"The thing is, it helps when people stand up to them, it gives everyone hope. I used to notice when you did it Harry."
~ J.K. Rowling
Beginning this week, Senator Reid, the President of the United States is going to ask the Congress to allocate a further fifty billion of our dollars, and a few hundred more of our sons, fathers, wifes, husbands, mothers and daughters for continued military operations in Iraq. I urge you, sir, to do everything within your power to say with your own voice and with the voices of as many of the Democratic Senators whom you lead an unequivocal "NO".
I know that the mathematics of the Senate make it unlikely that you gain a majority for that position. I know that it would be impossible for you to even gain cloture on such a proposal. That is why I opened this letter with that quotation, from the best-selling children’s book of all time.
A wide majority of Americans oppose losing more lives and wealth in a fruitless war ineptly conducted by the current administration. You know this. Every poll for over a year has told you this. You also know that in the last election, this nation overwhelmingly voted for representatives of your party in what was significantly an attempt by the American people to change course in this war.
For over a year, the majority of the American people have done everything they can to oppose this war, from mass demonstrations to mass turnout at the polls. But, because of the length of time between elections for the President and Senators, there is only so much we can do quickly. Most Americans participate in the war in Iraq only via taxation. There is only a certain extent anymore to which we can resist.
Despite the long time that we have been the majority, those of us who oppose this war are of late losing hope. Despite our massive reorganization of the Congress, we have more soldiers in Iraq today than we did in October of 2006. Despite massive protests, we have been steadily ignored. And with many candidates for the Democratic nomination for President stating that the US deployment to Iraq could continue for years, the majority of Americans are being told that no matter how hard they resist, they have little reason to hope that those with power will heed our demands to end this war.
So perhaps you cannot stop the Senate from giving the President the funds and authority to continue this war in the coming vote. Perhaps you will be called a traitor to our troops by the Republicans (you will be regardless) and an unwise risk-taker by the press (again, you can’t get out of that anyhow) if you choose to stand up to the White House and their demands.
But if you stand up to them, you can give hope to the majority of Americans, many of whom are losing it quickly. You can give them hope that what they think matters to the people who lead them. You can give them hope that their vote counts on the things that matter most. You can give everyone hope that if we all just stand up to those who attempt to browbeat us into submission, we can end this war and mourn fewer of our loved ones. You, sir, have the power to give that gift, to millions and millions of Americans.
Be a hero for us, sir. Thank you.
Senator Harry Reid
528 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3542 / Fax: 202-224-7327
Toll Free for Nevadans: 1-866-SEN-REID (736-7343) -Restricted to calls originating from area codes 775 and 702