Clyburn: Rumsfeld Departure, Hope for New Direction in Iraq

(Washington, DC) -- House Democratic Caucus Chair James E. Clyburn had the following reaction today to President Bush accepting the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld:

"I believe the American people spoke loud and clear to the Bush Administration in yesterday's election that they disapprove of the current direction in the war in Iraq. As a result, the President wasted no time in dumping Secretary Rumsfeld.

WASHINGTON, DC- House Democratic Caucus Chairman James E. Clyburn today responded to the president’s comments on the economy. Following is his statement:

"The president is showing just how out of touch he is today by marking one of the largest budget deficits in history with celebration. The American people are in trouble when their president considers record budget deficits, reckless spending and stagnant wages part of a successful economic policy.

Democrats offer a New Direction which includes fiscal responsibility, balanced pay-as-you-go budgeting and targeted tax cuts to help all American families. We will make college tuition permanently tax deductable, we will provide a long-term solution to protect middle-income families from the AMT, and we will improve the child tax credit to make it work better for working families."

WASHINGTON, DC—House Democratic Caucus Chairman James E. Clyburn today released the following statement in response to the behavior of Congressman Foley and the House Republican Leadership:

"Each semester, students from all over the country are nominated by their congressmen to come to the nation’s capital and work and study as Congressional Pages. Their parents put these children in our trust for this unique and exciting experience. It disturbs me to my core that Congressman Foley violated that trust by preying upon 16 and 17-year-old boys in the Page Program.

"Nearly a year ago, a former page was distressed enough by a series of e-mail exchanges with Congressman Foley that he reached out for help from the office of the Congressman who nominated him to the program. The student was made uncomfortable. He was alarmed, and those emails contained signs meriting a full investigation by appropriate experts and authorities. Nearly a dozen Members of Congress and staff at the highest levels of the Republican leadership were notified, and instead of a proper investigation, it appears there was an attempt to cover it up.

 REPUBLICAN AGENDA THREATENS AMERICAN FAMILIES

From Iraq to the Economy, Democrats Offer a New Direction

WASHINGTON, DC—House Democratic Caucus Chairman James E. Clyburn today criticized House Republican leadership for their reckless agenda, as the House of Representatives adjourned for a six week recess. Following is Clyburn’s statement:

"From the war in Iraq to the national economy, the president and Republicans in Congress have reckless disregard for reality, and are putting American families at risk."

"Americans learned what experts from 16 intelligence agencies collectively reported in a National Intelligence Estimate; that the conduct of the Iraq war is escalating terrorism around the world. Despite a consensus report from his own agency, President Bush insists we ‘Stay the Course,’ and his Republican Rubber Stamp Congress agrees. ‘Stay the Course,’ is a mistaken political slogan, not an acceptable military strategy.