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From: gene@batman.UUCP (Gene Mutschler)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: The Kidnapping of Duarte's Daughter
Message-ID: <188@batman.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 12-Sep-85 17:59:48 EDT
Article-I.D.: batman.188
Posted: Thu Sep 12 17:59:48 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 15-Sep-85 10:02:48 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Burroughs Austin Research Center, TX
Lines: 44

[eat it]

The recent kidnapping of President (of El Salvador) Duarte's daughter,
presumably by the communist rebels, led me to wonder if the Left
would rise up with the same sense of outrage that it vented against earlier
right-wing death squads. (Heard from the death squads lately?  Just
the Left-Wing death squads, you say?  I thought so.)
I wasn't going to hold my breath, but thought that the American Left
would find it politic to do so.

So, I was interested to note during C-SPAN coverage of the House
today (Thu, 12 Sep 85), that Michael Barnes (D-MD), a noted opponent
of Administration policy in Central America, introduced a Concurrent
Resolution in the House roundly condemning the kidnapping.
He was especially concerned about the precedent created and the
spread of violence to the innocent relatives of political leaders.
He called for its unanimous adoption, and I said to myself, "This
is a Good Thing, and good politics for the Democrats in the bargain".
A couple of Republicans made short addresses supporting the Resolution
and all seemed sweetness and light. Then Henry Gonzales (D-TX) got up and
started running off at the mouth about how Duarte deserved it because
the US was such a Bad Country.  An obviously embarassed Barnes cut him
off and called the question.

Then they had a roll-call vote.  I noted with interest that Gonzales
probably abstained (voted Present).  I also noticed that a couple
of Democrats had the nerve to vote against it, although one came to
his/her senses and changed his/her vote.  So, I have to say
congrats to the Democrats for not making complete fools of themselves,
although I do wonder who the jerk is who voted against the Resolution.
My guess would be Studds (D-MA), but it's just a guess.  Whoever it is,
I think we can presume that if he/she is not in the pay of the KGB,
he/she certainly should be.

What about all of you lefties on the net?  Tell me Duarte deserved it.
I dare you.

Not that it matters, as I will be leaving the net in a couple of days
for about six to eight months.  It's been real.
-- 
Gene Mutschler             {ihnp4 seismo ctvax}!ut-sally!batman!gene
Burroughs Corp.
Austin Research Center     cmp.barc@utexas-20.ARPA
(512) 258-2495