Help Cloy and Tina
Wednesday, January 31st, 2007In a previous entry in this blog from September 5th of 2006, see the link here
http://danceforpeace.org/nancy/?p=59
there is a photograph of Iraq veteran Cloy Richards and a filmed interview with him.
He is alive today in great measure because his valient mother is fighting to get him the care he needs and because he is willing to do the things that are saving his life. Here is word from that family and an urgent need.
Folks,
Thanks for all you’ve done already. Please read through to Tina’s change in plan, and financial assistance needed for her to stay in DC to continue her struggle.
*** First, a story from today: Rather than driving back to Missouri today as planned, Tina Richards has been barnstorming the Capitol. She interrupted Sen Orin Hatch at the Senate Judiciary Committee. From this evening’s NYT:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/washington/30cnd-congress.html
“Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee began laying the constitutional groundwork today for an effort to block President Bush’s plan to send more troops to Iraq and place new limits on the conduct of the war there, perhaps forcing a withdrawal of American forces from Iraq.
“They were joined by Senator Arlen Specter, the Pennsylvania Republican who led the panel for the last two years, in asserting that Mr. Bush cannot simply ignore Congressional opposition to his plan to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq.
“….Mr. Hatch was repeatedly interrupted by a woman in the audience, who said that her son was a marine due to return soon to Iraq for his third tour of duty there. Mr. Bush’s plan calls for 4,000 additional marines to be deployed to Anbar province. “He can’t go back,” she said.
Tina also said that acting committee Chair Russ Feingold let her speak from the audience.
*** Next, a change in course:
We are at a critical moment for public mobilization to sway a vaccinating [sic] Congress.
After consulting with the national organizers of Military Families Speak Out, Tina’s plan has changed, and she asks us to change with her:
Her new plan is to insist on meeting with every member of the House and Senate Defense Appropriations Sub-Committees, to push them to cut off funding for the war (i.e. not the Senate Armed Services Committee as previously planned.)
So she’s asking you to contact each of these Senators and Representatives (see below), and ask them to meet with Tina Richards, whose Marine son Cloy has just been called up for a third tour in Iraq, and to end funding for the Iraq war.
*** Crucially, supporting Tina financially in her work:
Tina is broke, staying in DC longer than she can afford. If you can make any credit card donation ($20 or $2000 or whatever you can) to help her in her struggle to defend her son and end the war, please click on the Donation link at:
http://grassrootsmissouri.org/
which will use Paypal to send the money directly to her.
If you cannot do this, you can send a check marked for Tina to:
IOW, 438 N. Skinker, St. Louis 63130
and let us know that it’s coming.
*** Finally, keeping up-to-date:
This is a fast-changing mobilization, so we ask you to check the IOW website frequently.
http://insteadofwar.org
This information is not yet posted there, but it will be shortly.
Thanks,
Jonathan
=====
Senate Defense Appropriations Sub-Committee:
Majority Members (Democrats)
Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) [Chairman] 202-224-3934 202-224-6747
Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) 202-224-3954 202-228-0002
Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) 202-224-4242 202-224-3479
Tom Harkin (D-IA) 202-224-3254 202-224-9369
Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND) 202-224-2551 202-224-1193
Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) 202-224-2152 202-228-0400
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) 202-224-3841 202-228-3954
Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) 202-224-4654 202-224-8858
Herb Kohl (D-WI) 202-224-5653 202-224-9787
Patty Murray (D-WA) 202-224-2621 202-224-0238
Minority Members (Republicans)
Ted Stevens (R-AK) [Ranking Member] 202-224-3004Â 202-224-2354
Thad Cochran (R-MS) 202-224-5054 202-224-9450
Arlen Specter (R-PA) 202-224-4254 202-228-1229
Pete V. Domenici (R-NM) 202-224-6621 202-228-0900
Kit Bond (R-MO) 202-224-5721 202-224-8149
Mitch McConnell (R-KY) 202-224-2541 202-224-2499
Richard C. Shelby (R-AL) 202-224-5744Â 202-224-3416
Judd Gregg (R-NH) 202-224-3324 202-224-4952
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) 202-224-5922 202-224-0776
House Appropriations Sub-Committee:
John P. Murtha (D-PA) [Chairman] 202-225-2065 202-225-5709
Norman D. Dicks (D-WA) 202-225-5916 202-226-1176
Peter J. Visclosky (D-IN) 202-225-2461 202-225-2493
James P. Moran (D-VA) 202-225-4376 202-225-0017
Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) 202-225-4146 202-225-7711
Bud Cramer, Jr. (D-AL) 202-225-4801 202-225-4392
Allen Boyd (D-FL) 202-225-5235 202-225-5615
Steven R. Rothman (D-NJ) 202-225-5061 202-225-5851
Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA) 202-225-3631 202-225-2203
Minority Members (Republicans)
C. W. (Bill) Young (R-FL) [Ranking Member] 202-225-5961 202-225-9764
David L. Hobson (R-OH) 202-225-4324 202-225-1984
Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) 202-225-5034 202-225-3186
Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) 202-225-6216 202-225-3489
Roger F. Wicker (R-MS) 202-225-4306 202-225-3549
Jack Kingston (R-GA)Â 202-225-5831 202-226-2269