MoveOn and the 1st Amendment

Re “Senate squares off with MoveOn,” Sept. 21

I am dismayed that the Senate felt it needed to condemn the MoveOn.org ad about Army Gen. David H. Petraeus. MoveOn has the right to express its opinions about the Iraq war and the way the Bush administration has conducted it. The 1st Amendment gives all Americans the right to free speech. Congress allowed itself to be taken in by the administration’s claims of weapons of mass destruction and nebulous links to Al Qaeda to start this unnecessary war. The majority of Americans recognize this war as a mistake and want our troops brought home as soon as possible. Congress should not waste time pointing its finger at MoveOn for exercising its right to dissent, but should have the guts to challenge this administration and seek the truth. Dissent is not un-American.

Carol Karas

Camarillo

After learning that 22 senators from the Democratic Party voted to condemn MoveOn, I am convinced that the party’s role in our political charade is to persuade an aroused citizenry to believe they are being led onto the main highway, when they are really being diverted onto a side ramp until their political momentum is exhausted. Judging from surveys taken after the Petraeus report, MoveOn represents the views of the American people better than either of the two major parties, yet a coalition of Democratic and Republican senators condemned these views.

Ralph Nader was right: Both political parties are determined to keep the American people from building the necessary momentum to control their own government.

Dennis M. Clausen

Escondido

President Bush is disgusted that MoveOn would publish an ad attacking his general’s view on the progress in Iraq, even though other reports contradict it. I’m disgusted when I see pictures of soldiers who have died and watch innocent woman and children getting blown up. I’m disgusted when I see the Senate pass a bill condemning MoveOn but failing to give adequate rest to our soldiers. I’m disgusted when I see more than 40 million people without health insurance.

In my view, the goal of this invasion was to keep the Middle East in turmoil. By doing this, American oil companies and countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran keep making more money every time oil prices go up. It’s ironic that we keep berating Iran, yet our Middle East policies are making it richer.

Clem Dominguez

Huntington Beach