Step 2: Bush lied -- Congress must speak out

Dear MoveOn member,

Thanks in part to your efforts, the breaking news about Bush's smoking gun Katrina warning is spreading rapidly. However, the media is largely not featuring what is perhaps the most obvious revelation of all: Bush lied.

Four days after Katrina hit, Bush famously told the country on Good Morning America, "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.''1 But, today, we can all watch the leading hurricane scientist in the country personally informing President Bush, 24 hours before the storm hit, that a levee breach was a "very, very serious concern."2

Though the original AP article discussed this contradiction, coverage by major papers and TV outlets has been spotty— Bush wasn't even asked about it in his latest press conference.3 One of the most effective ways to get the media to cover something is to get members of Congress to talk publicly about it—so calling Congress is our next step.

Please call Rep. Pelosi and Sens. Feinstein and Boxer today and ask them to speak out about Bush's newly discovered failure and dishonesty in responding to Katrina.

Senator Dianne Feinstein
Phone: 202-224-3841
District Offices:
Fresno: 559-485-7430
Los Angeles: 310-914-7300
San Diego: 619-231-9712
San Francisco: 415-393-0707

Senator Barbara Boxer
Phone: 202-224-3553
District Offices:
Fresno: 559-497-5109
Los Angeles: 213-894-5000
Sacramento: 916-448-2787
San Bernadino: 909-888-8525
San Diego: 619-239-3884
San Francisco: 415-403-0100

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
Phone: 202-225-4965
San Francisco District Office: 415-556-4862

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://political.moveon.org/call?tg=FSCA_1.FSCA_2.FHCA_08&cp_id=264&id=6961-6730547-D5c7gTgE7V33iMN5_MAlAw&t=1

It's now clear that to justify his own inaction and the failure of his administration, Bush lied, point blank, to the whole nation. Why is it so important to keep this story in the news?

First, when the President fails in his basic responsibilities as a leader and then lies to the country, he needs to be held accountable. But the various options we have, running from an independent investigation to censure or beyond, will only become politically feasible when Congress sees clear public outrage over Bush's specific failures and lies. These new revelations provide a critical moment to communicate that outrage.

Second, the administration hasn't stopped failing the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Countless thousands of survivors remain homeless, much of the Gulf Coast region is still in shambles and Bush's new budget reads like Katrina didn't even happen. By forcing the public attention back onto the hurricane and its aftermath, we make it politically impossible for the president to keep sweeping Katrina victims under the rug.

If members of Congress speak out about the president's lie, that alone will be enough to propel this story forward in these next few crucial days. This is an issue that every representative, Democrat or Republican, can take a clear stand on—so every call matters.

Please call Rep. Pelosi and Sens. Feinstein and Boxer today and ask them to speak out about the President's newly discovered failure and dishonesty in responding to Katrina.

Senator Dianne Feinstein
Phone: 202-224-3841
District Offices:
Fresno: 559-485-7430
Los Angeles: 310-914-7300
San Diego: 619-231-9712
San Francisco: 415-393-0707

Senator Barbara Boxer
Phone: 202-224-3553
District Offices:
Fresno: 559-497-5109
Los Angeles: 213-894-5000
Sacramento: 916-448-2787
San Bernadino: 909-888-8525
San Diego: 619-239-3884
San Francisco: 415-403-0100

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
Phone: 202-225-4965
San Francisco District Office: 415-556-4862

Then, please report your call by clicking here:

http://political.moveon.org/call?tg=FSCA_1.FSCA_2.FHCA_08&cp_id=264&id=6961-6730547-D5c7gTgE7V33iMN5_MAlAw&t=2

Thanks for all that you do,

– Ben, Carrie, Tanya, Jennifer and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team
Thursday, March 02, 2006

Sources:

1. "Bush was told levees could fail, video shows," Seattle Times/AP, March 2, 2006 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1511

2. "Video Shows Bush Warned before Katrina Hit," The Associated Press, March 01 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=1506

3. "Bush not questioned about pre-Katrina briefing," KWTX news, March 02, 2006
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/2395001.html

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