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Progressive Champion Jim McDermott needs your help.
By Dal LaMagna
Poulsbo, WA - Progressive Champion Jim McDermott needs your help. You can help defend free _expression in America — and help one of our Progressive Champions — with a contribution of as little as $25 to the Legal Defense Fund of Congressman Jim McDermott.
Congressman McDermott was one of the Democrats who voted against the Iraq War. And on September 19, 2002, while standing on the steps of the Cannon House Office Building, he became the first Member of Congress to publicly suggest that the Bush Administration would willingly mislead the American people about its intentions in Iraq. His remarks turned out to be prophetic.
To send Jim's Legal Defense Fund a contribution of $25 or more, go to
https://secure29.activehost.com/mcdermottlegaltrust/Donate.aspx?DonationCode=06-E011-PEight years ago Jim played an audio tape for a New York Times reporter and others) setting into motion events that led to the Speaker Newt Gingrich’s resignation. For that act Jim is still paying today.
Majority Leader Boehner was recruited to sue Congressman McDermott for invading his “privacy” (Boehner spoke on the cell phone scanned and recorded by the Florida couple who turned the tape over to McDermott). Republicans were caught on tape defying a mandate from the House Ethics panel to not conspire against any ruling regarding Newt Gingrich. At the time, Gingrich was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee.
Boehner’s civil suit against McDermott went up and down the court system. Unfortunately, two weeks ago three judges of the Washington DC Appeals court ruled against McDermott and imposed fines and penalties.
If this case is not appealed to a higher court and reversed, an ominous precedent will be set that will impede the flow of information to the press.
Throughout this long ordeal for Congressman McDermott, he has been fighting to protect first amendment rights.
On April 8th a Washington Post editorial concluded: “This ruling can't be right; the full court ought to intervene.” Congressman McDermott has no choice but to appeal this decision — it will be costly.
The Republicans under investigation all have Legal Defense Funds into which money pours from Republican supporters. Boehner has raised thousands to pursue this case against McDermott - “to get that liberal”.
Eighty-one percent of the voters in Jim’s district sent him back to the House in the 2004 election. He needs to focus on fighting for health care, getting us and our troops out of Iraq and our progressive ideals – not raising money to appeal this case. Jim McDermott should not have to do this alone.
Show your support. Click here to donate $25 or more to his Legal Defense Fund. And please pass this email along to your friends.
Thank you so much!
Bill Moyer Executive Director, Backbone Campaign
Dal LaMagna Founder, Progressive Government Project
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