Congressman Stark’s Disgusting Rant Against President Bush Ignored By Nets

By Noel Sheppard
October 19, 2007 - 01:29 ET
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2007/10/19/congressman-stark-s-disgusting-rant-against-president-bush-ignored-ne

Americans on both sides of the aisle should be bitterly angry today.

A United States Congressman stood on the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday and said that kids are being sent "to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president`s amusement."

As if that wasn't bad enough, the three evening news programs of America's top broadcast networks didn't feel this despicable act was important enough to share with the citizens of our nation.

Frankly, I'm not sure which should anger you more.

Here is a partial transcript of Rep. Pete Stark's (D-Cal.) abysmal statements made on the House floor on October 18, 2007, that America's leading news agencies didn't want you to see (video available here):

The Republicans are worried that we can`t pay for insuring an additional 10 million children. They sure don`t care about finding 200 billion dollars to fight the illegal war in Iraq. Where are you going to get that money? Are you going to tell us lies like you`re telling us today? Is that how you`re going to fund the war?

You don`t have money to fund the war or children. But you`re going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president`s amusement.

[...]

But the President Bush's statements about children's health shouldn't be taken any more seriously than his lies about the war in Iraq. The truth is that Bush just likes to blow things up in Iraq, in the United States, and in Congress.

Congressman Stark represents the 13th District of California, which is just south of where I live. Frankly, I'm so disgusted by his words that I've been crying off and on for hours since I first saw this video.

How have we gotten to such a low point in our history that elected officials feel comfortable making such statements about our president in the halls of Congress?

Sadly, I imagine our forefathers are crying with me wondering the very same thing.

Those interested in hearing more disgraceful comments from Stark should listen to this interview he did with the Bay Area's KCBS radio Thursday evening.

—Noel Sheppard is an economist, business owner, and Associate Editor of NewsBusters.

******Note: The following is information about Rep. stark. It comes from Secular Coalition for America, which is headlined to be for Atheists, Humanists, and Freethinkers. I have left starks contact info for your convenience to let him know how you feel - just as this group encouraged their members to do when stark "came out" that he was an atheist!

Thank Rep. Pete Stark for his brave and historic self-identification as a nontheist

Mar. 12, 2007 - With your support, we made history today. Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) openly self-identifies with the nontheist community. He is the first member of Congress to be on record as not holding a god-belief. For more information see our press release.

We can only guess what the reaction to this announcement will be from certain communities. It is very important that you, other nontheists and our theist allies, contact Rep. Stark to thank him for his brave and historic decision. You can e-mail his office at http://www.house.gov/stark/contact/. Please share this alert with others so that Rep. Stark receives as many positive responses as possible.

Below you will find a sample letter. Please feel free to adapt it to your voice and provide additional information of importance to you:

Dear Rep. Stark:

Thank you for having the courage to be the first member of Congress to be on record as not having a god-belief. With over 30 years of exemplary public service, your record demonstrates that a god-belief is not a prerequisite for effective and honest representation in government.

Members of our community have been silent for too long. The only way to dispel the distrust and misperceptions about our community is for more nontheists in the public arena to become visible and vocal about their beliefs. I hope your pioneering leadership will encourage other nontheist elected officials and other public figures to speak up.

Thank you again for your courage and leadership.

Sincerely,
Your signature

*****NOTE - More comments from Pastor Ed in the recap post that is above this post!