04/29/06 Kohl Elusive On Funding For Iraq War, Meeting Constituents Who Challenge Him

Submitted by WNPJ member Joy First

The Capital Times
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Joy First Monona
Dear Editor: I am writing in response to Judy Ettenhofer's op-ed inThe Capital Times about Rae Vogeler, who is running for the U.S. Senate. Iagree with Ettenhofer and support Vogeler as our next senator. She is a breathof fresh air that I would greatly welcome.

Sen. Herb Kohl's campaign slogan is "Nobody's senator but yours," but Idon't believe he is really my senator. Vogeler asks, "How is he representingWisconsinites if he doesn't talk to them?" He will not talk to me.I am one of his constituents from Monona and a member of the NationalCampaign for Nonviolent Resistance, following the principles of Martin LutherKing and Gandhi to use nonviolent civil resistance to end the war in Iraq.

I have been trying to meet face-to-face with Kohl since February to talk tohim about doing what he can to end the illegal and immoral war in Iraq. Theonly face-to-face time I have been able to get with him was at a publiccampaign event at the Orpheum. At that time he promised our group a meeting ata later time, but he has not kept his promise.

We have been calling attention to the human tragedy of the war by readingnames of Iraqi civilians and U.S. soldiers who have died in the war outsidehis downtown Madison office almost weekly since February. We have met with hisstaff, but the senator keeps himself insulated from our message.

Decatur Lake
We want the senator to vote no on the supplemental funding for the war inIraq that will be voted on soon in the Senate. After our latest visit toKohl's office, a local TV station reported that the senator responded to ourvisit by stating that while he believes Bush mishandled the war, if extramoney is not approved, troops would see equipment shortages in the next twomonths.

This sounds like he is in support of the supplemental funding though a callto his staff says he is still undecided. His staff says the bill for furtherfunding is still being crafted with amendments being discussed, and thesenator had not made a decision. But, they added, if the troops don't get themoney they will be in harm's way. I believe that is a false statement. Withthe $500 billion budgeted for the military this year already, this $70 billionin supplemental funding would not make the troops safe. What a no vote wouldsay is that he disagrees with the way Bush has mishandled the war.

Please call Kohl at 264-5338 and tell him to listen to the people ofWisconsin for a change and vote no on continued funding of the war in Iraq.Stop the war now!