"Barbara Lee" 9/14/2001 Only vote against War in Afghanistan

[Generic Other]

Last edited Mon Sep 15, 2014, 12:22 AM - Edit history (1)

Published on Sep 12, 2014 by David Rovics

9/14/2001 was the date that Barbara Lee became the one person in the Congress to vote against military action in Afghanistan.

Lyrics:

Barbara Lee

She grew up in Texas on a military base
As a teen in California she found her place
Standing up with those who had got the shorter straw
Speaking out for justice on both sides of the law

She came to my attention in 1998
When she was elected and she joined the ship of state
But it was in her second term when she really made the news
As the sole dissenter, the only one to refuse

Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee
Let me take this chance to thank you for your humanity
Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee

The month was September, 2001
It was time to show the world these colors don't run
Flags of war were waving from New York to LA
From Shanksville to the Pentagon they chanted “USA”

Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee
Surrounded by such darkness, but still able to see
Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee

The vote came to the Congress to give the president the right
To bomb and to invade any nation in his sights
To kill in any country where his generals want to go
500 voted yes, one woman voted no

Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee
A few hundred more like you, what a nation it could be
Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee

Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee
There among the madmen of Washington DC
Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee, Barbara Lee

[iemitsu]

1. Thank you for the video Generic. Rovics, in true folk fashion,

immortalizes good deeds done on our behalf, even if they are done in vain.
And he is prolific.
Again thanks.

[Generic Other]

2. Brief Bio on Congresswoman Lee

"Barbara Jean Lee (born July 16, 1946) is the U.S. Representative for California's 13th congressional district, serving East Bay voters from 1998 to 2013 during a time when the region was designated California's 9th congressional district. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She was the first woman to represent the 9th district and is also the first woman to represent the 13th district. Lee was the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and was the Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Lee is notable as the only member of either house of Congress to vote against the authorization of use of force following the September 11, 2001 attacks.[1] This made her a hero among many in the anti-war movement.[2] Lee has been a vocal critic of the war in Iraq and supports legislation creating a Department of Peace." -- wiki entry

[kas125]

3. I love David Rovics and admire Barbara Lee,

but she was not the only congress member to vote against the patriot act. There were 66 no votes in Congress and one no vote in the Senate, which was Russ Feingold.

[Generic Other]

4. I stand corrected

"On September 15, the US Congress approved a resolution authorizing President Bush to use "all necessary and appropriate force" against anyone associated with the terrorist attacks of September 11. The measure passed 98-0 in the Senate and 420-1 in the House. The lone dissenting vote was a colonel's daughter and longtime maverick from California -- Democrat Barbara Lee."

[merrily]

5. I love her voting record, and not only on Iraq.

Iraq was huge and took mega-courage in the climate of that day, but it is not her only courageous vote.

[c588415]

6. Rep Barbra Lee is awesome. Here in Calif,

Rep. Lee, Sen. Boxer, and Rep. Pelosi are the bomb. The jury is still out on Sen Feinstein; she appears to care more about the well being of Israel than us Californians. Feinstein has also been a critic of Pres Obama's policies.