December 7, 2007
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Soft Fascism Is Still Fascism
By Harold Murphy, Candidate for Congress
Here's what my opponent, US House Rep. Christopher Murphy, told reporters after I and others queried him on the constitutionality of the Iraq war and his and Congress's duty to impeach the administration at a New Britain, Conneticut town hall meeting held 9-13-07:
A: Congress has also been attacked by anti-war factions for not ending the war.
M: I don't buy that Congress's failure to change our war policy is a failure of congressional leadership. It's a failure of the president and his Republican colleagues in Congress to realize we need a new policy. The reality of our constitutional government is that a majority of Congress can be overridden by the stroke of the president's pen. Am I frustrated that the president has vetoed legislation that would withdraw troops from Iraq? Absolutely. Do I understand that's the government we live under? I do.
My repsonse: Mr. Murphy approves of friendly fascism. It is still fascism. Apparently it is his fascism. He cannot stomach attacking the Bush administration for its crimes, against Iraq, against Afghanistan, against American kids getting blown to bits for oil, war profits and reconstruction contracts in some of the poorest places on earth, against some the world's neediest people, in violation of the United Nations Charter, the Nuremberg
Principles and therefore our Constitution, which commands that our treaties are the supreme law of the land. It is time for Connecticut voters to wake up and realize that there are alternatives to Mr. Murphy's outrageous abdication of the moral and legal duties of his oath as a US Congressman to defend our Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic by impeaching this criminal regime before another drop of blood is spilled and
any more lives are wasted. Mr. Murphy wants this job on his terms, not those commanded by the law. His constituents, our nation and humanity deserve much better.
Attorney Planning Run for Congress
By Dirk Perrefort
Harold Burbank II, an attorney from Canton, recently announced his intention to run against U.S. Congressman Chris Murphy for the 5th District seat. Burbank, who has volunteered extensively over the years for international humanitarian organizations and the United Nations, said lies by the Bush Administration leading into the Iraq war and the administration's abuse of the U.S. Constitution led to his decision.
"I believe the constitution itself will hang by a thread if we don't stop the abuses that led us into these wars and the surveillance of American citizens at home," Burbank said. "If we don't impeach the Bush administration, I don't see any chance of peace in the Middle East."
Burbank said he asked Murphy at a town meeting earlier this month why he hasn't introduced articles of impeachment against the administration. He added that Murphy, also an attorney, has taken an oath to uphold the constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. "Responsible congressmen cannot avoid the Bush administration's obscene assault on our fundamental law," Burbank said. "I've told Murphy that if he introduces articles of impeachment tomorrow I would withdraw from the race."
Burbank said he has been approached by several organizations, including the Green Party, about running as a candidate for the 5th District on their ticket.
"At this point I'm just announcing my personal declaration to run for the seat," Burbank said. "I can't file paperwork to run as a petition candidate until January." State Sen. David Cappiello, R-Danbury, previously announced his intentions to seek the Republican nomination for the seat. Cappiello said Monday he has ongoing concerns with Murphy's voting record, or lack thereof.
Cappiello said Murphy held a press conference earlier this month to announce his intentions to clean up the country's mortgage industry in light of the recent subprime mortgage crisis, but he missed a vote a day later on legislation that expanded the American Homeownership Act.
"To use Murphy's own language when he ran against Nancy Johnson, 'It's simply inexcusable for her to fail to cast a vote either way on this vitally important issue,'" Cappiello said. "A few months ago Murphy held a press conference about how he wanted to take on his own party's leadership on ethics reform because they weren't going far enough. The following week not only did he not oppose his leadership, he didn't even show up to vote on the Lobbying Transparency Act. I'm starting to see a pattern."
Kristen Bossi, a spokesman for Murphy, defended the congressman's voting record.
"Chris has made 99 percent of his votes this year," she said. "In a year when Congress is passing landmark energy legislation, historic student loan rate cuts, and expanding health care for kids, no one can attack Chris on substance, so the Republicans are digging deep to score political points." Murphy could not be reached for comment.
Contact Rep. Murphy: Phone: (202) 225-4476 . Fax: (202) 225-5933