Highlights of the Conyers Slaughter WebChat

[cyberpj]

Welcome to the DCCC's online conversation with Representative Louise Slaughter (NY-28th) and Representative John Conyers (MI-14th).

[cyberpj]

1. Conyers

ekreidler
Republicans are clearly tampering with our electoral process, if not through voting machines then through partisan election officials, intimidation, and public discrediting of exit polls -- the means used by international monitors to detect fraud. What are we doing as a party to be ready for these dirty tricks in 2006?

Rep. Conyers: We are aware that they are using every kind of trick and scheme that they can to create an unfair environment for people to make choices in the United States, and so we have organizations and individuals in every state helping us monitor these unfair electoral tactics. Everybody's eyes are ears are important because we intend to fight them at every level where this improper activity. We are in a fight, not just to win, but to make sure democracy really works. I want to assure you that I am doing everything I can to make sure my party in never kept sleeping on this again. We are going to fight any attempts to roll the clock back by our political opponents. We realize that the more people that join in with us, the sooner we will succeed. On a logistical note about this chat, I will be here later today to make up for the lost time.


Nels
On the RealID, is there any hope of it not passing?

Rep. Conyers: I strenuously oppose the Real ID act, and voted against it. It will be voted on in the Senate tonight. I strongly urge you to let your Senators know that you oppose this measure immediately, which is blatantly anti-immigrant, anti-privacy and does little to protect our national security. By the way, we never even had a hearing or markup on the bill in the Judiciary Committee, or anywhere else in the House, or anywhere in the Senate, which is yet another abuse of power by the Republicans.


Jeanne
What will be the next step concerning the request to Pres. Bush for a response to the British memo?Whether he confirms or denies the truth of the memo, will there be an investigation into it?

Rep. Conyers: This is a very serious matter. We need to know if the President and the Prime Minister planned the Iraq war before authority for the war was ever sought by Congress. Regardless of what happens, I will continue to investigate this to get answers, even if I have to go to London to verify the authenticity of the document. This abuse of power is the most serious we have dealt with during this Administration.


davide2323
The White House has told the press that they refused to comment on the recently released Secret UK Memo. What can concerned citizens and activists do to help amplify the demand for answers from the Administration about the "Secret UK memo"?

Rep. Conyers: You must contact your Member of Congress and demand that they join us in requesting answers from the President. We may need to resort to non-violent demonstration methods to let the President know he cannot sweep this under the rug. Thank you for your question.


eve
what progress are we making on a verifiable paper trail for electronic voting? are all members of congress supporting this? if not why? thanks.
Rep. Conyers: HR 533, which I introduced, includes a paper trail, as do several other proposals about election reform. Many conservatives are not enthusiastic at all about leaving a clear paper trail in voting activity.

[cyberpj]

2. Slaughter

Litz
Rep. Slaughter, back in February you demanded an investigation into the Gannon/Guckert affair. Since then we have learned that Gannon/Guckert had uncommon access to the White House, entering and leaving without even the FBI knowing about it. I find this appalling. Can you tell us what if anything has come of your request for an investigation? Wwill we ever learn the truth about how an male prostitute had access to the White House and got to ask the president loaded questions to derail the press room? Thank you and thank you for your service to our country.

Rep. Slaughter: Thank you for your questions today. I also want to thank you so much for all coming here today to participate in this important discussion. Now... your question. As of this date we have not had a response from the President. It is unprecedented that they would not respond to two ranking members of the house. The Department of Homeland Security has responded to our original Freedom of Information Act request but their response led to even more questions. I know we will both continue on this path until the important questions are answered. I am also concerned that members of the press continue to let Mr. Guckert off the hook... their questions are not clearly answered and rather than press on they simply accept these half truths as fact.


dave
The democrats have been heavily criticized on many fronts and it seems that it sticks due to collective ignorance on the issues. Part of the success has been the many conservative outlets the Republican party has in the media. In your view what are the top three things that the DNC is doing to get the message out to the media and making them see the light?

Rep. Slaughter: I have to tell you, I just love the blogs. I really think that harnessing the power of new media has to be a central part of any successful strategy. So here we are. Thanks so much for your question Dave.


maxie
What in your opinion is the most pressing issue facing the country today?

Rep. Slaughter: This is a great question Maxie. I think it is by far the Republican Party's abuse of power in Washington. Because of this abuse we find ourselves with a tremendous deficit and mounting debt... our largest in history. We have put ourselves in hock to foreign countries that can pull the plug on us at any time. The problems don't stop there. Every issue you can think of... the War in Iraq, rising Health Care Costs, Education, the Environment, controlling science, the Courts... the list goes on and on. They are all exacerbated by the radical Republican stranglehold on Democracy in Congress.


Elaine Leach
Dear Representative Slaughter, Thank you for being a founding member of the new "Future of the American Media" Caucus. I have been a financial contributor and viewer of Public Television Broadcasting (PBS) for a long time. There is a problem with it now as it seems to be developing a definite lean toward the conservative/right wing of the Republican party. Do you agree that it is becoming less and less PUBLIC but more politically biased in its programs--for example the "Journal Editorial Report" and "Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered"? If so, what can be done about it?

Rep. Slaughter: This is a critical issue... what is happening with PBS is unacceptable. I read in the New York Times that the new president of the Corporation of Public Broadcasting told his local managers that they'd better get with the Republican mandate. That is absolutely outrageous. I wish more of my colleagues would get serious and support the Fairness & Accountability in Broadcasting Act, which I have introduced. We need to return the public airwaves to the public interest and watching what is happening at PBS is only further example of how bad things have gotten.


kfred
Rep. Slaughter, Have you submitted additional FOIA requests for manual records from the Secret Service re: Gannon/Guckert. Are you aware of the CSPAN documentation of his attending press conferences without any sign in/out per Secret Service records as published by ePluribusMedia?

Rep. Slaughter: As you may know, I spend a portion of my day on dailykos. I saw epluribusmedia's report and advised my staff to look into the matter. We are preparing more questions for use in a second FOIA request. I'm sure John and I will keep you posted as more on this issue develops.

[cyberpj]

3. All questions - about an hour's worth - are here:

The DCCC would like to give our fullest gratitude to Reps. Conyers and Slaughter, as well as all those who participated in this discussion. It was a joy for us and we hope to do it again!
Rep. Conyers: We received so many questions that we are unable to answer all of them at this time. I will work with the DCCC to see if there is a way to respond individually to the ones we could not get to. Thank you so much to everyone who participated. The questions were really fantastic. This is our first attempt at a web chat, but it will not be the last.

http://www.democraticaction.org/blog_chat/

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. Recommended and kicked

[cyberpj]

5. Thanks. And kick again.....

[burrowowl]

6. And Kick

again!