Posted on TerryWatch.com.
I am officially dubbing this the vote the worst I have seen to date:
H. CON. RES 200; Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the immediate and unconditional release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
413 - 2 - 17
Before I go any further, here is a little background (Omaha World Herald):
Myanmar has been under military dictatorship for years and has been in the news lately as the International community begins to put pressure on the government. Pro-democracy activists (mostly monks) have been campaigning throughout the country and are being cracked down on by the military. Many of them have been killed. This has caught the attention of the U.S. government sparking bipartisan teams (i.e. Laura Bush, Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell (very vocal), Nancy Pelosi, etc...) as well as China, Europe, the U.N., and many others.
Suu Kyi, 62, has been under house arrest in Myanmar for almost 12 of the last 18 years. She is considered the head of the pro-democracy movement for decades and is often compared with Mandela and Gandhi, and the mere mention of her name enrages the military leadership. She is the symbol of this movement in Myanmar.
Just this week, Laura Bush demanded her release.
On Oct 2nd, Congress passed the aforementioned bill almost unanimously.
Of the two who voted against it; one was Rep. Ron Paul, keeping his isolationist stance consistent, and other was (and I was literally shocked by this) Rep. Lee Terry.
Rep. Paul I get. He votes against U.S. action from Myanmar to the war in Iraq. But Rep. Terry has said repeatedly that the world should be safe for democracy. It is one of his justifications for continued military involvement in Iraq.
I admit that the resolution is a small gesture but at least it puts America on record decrying the actions of a tyrannical regime which denies its people democracy.
So why would Congressman Terry vote against freeing the leader of the democratic movement in Myanmar?
I honestly do not have an answer to this question. I called Congressman Terry's DC office to find out and I should receive a phone call soon - I can not imagine a reasoning that justifies this vote.
It is unconscionable.
This just proves how disconnected Congressman Terry is. This is a serious issue, and we have a chance to make a small gesture - doesn't commit troops, funds, or anything - but he voted against it making him as disconnected on foreign issues as Ron Paul.
Come on! And I hear people say this can not be beaten in an election, well I say he can. I don't care who his opponent is, Sen. Lathrop, Sen. White, Jim Esch, Councilman Suttle, it doesn't matter. He is beatable - now field a candidate!
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