I knew my vote against the Authorization for Use of Military Force of 2001 would be difficult, but I also knew it was the right vote.
I knew the last thing our grieving nation needed after 9/11 was to rush into war without proper deliberation by the people. But when I first asserted this idea on the House floor, I was seen as a radical. I was slandered as unpatriotic. I even received countless death threats.
But that didn't stop me from fighting for what was right, though. The final vote that day came out to 420 to 1 – and yes, I was that sole vote.
My father – a retired Army lieutenant colonel – was the first person to call me after. He reminded me that we should never send our troops into harm's way without a clear plan, objective and exit strategy. And he was right.
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John, I am the only candidate in this race who voted against giving the president the authority to wage endless war – both in Afghanistan in 2001 and again in 2002 in Iraq. So when the Senate voted to repeal authorizations for the use of military force against Iraq early last year, it marked a milestone in a mission that I've worked toward throughout my career in Congress.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. warned us of three connected evils in the world: racism, poverty and militarism. I’ve spent my entire life fighting all three. That's why I'm running to be just the fourth Black woman in history to serve in the Senate – and I hope I have your full support, John.
I have a proven track record of fighting for what I know is right. And if I'm elected to the Senate, you can count on me to continue this fight for the things that matter most.
So I have to ask: Will you chip in $5 or more right now to help me pull ahead in this race and build a progressive future for all? I'm ready to fight for you with everything I've got, but political experts have said that I'm at a SERIOUS fundraising deficit compared to my opponents, and I need every dollar I can get to close this gap.
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Thank you for being a part of my historic movement for change.
– Barbara Lee
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