CALL FOR HELP - Republicans Denying Democrats Use of Rooms on Hill

[EC]

Didn't see this posted, just got it in E-Mail:

representatives in the House including Rep. Sensenbrenner. Our taxes
foot the bill for Hill facilities. Conyers must not cave as
it sets a dangerous precedent when minorities want to have
hearings on issues the Majority is intent upon
ignoring-Ed.]

Please send to members and to media - thanks! Now we've
got the times and places -- it's time to go get the PEOPLE.

HEARINGS ON DOWNING STREET MINUTES SET FOR 1 PM THURSDAY

Hearings to be held at DNC because Republicans Denying
Democrats Use of Rooms on Hill

On Thursday June 16, 2005, at 1:30 p.m. in the Wasserman
Room at 430 S Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C., Rep. John
Conyers, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee,
and other Congress Members will hold a hearing on the
Downing Street Minutes and related evidence of efforts to cook
the books on pre-war intelligence.

The hearings are being held at the Democratic National
Committee because the Republicans controlling the House
Judiciary Committee refused to permit the ranking Democratic
Member to use a room on the Hill.
http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/UndertheDome/index.html
Nonetheless, Republicans are welcome to attend.

Later on the same day at 5:00 p.m. ET in Lafayette Square
Park, in front of the White House, a large rally will
support Congressman Conyers who plans to deliver to the White
House a letter addressed to President Bush and signed by over
500,000 Americans and at least 94 Congress Members. The
letter asks the President to respond to questions raised by
the Downing Street Minutes.

Among those speaking at the hearings will be: Joe Wilson,
Former Ambassador and WMD Expert; Ray McGovern, 27-year CIA
analyst who prepared regular Presidential briefings during
the Reagan administration; Cindy Sheehan, mother of fallen
American soldier; John Bonifaz, renowned constitutional
lawyer and co-founder of AfterDowningStreet.org.

Among those speaking at the rally will be: Congressman
Conyers and various other Congress Members, Cindy Sheehan of
Gold Star Families for Peace, John Bonifaz of
AfterDowningStreet.org, Ray McGovern former CIA analyst, Medea Benjamin of
Global Exchange, Rev. Lennox Yearwood of Progressive
Democrats of America, Stephen Cleghorn of Military Families Speak
Out, Kevin Zeese, Director of Democracy Rising. More
information, and flyers promoting the rally, are available at
www.afterdowningstreet.org

Flyers to print, copy, and distribute widely:

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/rally.pdf

LOCAL RALLIES PLANNED AROUND COUNTRY

Supporters of this campaign are independently organizing
rallies on Thursday at locations around the country.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=211

AfterDowningStreet.org is a rapidly growing coalition of
veterans' groups, peace groups, and political activist
groups, which launched on May 26, 2005, a campaign to urge the
U.S. Congress to begin a formal investigation into whether
President Bush has committed impeachable offenses in
connection with the Iraq war.

David Swanson
[e-mail] 202-329-7847
Jonathan Schwarz
[e-mail] 301 928 7579

[me b zola]

1. What I don't understand

is why the Dems are not yelling about this from the floor of the House!


Okay, on to send e-mails and make phone calls. But damn!

[Ignoramus]

2. Can someone put this in perspective for me

This appears to me like it is an attempt at silencing debate, but let me play devils advocate.

Did I understand correctly? The topic has been deemed to be inappropriate for an official hearing, and the Republicans claim that they are refusing to give Conyers etc. a room because they say the forums are being portrayed as official hearings when they are not.

Pretend Republicans wanted to hold hearing after hearing about something obviously bogus and misleading, e.g. endless hearings about the rape of Jessica Lynch, being taped and broadcast ad nauseum on Fox news. Would there be a reason to stop the Republicans from portraying informal media events as official hearings?

Could there be 2 approaches here, 1 to address directly the Republicans claiming that this is an inappropriate topic for a hearing, and going ahead with the forum?

Is there more to the story about why it's not being accepted as a hearing? Are other democrats contributing to this topic not being recognized as material for a hearing?

[KansDem]

3. Have Conyers pull "a Reagan..."

We paid for this room!!!