by Jeffrey Imm
On November 4, 2008, the voters of America will have the opportunity to elect all 435 seats of the United States House of Representatives, who will serve in the 111th United States Congress from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. For those Americans who oppose Jihad and the ideology of Islamic supremacism, this provides a unique opportunity for our voice to be heard and for you to be able to personally impact future legislation on this issue. This is your chance to make a significant difference in how America will act on the war of ideas against Jihad and Islamic supremacism.
On July 16, 2008, an amendment to House Resolution 5959 was presented to the full Congress to vote on whether or not Congress was willing to honestly confront Jihad and its Islamic supremacist ideology in the war of ideas. There is a documented voting record on H.R. 5959 (see Section 507 "Jihadists") showing which Congressional representatives were willing to stand up and confront Jihad, and which Congressional representatives were afraid to confront Jihad.
The amendment to H.R. 5959 called for Congress to modify the 2009 intelligence funding bill to stop the efforts by some government agencies who have been creating a "terror lexicon" to instruct government employees not to discuss Jihad or ideologies such as Islamic supremacism (aka "Islamism"), when identifying the enemy. This Congressional effort passed by the margin of 249-180. (See my July 22, 2008 article for more details on H.R. 5959.)
There were 180 Congressional representatives who voted against this amendment to H.R. 5959 to confront Jihad, and there were 10 who "abstained" from taking a vote and a stand against Jihad. The Congressional representatives who voted against or abstained on this measure claim to be representing Americans in: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, American Samoa, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington state, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Do they truly represent the views of Americans in these states? Do they represent you?
These Congressional representatives think that you don't care about confronting Jihad. These Congressional representatives support those who have sought to silence America's homeland security and intelligence agencies from even using the word "Jihad." These Congressional representatives are clearly afraid of confronting Jihad and its basis in Islamic supremacism. Do you want to give them two more years in Congress as your representatives while Jihadists continue to plot against America?
In a week, you will have a chance to do something about it. Vote against these Congressional representatives who showed that they are afraid to confront Jihad. Show your government that you want to stand against Jihad and you won't take the nonsense of denial and appeasement any more. Make sure that your friends and neighbors get the message and make your voices heard on November 4 at the election polls.
How many of us know young Americans who have been wounded or given their lives to confront Jihadists in foreign wars? But the Congressional representatives who voted against the amendment to H.R. 5959 to confront Jihad are afraid to have the government even talk about Jihad. On November 4, honor your American armed forces' sacrifices in this war. Use your vote to show Congress that it is not just our men and women fighting in foreign wars that are willing to confront this mortal enemy. Show Congress that you are a fighter for America and its values too.
This is our war, our war on Jihad and Islamic supremacism, and now we have a direct opportunity to influence legislation on this for the next two years. Make a difference. Stand up for the American values of equality, liberty, and courage. Show the Congressional representatives who voted against confronting Jihad that the American people understand Jihad's threat and will stand up against it.
On November 4, cast your vote against those who are are afraid to confront Jihad.
Fear No Evil.
[Postscript - see also Sources documents for additional reading and background information.]
House of Representatives Members Voting against H.R. 5959, Section 507 "Jihadists"
Voting Record - July 16, 2008 (List by State / Alphabetical List by Last Name)
These U.S. Congressional Representatives voted against H.R. 5959 Section 507 that sought to confront Jihad by stopping efforts at a "terror lexicon" which told government officials that they should not use the words "Jihad," "Islamism," when referencing Islamic supremacist terrorism
Alabama
Rep. Robert Cramer [D, AL-5]
Arkansas
Rep. Robert Berry [D, AR-1]
Rep. Victor Snyder [D, AR-2]
Rep. Mike Ross [D, AR-4]
Arizona
Rep. Edward Pastor [D, AZ-4]
Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
California
Rep. C. Michael Thompson [D, CA-1]
Rep. Doris Matsui [D, CA-5]
Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D, CA-6]
Rep. George Miller [D, CA-7]
Rep. Barbara Lee [D, CA-9]
Rep. Ellen Tauscher [D, CA-10]
Rep. Jackie Speier [D, CA-12]
Rep. Fortney Stark [D, CA-13]
Rep. Anna Eshoo [D, CA-14]
Rep. Michael Honda [D, CA-15]
Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D, CA-16]
Rep. Sam Farr [D, CA-17]
Rep. Lois Capps [D, CA-23]
Rep. Adam Schiff [D, CA-29]
Rep. Henry Waxman [D, CA-30]
Rep. Xavier Becerra [D, CA-31]
Rep. Hilda Solis [D, CA-32]
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard [D, CA-34]
Rep. Maxine Waters [D, CA-35]
Rep. Jane Harman [D, CA-36]
Rep. Laura Richardson [D, CA-37]
Rep. Grace Napolitano [D, CA-38]
Rep. Linda Sanchez [D, CA-39]
Rep. Joe Baca [D, CA-43]
Rep. Loretta Sanchez [D, CA-47]
Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51]
Rep. Susan Davis [D, CA-53]
Colorado
Rep. Diana DeGette [D, CO-1]
Rep. John Salazar [D, CO-3]
Connecticut
Rep. John Larson [D, CT-1]
Rep. Joe Courtney [D, CT-2]
Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D, CT-3]
Rep. Christopher Murphy [D, CT-5]
District of Columbia Congressional Representatives Who Abstained
Rep. Eleanor Norton [D, DC-0] - abstained from voting on H.R. 5959 Amendment to confront "Jihadists"
Florida
Rep. F. Allen Boyd [D, FL-2]
Rep. Corrine Brown [D, FL-3]
Rep. Kathy Castor [D, FL-11]
Rep. Kendrick Meek [D, FL-17]
Rep. Robert Wexler [D, FL-19]
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D, FL-20]
Rep. Alcee Hastings [D, FL-23]
Georgia
Rep. Sanford Bishop [D, GA-2]
Rep. Henry Johnson [D, GA-4]
Rep. John Lewis [D, GA-5]
Rep. John Barrow [D, GA-12]
Rep. David Scott [D, GA-13]
Guam
Rep. Madeleine Bordallo [D, GU-0]
Hawaii
Rep. Neil Abercrombie [D, HI-1]
Rep. Mazie Hirono [D, HI-2]
Illinois
Rep. Jesse Jackson [D, IL-2]
Rep. Daniel Lipinski [D, IL-3]
Rep. Luis Gutierrez [D, IL-4]
Rep. Rahm Emanuel [D, IL-5]
Rep. Danny Davis [D, IL-7]
Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D, IL-9]
Rep. Phil Hare [D, IL-17]
Rep. Ray LaHood [R, IL-18]
Illinois Congressmen Who Abstained
Rep. Bobby Rush [D, IL-1] - abstained from voting on H.R. 5959 Amendment to confront "Jihadists"
Indiana
Rep. Peter Visclosky [D, IN-1]
Rep. Andre Carson [D, IN-7]
Iowa
Rep. Bruce Braley [D, IA-1]
Rep. David Loebsack [D, IA-2]
Iowa Congressmen Who Abstained
Rep. Leonard Boswell [D, IA-3] - abstained from voting on H.R. 5959 Amendment to confront "Jihadists"
Kansas
Rep. Nancy Boyda [D, KS-2]
Rep. Dennis Moore [D, KS-3]
Kentucky
Rep. John Yarmuth [D, KY-3]
Louisiana
Rep. William Jefferson [D, LA-2]
Maryland
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger [D, MD-2]
Rep. John Sarbanes [D, MD-3]
Rep. Donna F. Edwards [D, MD-4]
Rep. Steny Hoyer [D, MD-5]
Rep. Christopher Van Hollen [D, MD-8]
Maryland Congressmen Who Abstained
Rep. Wayne Gilchrest [R, MD-1] - abstained from voting on H.R. 5959, Amendment to confront "Jihadists"
Massachusetts
Rep. John Olver [D, MA-1]
Rep. Richard Neal [D, MA-2]
Rep. James McGovern [D, MA-3]
Rep. Barney Frank [D, MA-4]
Rep. Niki Tsongas [D, MA-5]
Rep. John Tierney [D, MA-6]
Rep. Edward Markey [D, MA-7]
Rep. Michael Capuano [D, MA-8]
Massachusetts Congressmen Who Abstained
Rep. William Delahunt [D, MA-10] - abstained from voting on H.R. 5959 Amendment to confront "Jihadists"
Michigan
Rep. Dale Kildee [D, MI-5]
Rep. Collin Peterson [D, MN-7]
Rep. Sander Levin [D, MI-12]
Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick [D, MI-13]
Rep. John Conyers [D, MI-14]
Rep. John Dingell [D, MI-15]
Minnesota
Rep. Timothy Walz [D, MN-1]
Rep. Betty McCollum [D, MN-4]
Rep. Keith Ellison [D, MN-5]
Rep. James Oberstar [D, MN-8]
Mississippi
Rep. Bennie Thompson [D, MS-2]
Missouri
Rep. William Clay [D, MO-1]
Rep. Russ Carnahan [D, MO-3]
Rep. Ike Skelton [D, MO-4]
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver [D, MO-5]
Missouri Congressmen Who Abstained
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson [R, MO-8] - abstained from voting on H.R. 5959 Amendment to confront "Jihadists"
New Hampshire
Rep. Paul Hodes [D, NH-2]
New Jersey
Rep. Robert Andrews [D, NJ-1]
Rep. Frank Pallone [D, NJ-6]
Rep. William Pascrell [D, NJ-8]
Rep. Steven Rothman [D, NJ-9]
Rep. Donald Payne [D, NJ-10]
Rep. Rush Holt [D, NJ-12]
Rep. Albio Sires [D, NJ-13]
Rep. Jose Serrano [D, NY-16]
New Mexico
Rep. Tom Udall [D, NM-3]
New York
Rep. Timothy Bishop [D, NY-1]
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy [D, NY-4]
Rep. Gregory Meeks [D, NY-6]
Rep. Joseph Crowley [D, NY-7]
Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D, NY-8]
Rep. Edolphus Towns [D, NY-10]
Rep. Yvette Clarke [D, NY-11]
Rep. Nydia Velazquez [D, NY-12]
Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D, NY-14]
Rep. Charles Rangel [D, NY-15]
Rep. Nita Lowey [D, NY-18]
Rep. John Hall [D, NY-19]
Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D, NY-22]
Rep. Brian Higgins [D, NY-27]
Rep. Louise Slaughter [D, NY-28]
North Carolina
Rep. George Butterfield [D, NC-1]
Rep. Bob Etheridge [D, NC-2]
Rep. David Price [D, NC-4]
Rep. Melvin Watt [D, NC-12]
Rep. R. Bradley Miller [D, NC-13]
North Dakota
Rep. Earl Pomeroy [D, ND-0]
Ohio
Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D, OH-9]
Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D, OH-10]
Rep. Stephanie Jones [D, OH-11]
Rep. Betty Sutton [D, OH-13]
Rep. Timothy Ryan [D, OH-17]
Oklahoma Congressmen Who Abstained
Rep. Frank Lucas [R, OK-3] - abstained from voting on H.R. 5959 Amendment to confront "Jihadists"
Oregon
Rep. David Wu [D, OR-1]
Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D, OR-3]
Rep. Peter DeFazio [D, OR-4]
Rep. Darlene Hooley [D, OR-5]
Pennsylvania
Rep. Robert Brady [D, PA-1]
Rep. Jason Altmire [D, PA-4]
Rep. Joe Sestak [D, PA-7]
Rep. Patrick Murphy [D, PA-8]
Rep. Paul Kanjorski [D, PA-11]
Rep. John Murtha [D, PA-12]
Rep. Allyson Schwartz [D, PA-13]
Rep. Michael Doyle [D, PA-14]
Puerto Rico Congressmen Who Abstained
Rep. Luis Fortuno [R, PR-0] - abstained from voting on H.R. 5959 Amendment to confront "Jihadists"
Rhode Island
Rep. Patrick Kennedy [D, RI-1]
Rep. James Langevin [D, RI-2]
South Carolina
Rep. John Spratt [D, SC-5]
Rep. James Clyburn [D, SC-6]
Tennessee
Rep. Jim Cooper [D, TN-5]
Rep. Steve Cohen [D, TN-9]
Texas
Rep. Ronald Paul [R, TX-14]
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa [D, TX-15]
Rep. Silvestre Reyes [D, TX-16]
Rep. Thomas (Chet) Edwards [D, TX-17]
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee [D, TX-18]
Rep. Charles Gonzalez [D, TX-20]
Rep. Ciro Rodriguez [D, TX-23]
Rep. Lloyd Doggett [D, TX-25]
Rep. Solomon Ortiz [D, TX-27]
Rep. Raymond (Gene) Green [D, TX-29]
Texas Congressmen Who Abstained
Rep. Al Green [D, TX-9] - abstained from voting on H.R. 5959 Amendment to confront "Jihadists"
Rep. Eddie Johnson [D, TX-30] - abstained from voting on H.R. 5959 Amendment to confront "Jihadists"
American Samoa
Rep. Eni Faleomavaega [D, AS-0]
Vermont
Rep. Peter Welch [D, VT-0]
Virgin Islands
Rep. Donna Christensen [D, VI-0]
Virginia
Rep. Robert (Bobby) Scott [D, VA-3]
Rep. James Moran [D, VA-8]
Wisconsin
Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D, WI-2]
Rep. Gwen Moore [D, WI-4]
Rep. David Obey [D, WI-7]
Washington State
Rep. Jay Inslee [D, WA-1]
Rep. Rick Larsen [D, WA-2]
Rep. Brian Baird [D, WA-3]
Rep. Norman Dicks [D, WA-6]
Rep. James McDermott [D, WA-7]
Rep. Adam Smith [D, WA-9]
West Virginia
Rep. Alan Mollohan [D, WV-1]
Rep. Nick Rahall [D, WV-3]
Wisconsin
Rep. Ronald Kind [D, WI-3]
Rep. Neil Abercrombie [D, HI-1]
Rep. Jason Altmire [D, PA-4]
Rep. Robert Andrews [D, NJ-1]
Rep. Joe Baca [D, CA-43]
Rep. Brian Baird [D, WA-3]
Rep. Tammy Baldwin [D, WI-2]
Rep. John Barrow [D, GA-12]
Rep. Xavier Becerra [D, CA-31]
Rep. Howard Berman [D, CA-28]
Rep. Robert Berry [D, AR-1]
Rep. Sanford Bishop [D, GA-2]
Rep. Timothy Bishop [D, NY-1]
Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D, OR-3]
Rep. Madeleine Bordallo [D, GU-0]
Rep. F. Allen Boyd [D, FL-2]
Rep. Nancy Boyda [D, KS-2]
Rep. Robert Brady [D, PA-1]
Rep. Bruce Braley [D, IA-1]
Rep. Corrine Brown [D, FL-3]
Rep. George Butterfield [D, NC-1]
Rep. Lois Capps [D, CA-23]
Rep. Michael Capuano [D, MA-8]
Rep. Russ Carnahan [D, MO-3]
Rep. Andre Carson [D, IN-7]
Rep. Kathy Castor [D, FL-11]
Rep. Donna Christensen [D, VI-0]
Rep. Yvette Clarke [D, NY-11]
Rep. William Clay [D, MO-1]
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver [D, MO-5]
Rep. James Clyburn [D, SC-6]
Rep. Steve Cohen [D, TN-9]
Rep. John Conyers [D, MI-14]
Rep. Jim Cooper [D, TN-5]
Rep. Joe Courtney [D, CT-2]
Rep. Robert Cramer [D, AL-5]
Rep. Joseph Crowley [D, NY-7]
Rep. Danny Davis [D, IL-7]
Rep. Susan Davis [D, CA-53]
Rep. Peter DeFazio [D, OR-4]
Rep. Diana DeGette [D, CO-1]
Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D, CT-3]
Rep. Norman Dicks [D, WA-6]
Rep. John Dingell [D, MI-15]
Rep. Lloyd Doggett [D, TX-25]
Rep. Michael Doyle [D, PA-14]
Rep. Donna F. Edwards [D, MD-4]
Rep. Thomas (Chet) Edwards [D, TX-17]
Rep. Keith Ellison [D, MN-5]
Rep. Rahm Emanuel [D, IL-5]
Rep. Anna Eshoo [D, CA-14]
Rep. Bob Etheridge [D, NC-2]
Rep. Eni Faleomavaega [D, AS-0]
Rep. Sam Farr [D, CA-17]
Rep. Bob Filner [D, CA-51]
Rep. Barney Frank [D, MA-4]
Rep. Charles Gonzalez [D, TX-20]
Rep. Raymond (Gene) Green [D, TX-29]
Rep. Raul Grijalva [D, AZ-7]
Rep. Luis Gutierrez [D, IL-4]
Rep. John Hall [D, NY-19]
Rep. Phil Hare [D, IL-17]
Rep. Jane Harman [D, CA-36]
Rep. Alcee Hastings [D, FL-23]
Rep. Brian Higgins [D, NY-27]
Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D, NY-22]
Rep. Ruben Hinojosa [D, TX-15]
Rep. Mazie Hirono [D, HI-2]
Rep. Paul Hodes [D, NH-2]
Rep. Rush Holt [D, NJ-12]
Rep. Michael Honda [D, CA-15]
Rep. Darlene Hooley [D, OR-5]
Rep. Steny Hoyer [D, MD-5]
Rep. Jay Inslee [D, WA-1]
Rep. Jesse Jackson [D, IL-2]
Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee [D, TX-18]
Rep. William Jefferson [D, LA-2]
Rep. Henry Johnson [D, GA-4]
Rep. Stephanie Jones [D, OH-11]
Rep. Paul Kanjorski [D, PA-11]
Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D, OH-9]
Rep. Patrick Kennedy [D, RI-1]
Rep. Dale Kildee [D, MI-5]
Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick [D, MI-13]
Rep. Ronald Kind [D, WI-3]
Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D, OH-10]
Rep. Ray LaHood [R, IL-18]
Rep. James Langevin [D, RI-2]
Rep. Rick Larsen [D, WA-2]
Rep. John Larson [D, CT-1]
Rep. Barbara Lee [D, CA-9]
Rep. Sander Levin [D, MI-12]
Rep. John Lewis [D, GA-5]
Rep. Daniel Lipinski [D, IL-3]
Rep. David Loebsack [D, IA-2]
Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D, CA-16]
Rep. Nita Lowey [D, NY-18]
Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D, NY-14]
Rep. Edward Markey [D, MA-7]
Rep. Doris Matsui [D, CA-5]
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy [D, NY-4]
Rep. Betty McCollum [D, MN-4]
Rep. James McDermott [D, WA-7]
Rep. James McGovern [D, MA-3]
Rep. Kendrick Meek [D, FL-17]
Rep. Gregory Meeks [D, NY-6]
Rep. George Miller [D, CA-7]
Rep. R. Bradley Miller [D, NC-13]
Rep. Alan Mollohan [D, WV-1]
Rep. Dennis Moore [D, KS-3]
Rep. Gwen Moore [D, WI-4]
Rep. James Moran [D, VA-8]
Rep. Christopher Murphy [D, CT-5]
Rep. Patrick Murphy [D, PA-8]
Rep. John Murtha [D, PA-12]
Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D, NY-8]
Rep. Grace Napolitano [D, CA-38]
Rep. Richard Neal [D, MA-2]
Rep. James Oberstar [D, MN-8]
Rep. David Obey [D, WI-7]
Rep. John Olver [D, MA-1]
Rep. Solomon Ortiz [D, TX-27]
Rep. Frank Pallone [D, NJ-6]
Rep. William Pascrell [D, NJ-8]
Rep. Edward Pastor [D, AZ-4]
Rep. Ronald Paul [R, TX-14]
Rep. Donald Payne [D, NJ-10]
Rep. Collin Peterson [D, MN-7]
Rep. Earl Pomeroy [D, ND-0]
Rep. David Price [D, NC-4]
Rep. Nick Rahall [D, WV-3]
Rep. Charles Rangel [D, NY-15]
Rep. Silvestre Reyes [D, TX-16]
Rep. Laura Richardson [D, CA-37]
Rep. Ciro Rodriguez [D, TX-23]
Rep. Mike Ross [D, AR-4]
Rep. Steven Rothman [D, NJ-9]
Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard [D, CA-34]
Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger [D, MD-2]
Rep. Timothy Ryan [D, OH-17]
Rep. John Salazar [D, CO-3]
Rep. Linda Sanchez [D, CA-39]
Rep. Loretta Sanchez [D, CA-47]
Rep. John Sarbanes [D, MD-3]
Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D, IL-9]
Rep. Adam Schiff [D, CA-29]
Rep. Allyson Schwartz [D, PA-13]
Rep. David Scott [D, GA-13]
Rep. Robert (Bobby) Scott [D, VA-3]
Rep. Jose Serrano [D, NY-16]
Rep. Joe Sestak [D, PA-7]
Rep. Albio Sires [D, NJ-13]
Rep. Ike Skelton [D, MO-4]
Rep. Louise Slaughter [D, NY-28]
Rep. Adam Smith [D, WA-9]
Rep. Victor Snyder [D, AR-2]
Rep. Hilda Solis [D, CA-32]
Rep. Jackie Speier [D, CA-12]
Rep. John Spratt [D, SC-5]
Rep. Fortney Stark [D, CA-13]
Rep. Betty Sutton [D, OH-13]
Rep. Ellen Tauscher [D, CA-10]
Rep. Bennie Thompson [D, MS-2]
Rep. C. Michael Thompson [D, CA-1]
Rep. John Tierney [D, MA-6]
Rep. Edolphus Towns [D, NY-10]
Rep. Niki Tsongas [D, MA-5]
Rep. Tom Udall [D, NM-3]
Rep. Christopher Van Hollen [D, MD-8]
Rep. Nydia Velazquez [D, NY-12]
Rep. Peter Visclosky [D, IN-1]
Rep. Timothy Walz [D, MN-1]
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D, FL-20]
Rep. Maxine Waters [D, CA-35]
Rep. Melvin Watt [D, NC-12]
Rep. Henry Waxman [D, CA-30]
Rep. Peter Welch [D, VT-0]
Rep. Robert Wexler [D, FL-19]
Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D, CA-6]
Rep. David Wu [D, OR-1]
Rep. John Yarmuth [D, KY-3]
House of Representatives Members Abstaining from Voting H.R. 5959 Amendment 4:
Rep. Leonard Boswell [D, IA-3]
Rep. William Delahunt [D, MA-10]
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson [R, MO-8]
Rep. Luis Fortuno [R, PR-0]
Rep. Wayne Gilchrest [R, MD-1]
Rep. Al Green [D, TX-9]
Rep. Eddie Johnson [D, TX-30]
Rep. Frank Lucas [R, OK-3]
Rep. Eleanor Norton [D, DC-0]
Rep. Bobby Rush [D, IL-1]
