Constituents Urge Congress to Put Brakes On Bush Administration's Rush to War; MoveOn.Org Petition Signed by More Than 65,000 People During the First 72 Hours

Business Wire, August 27, 2002

News Editors/Political Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 27, 2002

MoveOn.org, a nonpartisan grassroots advocacy group, today announced an online petition drive and constituent meetings across the nation to highlight public concern over the Bush administration's headlong rush toward war in Iraq. More than 65,000 citizens have voiced their concern through a national petition drive. Volunteer leaders in San Francisco have arranged a meeting at Senator Boxer's office on August 28th to give her constituents an opportunity to hand deliver the California petition and to directly highlight the many key questions the administration has not addressed.

This grassroots feedback echoes and supports concern about the Bush administration policy toward Iraq from figures from across the political spectrum -- including Henry Kissinger, Majority Whip Dick Armey, and former NSC Advisor Brent Scowcroft.

Bay Area voters will be asking Senator Boxer to answer some very difficult questions:

-- Where will the money for a prolonged military campaign come from?

-- How will the U.S. avoid huge loss of life -- both American and Iraqi?

-- Why are US allies opposed to a pre-emptive strike on Iraq?

-- Does the U.S. State Department support an attack on Iraq?

"This is not a question of improving security it is a question of spending money we don't have," suggested Linda Hahner, Volunteer PR Coordinator for MoveOn's San Francisco effort and President of FamiliarTales, a company that gives free literacy material to schools. "The Bush administration has been waging multibillion dollar bombing campaigns with no measurable results. They are doing this at the expense of the American people. Thousands of California voters have joined MoveOn to ask our elected officials some very difficult questions and to hold them accountable."

"What we don't need as a nation is to make even more enemies than we already have. Bombs and biological weapons can be created anywhere, and will be," said Berkeley City Council member Linda Maio. "In this modern world, we need a wise, long-term strategy to achieve peace. "

"As a pastor for over 40 years in the million and a half member United Church of Christ, I am deeply concerned about the enormous loss of life," commented Rev Dr Wayne Bradley Robinson. "This kind of senseless killing would be an outrage that would go against the most deeply held values not just of the members of my church but of conscientious Christians, Jews and Muslims all over the world. Our security rests ultimately on economic and social justice at home and in giving aid to countries that really need our help."

"Bad judgment on the part of the first Bush administration cost my husband his young life during the Gulf War," remarked California voter Lori Dodge, "and bad judgment is guiding the Bush administration now. Why should we sacrifice anything else?"

"As a representative of Senior citizens I am particularly concerned at the adverse economic impact hostile action abroad would have on our elderly population," said Frank Rosten an active member of the American Association of Retired People. "Medicare is becoming increasingly ineffective and costly, and lack of financial, governmental support is causing inadequate staffing in nursing homes. Our Senior citizens want to see our tax dollars spent in improving and making America more secure."

"As a parent and an under-employed worker in the technology field, I feel that our citizens can't afford a war with Iraq. The cost in human lives, taxpayer money, and natural resources would be too great," said California voter Bonnie Borucki. "We need to concentrate our financial resources on creating stability in our own nation by ensuring decent educational and employment opportunities for all Americans."

"Education tops the list of California voter concerns. Our elected representatives have a clear mandate," continued Hahner. "As school begins, teachers are stretching their meager salaries to buy basic supplies for their students. We literally have schools with no books. Senator Boxer should encourage Congress to concentrate on developing more innovative solutions to these very pressing and real homeland security issues because we are losing a generation of bright Americans as we fight phantoms in the desert."

(More citizen comments can be found organized by state at: http://www.moveon.org/iraqcomments.html.)

About MoveOn.org

MoveOn.org is committed to helping its members be effective, informed citizens, and to broadening participation to counter the influence of money interests and partisan extremes. MoveOn.org offers members a way to work together to be heard. The website, begun by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Wes Boyd and Joan Blades, has inspired 500,000 Americans to lobby Congress.

For more information on MoveOn.org, go to: http://www.moveon.org/faq.html