I’m too young to have been a witness to the turmoil caused by the Vietnam War. I was barely walking when Elvis died. But the fact is that the Vietnam years were a tumultuous time for this country. And there are forces on both sides in the current election campaign that are trying to make Vietnam an issue.
This morning while checking in with the latest Pajamahadeen report on CBS and the fraudulent “Bush is going to bring back the draft emails”, (and enjoying my blueberry muffin and large coffee), I came across an item in the Denver Post that made me scratch my head.
Kerry supporters at the University of Colorado are posting signs all around campus with the blazing headline “YOU’RE GONNA GET DRAFTED” with the sub heading, “there’s no way around it”. Students For Kerry claim it’s just a “get out the vote” effort, to draw attention to the serious issues in this close election.
Yeah, and if you believe that, I have some prime real estate in Northern Arizona with great views of the Grand Canyon that I’ll sell you real cheap.
Last night CBS News “reported” on draft fears of a mother whose boys are of draft age, hoax emails from a fake government email address proclaiming that the draft is coming back….It’s not just a “get out the vote” effort. These sly, seemingly innocent messages are all designed to make President Bush look like the guy who is saying he doesn’t want the draft, but going through the “back door” with his “secret plan” to bring back the draft.
The “filmmaker” Michael Moore stated yesterday at the University of Michigan stated “If George Bush is elected in November, there is going to be a draft. … And if you’re 18 to 26 years old, you are going to face the draft. This is what he’s got in mind”. When Michael Moore speaks, Democratic operatives and former Presidents think he speaks the truth.
Can’t blame them really, they’re getting their marching orders from their candidate.
Unfortunately, CBS News and Students for Kerry, and the “filmmaker” didn’t do much research on this issue.
Both the Bush and Kerry campaigns have said they do not support using the draft to grow the military, yet we know which one of these candidates tends to change his mind. So let’s take a look at a few bills introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate specifically dealing with the draft. And if you still think it’s just a “get out the vote” effort, we can discuss that real estate.
House Bill H.R. 163 would require a mandatory draft for every American, including women. Summary of the bill from the Library of Congress “Declares that it is the obligation of every U.S. citizen, and every other person residing in the United States, between the ages of 18 and 26 to perform a two-year period of national service, unless exempted, either as a member of an active or reserve component of the armed forces or in a civilian capacity that promotes national defense. Requires induction into national service by the President”
Translation – Everyone spends two years in the military. No draft, no lottery, no deferments, no random selection, women included. EVERYONE. Co-sponsor Rep. Pete Stark (D) – CA stated on the floor of the house in January of 2003, “reinstituting the draft may seem unnecessary to some. But, it will ensure all Americans share in the cost and sacrifice of war.”
The reasoning behind this bill, as stated in the text of the bill, is to spread the burden of a draft universally across the populace. Rangel’s rationale is that rich people won’t be able to escape serving, and the poor won’t be forced to serve in the military disproportionally to the population. As Rangel himself said “there would be more equitable representation of people making sacrifices”. That’s a fair argument, and debatable in its own right. But the fact remains, Rangel and crew want to bring back the draft.
Who are the other sponsors of this bill? I’m glad you asked.
Main Sponsor
Charles B. Rangel (D)
Co-Sponsors
Shelia Jackson-Lee (D) – TX
Alcee Hastings (D) – FL
Donna Christensen (D) – VI – St. Croix
Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) – DC (withdrew support on 6/21/2004)
Corrine Brown (D) – FL
Wm. Lacy Clay (D) – MO
Elijah Cummings (D) – MD
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D) – IL
James Moran (D) –VA
Nydia M. Velazquez (D) – NY
Jim McDermott (D) – WA
John Conyers, Jr. (D) – MI
John Lewis (D) – GA
Pete Stark (D) – CA
Neil Abercrombie (D) – HI
I’m sure some of the names are familiar to you (McDermott, Conyers, Lee).
The sponsor of the Senate’s equivalent bill, Senate Bill S.89 is sponsored by Ernest “Fritz” Hollings (D) – SC. You remember him don’t you? He said the Jews were responsible for the war in Iraq.
Notice anything interesting about the sponsors? I’ll give you a hint, they all have the same two things in common. Give up? They’re all Democrats, and they all endorsed Kerry. If President Bush wanted to reinstate the draft, I doubt he would ask this group of folks to introduce his bill into the House. Senator Kerry these are your supporters, not President Bush’s. Who keeps referring to the war in Iraq as a “Quagmire” ? Who keeps comparing the war in Iraq as another Vietnam? Who can’t seem to get out of the Vietnam Era? Who wants to reinstate the draft? I wonder.
So, anyone interested in that Northern Arizona real estate?
UPDATE Bill over at INDC gets it
UPDATE #2 CBS is now trying to cover up the advocasy groups the “mother with boys of draft age” is involved in. Head on over to Rathergate and check it out.
Shocking? No. Unnacceptable? Yes.
UPDATE #3 Michelle Malkin has the goods on NBC’s rathergate style of reporting on the draft. A nice little story from my Alma Matter no less.