I faxed Congressman Baron Hill, IN-09, regarding the Congressional resolution denouncing moveon.org, for which he voted, and later faxed him pointing out that to be consistent Congress should condemn Rush Limbaugh for his 'phony soldiers' attack.
Never a Blue Dog to disappoint a rational progressive, Hill responded with two letters which are a perfect illustration of the blinding hypocrisy and logical disconnect that is sinking Congress and this nation like a stone.
In his first letter dated Oct. 16, 2007, Hill thanks me for contacting him regarding H. Res. 644, "a bill reaffirming the commitment of the U.S. House of Representatives to respecting the independent and professional reputation of General David H. Petraeus and all members" of the armed forces.
He goes on to say "This bill both reaffirms Members of Congress' respect for military leaders, particularly General Petraeus, and members of our Armed Forces, while also condemning MoveOn.org's advertisements portraying General Petraeus in a negative manner."
He sums his position up with "While MoveoOn.org is an independent organization and, as all Americans do, has the right to exercise freedom of speech, I do not believe such comments are conducive to the conversation we must have on the current strategy in Iraq."
In his second letter, dated Oct. 9, 2007 (I am still trying to figure out the chronology his clerks were using, or if they just got one letter out sooner than the other), in response to my demand that Rush Limbaugh held to the same high standard, this was his response:
"Regardless of Mr. Limbaugh's thoughtless and inappropriate comments, I believe that this issue takes away from the real business of Congress, such as the war in Iraq. Though I may disagree with some of his beliefs, Mr. Limbaugh is still a private citizen and, as all Americans, has the right to exercise his freedom of speech. Should a bill addressing this issue come before the full House for a vote, I will certainly take your thoughts into consideration."
Of course it is pretty clear that supporting a resolution to condemn MoveOn.org was worth Congress time, according to Hill, while Limbaugh's "phony soldiers" diatribe certainly does not rise to the same high moral and ethical standard our Representatives are clearly driven by in their ever serious "converstation ... on the current strategy in Iraq", since his remarks were just 'thoughtless and inappropriate comments'.
I voted for, donated to, and made calls through MoveOn.org's brilliant phone bank system set up before the last election, specifically on Hill's behalf, on my dime.
At the rate he is going, this will not happen again. I will support his primary opponent if that person is a rational progressive who will refuse to kowtow to the criminal right wing cabal destroying this nation, something Hill has made it clear he seems incapable of doing. Heck, I may even register and run myself. At least the voters could vote for an honest Democrat who truly believes in freedom of speech, not hypocritical political expediency and kowtowing to right wing manipulation of Congress.