Smart Democratic Candidates Should Be Going On The Offensive Against Trump Ginning Up A War With Iran

And that's Gamba to the right of the banner at Friday night's citizens' protest

Milwaukie Mayor Mark Gamba, who’s running for Congress in Oregon in a seat held by reactionary, warmonger Kurt Schrader,a hopeless corporate Blue Dog. Gamba was the first candidate I saw who sent a letter to his supporters talking exclusively about the assassinations and what that means in terms of his own candidacy. The subject line of his e-mail was “We Must Fight For Peace?” He began by writing that he wanted to “make clear to you where I stand on the President’s recent assassination order of a high ranking Iranian General.” 

Our Constitution clearly establishes that only Congress has the power to declare war, and further charges Congress with the responsibility for oversight of, and accountability for, our use of military force. Yet Congress has increasingly enabled the reckless abuse of the AUMF by turning a blind eye to Executive overreach.

The unsanctioned assassination of high ranking Iranian officials is an unambiguous act of war conducted without Congressional authorization. Once again, we teeter on the edge of another endless war in the Middle East with a sovereign state that has not attacked us nor has it threatened our freedoms.

It is no coincidence that the President is facing an impeachment trial at home. It should be noted that President Clinton did the same thing. It is a disgusting, time honored technique for drawing the public’s attention away from self-inflicted tribulations.

It is also no coincidence that congress just voted to increase our already bloated military budget to a record $738 BILLION while slashing amendments that could have precluded this rash action by Trump. Schrader voted for this bill.

We go to war to make rich people richer. We do it both to secure access to other countries resources for our corporations and simply to enrich the military industrial complex. We allow our young people to be maimed, psychologically ravaged or be killed in order to enrich Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman and dozens of others. Never mind the fact that we kill millions of innocent civilians in other countries in the process.

I believe in a strong national defense. But we were already spending more than the next 10 largest armed forces in the world combined BEFORE the terrible vote by 188 house democrats to increase it. Yet the only real threat we face goes completely unaddressed, simply because no defense contractor will make billions fighting climate change.

No big surprise that Kurt Schrader was one of the Dems that took that bad vote. It’s long past time to replace corporate Dems with people who are not beholden the Military Industrial Complex and who actually give a damn about our young people. It’s time to spend this kind of money solving the actual threat of climate change rather than the Trumped up threats from other countries.

Congress must act swiftly to constrain this administration from deceiving the American public into yet another protracted war with grave and irrevocable consequences. They must also immediately repeal the 2001 AUMF by voting on the War Powers Resolution and reintroduce and immediately vote on the National Defense Authorization Act amendment which would block the funding for further attacks on Iran without Congressional approval.

We all must make it abundantly clear now and forever that we will no longer tolerate war without reason and war without end. Join me in speaking out, in writing letters to the editor, in taking to the streets to decry this insanity.

Instead, let’s invest that money bringing people out of poverty while solving the REAL threat of climate chaos.

As congressman of district 5, I promise to stay focused on issues that affect America’s citizens and to act boldly against a corrupt president and corporate tyrants who use fear and violence to bully us into submission.

Stand with me in saying, “WE ARE THE PEOPLE AND WE WILL TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY FROM THOSE WHO STEAL OUR PEACE AND SELL IT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.”

Many of you know that I am not accepting any campaign money from corporations. I work for YOU!  With your support we will ensure that peace and the planet prevails.

All solid progressive candidates need to be able to explain that… just the way Mark Gamba did. And that includes showing voters the contrast with opponents like Kurt Schrader, who really are not much more than cowardly, profiteering Trump enablers. Please consider contributing to Mark's campaign by clicking on the "Primary A Blue Dog" ActBlue thermometer above. And think about this: