RESOLUTION OPPOSING DISCRETIONARY MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN

Submitted by the Jerry Voorhis Claremont Democratic Club To the California Democratic Party Resolutions Committee

WHEREAS the Bush administration has named three nations including Iran as an “axis of evil” and has already invaded one of them on the pretext of a danger which did not exist and might never exist, and

WHEREAS the Bush administration is now making statements about Iran which are similar in tone and content to those which it made about Iraq before invading it, and

WHEREAS Iranian nuclear weapons will not exist for many years, may never materialize, and may never be used aggressively because of the fear of massive retaliation

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the California Democratic Party opposes U.S. military action against Iran initiated by the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government, except in the event of an actual and verified attack by Iran on U.S. territory or on the territory of a U.S. ally (e.g., Israel), and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in all instances any military action first must be authorized by the U.S. Congress with a declaration of war in strict compliance with Article I Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, i.e., Congress will not delegate its authority to declare war to the Executive Branch.

 

Resolution in Support of Rep John Murtha

The Jerry Voorhis Claremont Democratic Club thanks Rep. John Murtha of Pennsylvania for his courageous stand in the House of Representatives in favor of bringing our men and women in uniform home as soon as possible.

We admire the clear insight of his assessment of the counter productive nature of our present military occupation of Iraq and his course in standing up to the war machine of the Bush Administration.

We condemn the viciousness of the Republican congress and the Republican administration in ridiculing this veteran of two wars and in vitiating his initiative. November 2006 is only twelve months away and at that time Republicans, including our local Congressman, David Dreier, will pay the price for their reckless disregard of the well being and future of the soldiers recruited from their districts.

Passed unanimously by the Jerry Voorhis Claremont Democratic Club at the members’ meeting of November 19, 2005.

Resolution on Patriot Act

Senators Feinstein and Boxer:

The Jerry Voorhis Claremont Democratic Club, by a unanimous vote at its membership meeting on November 19, 2005, urges you to support the attempts of your fellow Senators Durbin, Feingold and Salazar to purge the conference report on the renewal of the USA Patriot Act of provisions intruding on the civil rights of individuals.

In addition, the JVCDC urges you to work for a repeal of the USA Patriot Act not later than 2009.

We also urge you to work toward a revocation of the Congressional act granting the President the power “to do whatever is necessary” to conduct the so-called “War on Terrorism.” Democracy and republican government will not survive when one individual claims the power to set aside law in a “war” designed to last indefinitely.

Resolution on Social Security

On May 23, 2005, the Jerry Voorhis Claremont Democratic Club unanimously adopted the following resolution to supplant the resolution of January 26:

The Jerry Voorhis Claremont Democratic Club whole-heartedly endorses the existing highly successful Social Security system as a (near) universal social insurance program.

It opposes uncompromisingly the creation of private accounts which would begin to dismantle Social Security as an insurance program.

Modifications in the existing Social Security system which do not compromise the universal insurance principle may be considered at a more opportune date in the future.

See also the position paper on Social Security linked under Activities and Positions

Resolution on Health Care

On April 30, 2005, the Jerry Voorhis Claremont Democratic Club endorsed Senator Sheila Kuehl's California Senate Bill 840 (SB840), the California Health Insurance Reliability Act (CHIRA). A complete description of SB 840 can be found at www.healthcareforall.org.

Read the entire resolution.

Our Statement on Iraq

On Sept. 24, 2002, the club unanimously approved the following statement:

The Jerry Voorhis Claremont Democratic Club advocates peace and the peaceful resolution of international disputes through the United Nations. It urges the national Democratic Party and Democratic representatives in the United States Congress to oppose the Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld designs for "preventive war" against Iraq. The forestalling of preemptive, unprovoked attacks against sovereign states was a primary object in the founding of the U.N., whose Charter declares them in violation of international law.

Sharing the frustrations and hopes of many Democrats across the country, we sent our statement to relevant public and Democratic Party officials.