Feinstein, Villaraigosa, McDermott Pen OpEds on Iran, Immigration, First Amendment Rights

Lest we forget them, many of our elected leaders are using this Easter-Passover-Spring break to write editorials and op-eds on the latest issues. To save you from perusing dozens of news sites, here are a few of the more notable.......

From the Los Angeles Times, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) writes, "Tehran this week claimed that it had enriched uranium, a first step toward nuclear weapons capability. The question now is whether the Bush administration has learned from its mistakes in Iraq, or will it set our nation on a road that leads to military confrontation with Iran?

...The dangers inherent in preemptive action are only multiplied by reports that the administration may be considering first use of tactical, battlefield nuclear weapons in Iran: Specifically, nuclear 'bunker busters' to try to take out deeply buried targets. There are some in this administration who have been pushing to make nuclear weapons more 'usable. They see nuclear weapons as an extension of conventional weapons. This is pure folly."
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Also in the Los Angeles Times, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gives his thoughts on Congressional legislation on illegal immigration, "...when 500,000 people march in peace on an issue that's so important to their lives, their livelihood and their families, I feel compelled to get involved, regardless of whether it's a good issue or a bad issue for me.

I've said that while we have every right to enforce our immigration laws, that in a great and good America founded on the backs of immigrants, we must enforce those laws in a humane and constitutional way.... I haven't spent a lot of time speculating on the political ramifications of this issue. I approach it as an issue about values, not politics."
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From nine-term Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) in the Seattle Times about a skirmish with House Majority Leader John Boehner, "A nation cannot be free without free speech. It's why the Framers made freedom of speech the First Amendment to the Constitution. It's why 19 major news organizations representing thousands of journalists have joined to support me in my First Amendment case....

If you want to accuse me of being partisan, fine. But don't undermine my right, and yours, and every American's, to protect and defend our country against leaders who would plot in private to mislead the public."
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And finally, Raw Story reports that today, a editorial by Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Harry Reid (D-NV) is running in newspapers about their long-time legislative proposals to radically decrease abortions by minimizing unintended pregnancies.

Clinton and Reid write, "We believe that it is necessary for all Americans to join together and embrace policies that will reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, decrease abortions and improve access to women's health care. In the Senate, we have long championed the Prevention First Act. This legislation would help to reduce the rates of unintended pregnancy in our nation, decrease abortions and improve access to women's health care...."

Only problem is that I can't find the actual editorial in any newspapers. If it appears tomorrow, I'll let you know. Their pragmatic proposals on this issue merit thoughtful consideration by all Americans.
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Related Article - Pro-Life Democrats Aim to Reduce Abortion by 95%
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