people who love their families, lots of sportsmen and deer hunters, lots of people who make up the middle class of America, lots of small businesses, lots of people who worry about everyday problems that families have to deal with, lots of people just like the people who live in the Southern Ohio District that I am trying to represent.
Before he served the US Congress, Jack Murtha served his country in Korea and then again in Vietnam. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star with a Combat “V”, TWO Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Medallion of Gallantry. This man took at least 2 bullets for his country and he is the last person that anybody would ever think about calling a coward; except Jean Schmidt… I cannot tell you how proud it makes me feel to be the only Democrat running against Jean Schmidt at a moment like this.
During his years as a Congressman, he was the Chairman of the House Committee on Defense Appropriations. He voted for every military spending bill imaginable. He supported every military action. He never saw a defense program that he didn’t love. In his free time, he visits wounded American soldiers at Military Hospitals in the US and abroad. Jack Murtha is the face and the voice of the American soldier in the US House of Representatives. There is no greater ally to the American soldier than John Murtha.
When Jack Murtha made his announcement calling for the beginning of an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, I knew there had to be a legitimate reason because he is the absolute last person who would ever leave an American soldier behnid… His reasoning was direct and simple; there are not enough American troops in Iraq to accomplish the mission. The sons and daughters of Southern Ohio (and all of America) have become the primary target of the insurgency in Iraq.
So far, I am the only Democratic Candidate who has declared his candidacy for US Congress against Jean Schmidt in the Southern Ohio 2nd District which stretches from Pike and Scioto Counties all the way to the Eastern suburbs of Cincinnati. There are 630,000 people who live in my Congressional District and I have begun knocking on 50,000 of their doors. The importance of what I am trying to do can never be understated. This is not about politics for me; it’s about people’s lives. It’s about the American Economy, the American Family and the American Dream. With goodness and love in my heart, I just know that I will be successful but I need each of you to believe in me and to join me in this fight for a better United States of America. Believe in me as much as I believe in you.
And to see the true snapshot of character that my opponent demonstrated on the floor of the House of Representatives against John Murtha, a true American hero, is indicative of everything that is wrong with our US Congress. Her action has fueled my fire even more. I am proud to be running against her. This is an honorable thing that I am trying to do…
We have become a government of divisiveness with a message of hatred from the highest officials in America. It is a sad state of human affairs when the White House and people like Congresswoman Jean Schmidt use such evil tactics to play politics with the lives of the American soldiers. Their political rhetoric does nothing to solve the problems of the American people.
There will be a better tomorrow but it has to begin with today. I need all of you to spread this message far and wide across every hill and every valley of Southern Ohio so we can finally elect a Representative who will do everything imaginable to guarantee a better life for the families of all Americans. Let’s send a message to Washington and tell them about the kind of representative that we want to have…
Thank you and God Bless,
Jim Parker
Democratic Candidate for US Congress
Southern Ohio - 2nd District - 2006
http://www.jimparker4ad.blogspot.com/
November 20th, 2005 at 10:51 am
“Not just Congressman John Murtha… you” That is, indeed, the crux of it all.
November 20th, 2005 at 11:03 am
Ann,
You know that we have our differences but I can personally guarantee that we are nowhere near as far apart as the person that we have now and you and all the rest of the people of Southern Ohio. We have a representative who is, by far, an extremist. Extremists are not capable of bringing people together to solve problems. I am the voice of the middle of America, the voice of families, the voice of the middle class…
I care about the people of my District with everything that I am. I’ve been working my heart out to be their next Congressman and, after what happened the other night, it would take the Ohio National Guard to stop me.
Join me in this fight for everything that is good about the people of Southern Ohio. Join me in this fight for a great economy, for small business growth, for the rights of families, and children, and sportsmen. Join me in this fight for THE LIFE OF EVERY AMERICAN SOLDIER. The politics of hatred in Southern Ohio are over. This is the day that we take back the American Dream for everybody!
I’ll tell you a secret… I’m not doing this for me and that’s why I know that I can win. When I meet people, I see it in their eyes. I feel it in their hearts. They are starving for leadership. For an answer. I’ve led a life of leadership. And now I’m going to continue my tradition for ALL the people of Southern Ohio.
Jim Parker
Democratic Candidate for US COngress
and for ALL of Southern Ohio
Your next United States Congressman
November 20th, 2005 at 3:14 pm
Nicely said, Jim.
November 21st, 2005 at 1:13 am
The point behind the rhetoric
Jim Parker, the only announced Democratic candidate for Jean Schmidt’s Congressional seat, has essentially posted a stump speech in the commentary of Ohio’s 2nd. Among other things, he says…
November 21st, 2005 at 8:00 am
This is not a speech… This is a Mission.
John Kerry does not stand by John Murtha. Nancy Pelosi does not stand by John Murtha. Harry Reid does not stand by John Murtha.
I DO. Sometimes, true leadership demands not following the pack but taking the lead.
May God protect the lives of every American soldier and keep them free from harm.
Jim Parker, Democrat for Congress
A Different Kind of Congressman…
Southern Ohio, 2nd District, 2006
November 21st, 2005 at 10:42 am
Dang Jim… you’re on fire.