Email from Senator Bill Frist, M.D.: "I'm asking you to call the White House"

[Sapphire Blue]

I'm asking you to call the White House

Each year I travel to Africa as a medical missionary. I've just returned from my latest trip, a deeply troubling visit to the Sudan.

Due to a series of increasingly violent attacks on foreign aid workers in Darfur over the past six months, international efforts to protect civilians and provide them with food, clean water, shelter, and medical care are in a state of crisis.

Countless men, women, and children are in real danger of falling prey to violence, starvation, or disease as a result of these attacks.

The U.S. must take the lead in working with the international community to end the violence. The lives of millions hang in the balance.

Please join me in calling the White House comment line today to urge President Bush to launch "Plan B," his tough, three-tiered plan to push Sudan to end the genocide, before more lives are lost in Darfur.

It will only take two minutes of your time and could make a world of difference for millions of people in need. Just follow the steps below:

1. Dial 1-800-671-7887 (toll-free)

2. Once you've been transferred to the comment line leave your comment using the talking points below:


I'm calling to urge President Bush to implement "Plan B" to help bring an end to the genocide in Darfur. Specifically, I am asking him to:

Enforce tough sanctions against Sudan;

Work with the UN to authorize and enforce a no-fly zone over Darfur to protect civilians from Sudanese bombers; and

Press the UN for faster deployment of UN peacekeepers to protect civilians in Darfur.

3. Click here to report your call back to the Save Darfur Coalition (this step is crucial - please don't skip it.)

The U.S. and the international community are all that stand between millions of civilians in Darfur and the Sudanese regime's policy of genocide. Hundreds of thousands have already been killed, and time is running out for millions more.

Without tough "Plan B" measures to accompany diplomatic efforts, the international community's efforts to end the violence in Darfur are doomed to fail.

Please follow the steps above to join me in calling the White House comment line to ask President Bush to launch "Plan B" without further delay, then click here to report your call back to the Save Darfur Coalition.

I hope you will help me spread this message of urgent action by forwarding my email to your friends, family and co-workers and asking them to join you in taking two minutes to call the White House.

Thank you for your ongoing advocacy on behalf of the people of Darfur.

Sincerely,

Senator Bill Frist, M.D.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sign the petition: Tell Bush: No More Delays on 'Plan B': http://action.savedarfur.org/dia/organizationsORG/darfur/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=6716

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On edit:

To those who have called / are calling the White House asking bush to launch 'Plan B' and signing the Tell Bush: No More Delays on 'Plan B' petition - Thank you so very much!


To the rest of you, posting nasty, hateful comments, I would ask you also to call the White House & ask bush to launch 'Plan B', and also sign the Tell Bush: No More Delays on 'Plan B' petition... that is, if you give a damn about the genocide that is going on in Darfur, right now, as you read this.


FYI - You can read Senator Frist's blog on the Save Darfur website @ http://www.savedarfur.org/blog/entries/special_guest_blogger_former_senate_majority_leader_bill_frist_discusses_hi/


Thank you,
Sapphire Blue
Resident DU Fanatic beggar

:hug: :loveya: :grouphug: :loveya: :hug:

[etherealtruth]

1. I can't believe I agree with Bill Frist about anything ....

...but, I do!

SAVE DARFUR!

[TahitiNut]

14. Same here. (Too bad Sudan doesn't have enough oil.)

:grr:

[Sapphire Blue]

19. I hope you've called!

[Supersedeas]

2. Where was that type of engagement and nudging of the WH when he was IN OFFICE

[wolfgirl]

3. I agree with this as well...

but I don't trust Frist. I would bet he is trying to re-shape his imagine for a possible future role in GOP politics...

[Critters2]

4. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. nt

[William769]

7. Not if the hands don't move.

[Critters2]

29. Yes. At the moment at which the hands are stuck, which comes around twice a day

the clock is right...even if the hands don't move. That's what that saying means.

[ladywnch]

5. Yeah?.....what ELSE is buried in 'plan B' that we don't know

about yet.....I don't trust Frist or any of these guys. They don't care about Darfur genocide.....there must be something else in this "plan" that they really want. Amazaing that jr has a plan for anything since he hasn't been able to devise a plan for Iraq in 4 years! I just don't trust him!

[knitter4democracy]

27. That's exactly what I was thinking.

What is this Plan B, and why would we want it?

[Nutmegger]

6. SB...

More :hug: for you.

R and K!

[Sapphire Blue]

16. Thank you, Nutmegger!

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

[Donnachaidh]

8. Wow -- wonder if Frist's medical corporation gets anything out of Plan B?

Sorry -- ain't buying ANYTHING coming from this man. NOTHING.

[gatorboy]

10. Yes Plan B is: "Help Frist's Medical Corp. stock go up."

After all, it worked so well for him in congress....

[kirby]

9. Since when does the White House have an 800 number? SCAM ALERT

Is this a scam? Is someone else running this 800 number for marketing purposes? I've never heard of the White House having a toll free number. Google that phone # and it ONLY shows up related to this Darfur issue.

[Sapphire Blue]

17. The number is provided by the Save Darfur Coalition; it is NOT a scam.

You should really be careful about suggesting something is a scam when you know nothing about it.

[kirby]

23. Not so fast

So the number is not for the White House, its a private number paid for by the Save Darfur Coalition that they forward to the White House. This should be disclosed.

You can't be too careful in this day and age with these things. Sometimes supposedly toll free numbers have been used for scams or end up showing up on someones bill.

Secondly, if you go to the savedarfur.org website, there is no mention of this phone number.

Third, as I said, a google search did not reveal this as a phone number associated with the White House.

Red flags everywhere.

There is also a 'Blog' entry by Frist on the savedarfur.org website, but he did not appear to make any such appeal for phoning the White House. That appeal appeared to have been added to his words in a misleading way, if I read it his blog correctly.

However noble the Darfur cause, these seem like shady tactics to me.

[Sapphire Blue]

25. Can you read? Frist's appeal in the OP is FROM AN EMAIL; not from the website.

It is not an email 'forward' that has crossed the planet a thousand times. It is a legitimate email from the SAVE DARFUR COALITION.

The phone number is a TOLL-FREE number for the White House. It is provided as a courtesy by the SAVE DARFUR COALITION.

Comprende?

Now if you want to spend your time looking under a microscope for 'scams', please look elsewhere.

Note: If you choose to respond to this post, I will most likely not reply, as I might say something the I shouldn't.

[youngdem]

11. Fuck Frist

He is just trying to head to the middle for a run at the White House in '12 because he can see that there won't be an incumbent Repuke at that time.

He knows he has MUCH rehab to do on his reputation, especially his medical reputation, so he is out on a rehab mission.

Fuck this prick. Don't trust him, don't team with him, just ignore him and he will go away.

[Donnachaidh]

12. Nah -- let's dig into his billing practices

I'd gladly go through mountains of paperwork if it would enable an oversight committee to put his ass in PRISON.

[Sapphire Blue]

18. Will you also ignore the people of Darfur ?

[youngdem]

21. Bill Frist is not responsible for making me aware of Darfur

I was well aware, as is everyone who wants to be. That is the real problem.

[Sapphire Blue]

22. If you were well aware, I suppose you called before you ever read my OP?

And you've called Congress, the Secretary of State, and the UN, too?

And , of course, you've donated to agencies helping the people of Darfur, right?

Or are you too busy slamming someone who is trying to do something to help because you don't agree w/his politics?

[KamaAina]

24. Darfur si, cat killer no

There are plenty of other groups out there working on the Darfur issue that have no ties to the Tabby Terminator.

From a search of DU over the past month:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2770366&mesg_id=2770366

The ecumenical coalition that organized the event, Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, distributed 3,200 tickets for the service in the cathedral, with two smaller churches hosting overflow crowds. The cathedral appeared to be packed, although sleet and snow prevented some from attending.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=186&topic_id=19752&mesg_id=19752

In coordination with Amnesty International USA's Annual General Meeting, a
free rally, open and welcome to all, will be held this coming Friday, March
23, at 4 p.m. The rally will be held on the edge of the Milwaukee River, in
Pere Marquette Park, corner of 3rd & Kilbourn in downtown Milwaukee. The
purpose is to raise community awareness of the indescribable human crisis
taking place in Darfur, a region in western Sudan....

If you have questions, or are able to volunteer at the event, please call
the Darfur Action Coalition of Wisconsin at 414-433-4365 or by emailing
<mailto:[e-mail] > [e-mail] .

and surely there are many others out there.

In fact, the Siamese Serial Killer isn't even the first religious wrong figure to bring up the issue: our own Hawaii Family Forum has had Darfur on its agenda all year.

[Sapphire Blue]

26. FYI - Darfur is not in Iraq.

[KamaAina]

28. D'oh! It sure isn't, although Bush** probably thinks it is

What a :dunce: Darfur was only mentioned deep in that thread.

You know where else it isn't, for the most part? Here at DU. Thus, the meager results of the search. :(

If it's any consolation, Hawai'i's employment retirement system is facing pressure for divestment from emerging local activists:

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Mar/19/ln/FP703190341.html

Leanne Gillespie usually keeps up with world events, but she admits she was not aware of the atrocities in the Darfur region in the western Sudan until she heard actor George Clooney speak about the conflict before the United Nations Security Council last September.

An estimated 200,000 to 400,000 people have died in Darfur, and 2 million people have been displaced in fighting between tribes and government-backed Arab militias. Clooney described it as the first genocide of the 21st century.

"I couldn't believe it had been going on and I didn't know about it," said Gillespie, a state employee who was so moved she founded the Hawai'i Coalition for Darfur. "I was horrified."

Human-rights activists, religious leaders and everyday people like Gillespie want Hawai'i to make a statement against genocide in Darfur by directing the state Employees' Retirement System to divest from about two dozen foreign companies that do business in Sudan.

The pattern seems to be that groups are forming locally, Frist-free, in places at least from here to Wisconsin. Hopefully there's one near (all of) you.

[C_U_L8R]

13. What happened to plan "A" ???

just askin'.

[Breeze54]

15. Why? Does his Faith Based Initiative need money??

Do the Dominionists need more $$ to force evangelism on the people of Darfur? :sarcasm:

I wouldn't put if past this corrupt, lying rethug! Fuck that cat torturer!

No soup for him!

[Sapphire Blue]

20. This is about stopping the GENOCIDE in Darfur.

[Breeze54]

31. Not for Frist!

Bill Frist

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bill_Frist

On education, Frist supports the No Child Left Behind Act, which passed in 2001 with bipartisan support.

In August 2005 he announced his support for teaching intelligent design ideology in public school science classes.

In November, 2005, Frist told reporters that he was less concerned about torture at CIA secret prisons
than he was about compromising the security of millions of Americans

Frist Named one of the "most corrupt"

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Bill_Frist#Named_one_of_the_.22most_corrupt.22

In both 2005 and 2006, the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington singled out Frist
as one of the most "corrupt" members of Congress, and filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee
calling for an investigation of the stock sale, an alleged cover-up, and an allegedly mishandled disclosure
of a campaign loan

Charitable Activities

In 1998 he visited African hospitals and schools with the Christian aid group Samaritan's Purse -
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/default.asp which seeks "the advancement of the Christian faith
through educational projects and the relief of poverty".

Samaritan's Purse is an aggressive Christian missionary organization that targets children,
often taking the opportunity of major natural disasters to convert orphaned children.
The organization is based in Boone, North Carolina, USA, and is currently headed by Franklin Graham.

The mission of the organization is to spread the Gospel of Jesus by conversion of children of
parents who have (or had) other religious beliefs. Their practices are in the "food for jesus"
style agressive recruitment (exploitation of those in need by offering relief if they convert).

Medical school experiments

http://www.rense.com/general33/frist.htm

While in medical school, Frist obtained cats from animal shelters, under pretense of adoption
as pets, for school research experiments in which he killed the animals. In a 1989 autobiography,
Frist described his deception in obtaining these shelter cats as "heinous and dishonest".
He attributed his behavior to the pressures of school.
The incident sparked controversy after a 2002 Boston Globe story repeated the account.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Why would you even post anything about this rethug here at DU? :shrug:

There are many other orgs and groups who are working to stop the genocide.
I do support them but I'd never do anything in Frist's name!
I would never make a phone call supporting Frist for anything! Ever.

Your surprise at the reaction in this thread is surprising to me!

[Sapphire Blue]

33. The Save Darfur Coalition is NOT Frist's organization. He is simply making an appeal on their behalf

... just as others have done (George Clooney, for example). This is not about supporting Frist, but about supporting the Save Darfur Coalition.

About the Save Darfur Coalition: http://www.savedarfur.org/section/about/

I know who Frist is & I don't agree w/his politics, but I do appreciate his appealing for help for Darfur.

Surprised about the reaction to this thread? I shouldn't be. I am disappointed at the lack of compassion for the people of Darfur. I am disappointed that so many people have put their dislike of Frist before stopping the genocice in Darfur.

I also find it interesting, discouraging & very sad that there have been more responses to this thread than any other thread I've posted about Darfur.

[Breeze54]

34. The other responders said they do and have

supported ending genocide in Darfur, as do I; but just not with Frist!

There are more Dems than rethugs who are working to end the genocide.

Why not post one of their e-mail requests?

------------------------------------

Sign the Petition!
http://action.savedarfur.org/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=6099

(I already signed this and many other petitions.)

-----------------------------------

Have your members of Congress worked to end genocide?

http://www.darfurscores.org/

-------------------------------------------

Sen. Kennedy received extra credit for co-sponsoring S. Res. 531 and the Peace in Darfur Act.

http://www.darfurscores.org/edward-kennedy

In response to the release of the Darfur scorecard, Sen. Kennedy said:
“The continuing genocide in Darfur is a stain on all humanity and needs to be addressed
at once on an urgent basis. As many as 400,000 men, women, and children have died, and
over two million more have been displaced by the vicious attacks and ongoing brutalities.
It¹s long past time for the United States, NATO and the United Nations to take effective
steps to halt this massive tragedy.”

-------------------------

http://www.darfurscores.org/john-kerry

Sen. Kerry received extra credit for co-sponsoring S. Res. 531 and the Peace in Darfur Act.


Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-GENOCIDE (1-800-436-6243)

# Extra Credit Legislation

http://www.darfurscores.org/darfur-legislation

* Clinton Amendment
* Reid Amendment
* Menendez Amendment
* Durbin/Leahy Amendment
* Jackson Amendment
* Lieberman Resolution
* Obama/Reid Amendment
* Peace in Darfur Act
* Federal Divestment from Sudan

----------------

Tell Bush: No More Delays on 'Plan B'

Another deadline to cooperate has passed unheeded as Sudanese President Bashir continues
to thumb his nose at the U.S.' diplomatic efforts to end the genocide in Darfur.

President Bush has a "Plan B" - a three-tiered plan to push Sudan to end the genocide -
but he keeps delaying its launch. The time for talk is over, it's time to act.

Sign Here!
http://action.savedarfur.org/dia/organizationsORG/darfur/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=6716

-----------------

See? We don't need Frist to sign a petition.

[Sapphire Blue]

35. Yes, SOME responders expressed support for ending the Darfur genocide; I thanked them in my OP edit.

Others responded only to criticize Frist, posting comments like "Fuck Frist", and deriding the Save Darfur Coalition because Frist is issuing an appeal on their behalf.

I have posted other appeals for Darfur (including some that you posted in your reply; btw, the Tell Bush: No More Delays on 'Plan B' that you posted in your reply is posted in my OP); they usually receive few or no replies.

Darfur seems easy for some to ignore.

[WorldResident]

30. Senator Frist was more moderate than the bunch

Mostly wrong, but not wrong on issues such as stem cell etc.

[mmonk]

32. You can probably forget it. China is the only one that has influence

there. Also, I don't see where it benefits our oil conglomerates, the overall PNAC agenda, and the other two major interests that shape US foreign policy, the ATC and AIPAC.