Ohioans blast Voinovich

Columbus, OH – Today Senator George Voinovich and the Senate Republican leadership put party politics before the wishes of Ohioans and the country by blocking the Levin-Reed amendment that would have brought a safe and responsible end to the Iraq war. Instead, Senator Voinovich maintained blind obedience to President Bush and his reckless war policy.

"Senator Voinovich’s vote today for endless war is an insult to Ohioans who overwhelmingly oppose President Bush’s policy of endless war. Senator Voinovich chose obstructionist party loyalty over his constituents and the security of this country, and Ohioans are not going to take this lying down,” warned Matt Hurm, Ohio Field Director for the Iraq Summer campaign.

More than seven in 10 Americans favor removing nearly all U.S. troops from Iraq by next April. [USA Today 7/10/07]

Last night Moveon members and Iraq Summer organizers held events outside the home state office of each and every Senate Republican to demand they stop blocking an end to the war in Iraq. In total there were 155 events across the country.

“On Wednesday night, citizens across the country showed that they are not going to take Senate Republicans obstructionism lying down. The outpouring of public anger and frustration last night is a clear indication of how Senate Republicans are out of touch with their constituents. This is no longer just an anti-Iraq war movement, this is a nation demanding an end to the war. It's time they stopped obstructing and started listening."

“With this vote, Senator Voinovich proved once and for all that he is woefully out of touch with his constituents,” said Hurm. “It is outrageous that Senator Voinovich and his fellow Republicans chose to obstruct the will of the people. He will be forced to face the anger of his constituents back home all summer long.

“Through the ‘Iraq Summer’ campaign, Americans Against Escalation in Iraq will turn up the heat on Senator Voinovich to an unprecedented level. We’ll be knocking on doors, continuing our Call Congress campaigns, holding rallies outside member offices and placing signs on lawns across this state demanding an end to this reckless war,” said Hurm.

“Iraq Summer” has dispatched nearly 100 organizers to 15 states and 40 congressional districts to turn up the heat this summer on Republican members of Congress who have opposed setting a timeline to bring a responsible end to the war in Iraq. The intense10-week program is modeled on the “Freedom Summer” civil rights project.


Ohioans Blast Voinovich for Obstructing Efforts to Responsibly End the War in Iraq
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 07/18/2007

http://www.noiraqescalation.org/