Here's an email to Charlie Rangel I sent and his response:
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2003 2:32 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Comments RE US Military
Shame, shame, shame.
I once thought relatively well of you. Given your recent comments on television last night, you should be deported to live permanently in Iraq.
TRAITOR!!!!
Response I received a few hours ago:
Recently, on the Hannity and Colmes TV show, Sean Hannity challenged my patriotism because I said, "I just don't believe that you bomb women and children in order to enforce something against a lying cheat."
50 years ago, I was a young American in combat, fighting the communists in North Korea. Our soldiers are brave young men and women just for being there, and I know they're scared, like I was. My heart truly goes out to them--and to their families--who I know are praying and worried to death.
Our troops don't know who is the enemy--whether they are men in uniforms or in street clothes. Our troops don't target men or women or children. They're in guerrilla warfare, and the only rule is to defend themselves. And no matter how much we do to pinpoint targets from the air, bombs don't know the difference between enemy troops and innocent people.
What Sean Hannity does not know, because he did not serve in the armed forces, is that soldiers obey the orders of the Commander-in-Chief. Our troops are doing that. But if we were not in this war, there would be no bombing at all, and it would not be necessary to consider the issue of "collateral damage."
Nothing is more precious to Americans than our freedom to speak out, to disagree. It's frightening that, in their passion for this war, some people are accusing anyone who opposes it of being unpatriotic. If members of Congress are going to be attacked for fulfilling their responsibility to their constituents to speak out on matters of war and peace, then we might as well tear up the Constitution.
I do not support the war, but I revere the troops, and I am drafting legislation that will show, in a tangible way, the country's appreciation for their sacrifice. The program will provide generous higher education and health care benefits, for the troops after their discharge, their spouses and children. For those who wish to go into business, it will provide the necessary resources.
Sean Hannity deliberately distorted my views on the program in his attempt to challenge my patriotism. I will continue speaking on behalf of my constituents and in defense of the Constitution. I will not be intimidated.
