RICKIE LEE JONES CALLS OUT SOME DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT ON THEIR LEADERSHIP CREDENTIALS

I got an angry e-mail early this morning from Rickie Lee Jones. Ostensibly, her e-mail was about the Senate's overturning on Bush's hideous global gag order on women's reproductive rights. But on closer examination it is obvious that Rickie's note wasn't about the gag order itself-- as passionately as she opposes it-- but about the concept of leadership from our putative Democratic... leaders.

Rickie agrees with the Huff Po assessment of the demise of the gag rule, as do most Americans.

The Senate should be applauded for voting to repeal the global gag rule yesterday. The global gag rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy, prohibits any foreign non-governmental organization (NGO) that receives USAID funds from performing or providing referrals for abortions, or advocating for laws that increase access to abortion. Indeed, any foreign NGO that is a recipient of USAID money may not even use its own money to support abortion, whether through advocacy, counseling, referrals, or direct services.

The global gag rule has had harmful and widespread effects on women throughout the world. It prevents local NGOs from responding to the potentially devastating effects of unsafe and illegal abortions, leaving organizations unable to provide information to women about how to obtain a safe and legal abortion, or to provide abortions directly to women who may not otherwise be able to afford a safe abortion.

The gag rule even goes as far as prohibiting USAID recipients from advocating against attempts to make abortions laws more restrictive. This is not only bad for women's health, it is also bad for democracy. Curtailing free speech by limiting what organizations can and cannot advocate for, and restricting the information an organization can disseminate, runs counter to the long-held American ideal of the free marketplace of ideas.

So what got Rickie's dander up? Before the Senate voted on HR 2764 (the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008), they voted on a series on amendments. One of a couple offered by extremist loon Sam Brownback, roll call 320, was meant to perpetuate Bush's gag order by preventing contributions to organizations that perform or promote abortion as a method of family planning. Although the Senate's two vehemently anti-choice Democrats, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Ben Nelson of Nebraska, voted with Brownback and the Republicans, the amendment was rejected 41-53, primarily because several Republicans broke ranks and voted with the Democrats including two who are most likely to be defeated next year for their rubber stamp postures of virtually all of Bush's most egregious policies, Susan Collins and Gordon Smith. I might add at this point that several Republicans who ingenuously try passing themselves off as "mainstream" and "moderates" voted with the anti-choice radical extremists, as they always do, such as endangered incumbents up for re-election in '08 Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Norm Coleman (R-MN), John Sununu (R-NH), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and Pete "Sneaky Pete" Domenici (R-NM).

But Rickie's beef wasn't about the ones who voted pro or con. It was about the ones who didn't bother voting on something this crucial. We have come to expect John McCain to not be in the Senate to vote on anything, no matter how important. His floundering presidential campaign requires that his head be up the ass of one wealthy contributor or another at all times, so he's never in the Senate anymore. But the Democrats usually do make it back from the campaign trail to vote of the most important issues. But not this time. No Hillary, no Obama. Rickie:

Did you know that two of our candidates for presidency in the Senate, the two great white hopes, (black or not), the great Democratic hopes... neither voted on the recent so called gag order on Sept. 6?

I personally am appalled that these so-called Democratic candidates, even at this stage of the game, echo the same old political non commitment to democratic ideals. I would like to know what popularity contest they think they won by not supporting this long fought battle to overcome one of Bush's fascist policies. I understand you scratch my back I'll vote for yours... I know this is sacrificed for that, but a bill as important as this deserved-- required-- our two leading Democratic candidates' support, not their careful silence. I want them to explain to us why they did not vote. 

When it came to the final passage of HR 2764, which Bush promises to veto, it passed overwhelmingly and even the two anti-choice Democrats, Casey and Nelson, voted for it. In fact, it has a veto-proof majority 82-12. Only the worst of the worst die-hard radicals-- kooks and loons like Brownback, Chamberliss, Cornyn, Inhofe, and Graham-- voted no. But Hillary and Obama (as well as Biden and McCain)? Out campaigning... to demonstrate, no doubt, their leadership and commitment to values and principles.