What We Need Now

By Senator Edward M. Kennedy
News & Viewpoints, thepeoplesvoice.org

Last week we saw the chaos in the Middle East continue -- and expand. The escalating conflict in Lebanon and the news of 6,000 civilian casualties of Iraq's civil war in the past two months underscore the grave consequeces of failed Republican leadership.

A rubber-stamp Congress has allowed a reckless president to bog down 127,000 of our troops in the middle of a nightmare -- and America needs Democratic leadership and courage to bring them home.

Senator Dan Akaka of Hawaii and Congressman Sherrod Brown of Ohio had the courage to say no to the Bush Administration's misguided war. Next year in Washington, they can help provide the key votes to finally hold this Administration accountable.

Making that happen, though, means more than hoping things go our way. Sherrod and Dan need the support of Democrats everywhere, and that's why I'm asking our community to pitch in.

If you're ready to hold this irresponsible Republican administration accountable for its failed leadership, you can help significantly by making a contribution to them today.

I've worked with Dan Akaka in the Senate for 16 years. I trust his instincts, but even more than that, I admire his ability and his hard work for Hawaiians and all Americans.

From the first drumbeat of the president's march to war, Dan warned about the shaky evidence for the Republican case for war. He joined me, and 21 others, in refusing to give President Bush a blank check in Iraq. He clearly foresaw that President Bush had no strategy to win the peace -- a prediction that has sadly come true with the mounting casualties and danger of all-out civil war.

Representing his constituents in Ohio, Rep. Sherrod Brown saw the same looming disaster. He spoke out and worked intensely in the House to stop the Republican rush to war. He remembered that in 2002, President Bush told Americans that victory means having an exit strategy. He demanded the president answer questions about an exit strategy for our courageous young men and women in Iraq. And once our troops were committed, Brown fought tirelessly to ensure they had necessary body armor for a combat zone.

Four years later, Republicans still have no exit strategy from Iraq for our troops. What we need now is an exit strategy for Republicans from Congress.

That starts with electing Sherrod Brown to the Senate -- and making sure that Dan Akaka stays in the Senate. We need both of them standing with us, and against the Republicans' failed leadership. It's time to do our part -- so please contribute to them today:

In these troubled times, America needs great public servants like Dan Akaka and Sherrod Brown more than ever. Even when millions of trusting Americans accepted the president's case, Dan and Sherrod stood up bravely against the rush to war in Iraq.

They had enough courage to speak the truth. We need that courage now, as the Middle East continues to fall apart. We need Dan and Sherrod -- and other leaders with foresight and honesty -- in Washington, working to bring our troops home.

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