State Green Party Press Release

Green Party of Colorado

Will “September of Service” Include Bush Daughters Enlisting in Army?

PRESS RELEASE SEPTEMBER 2, 2002

Arvada, Colorado -- The Colorado Green Party’s seventh congressional district candidate, Dave Chandler, today challenged George W. Bush to practice what he preaches and encourage his twin daughters to enlist in the U.S. Army.

“This is a perfect opportunity for the commander-in-chief to put his money where his mouth is and promote the notion that the children, grandchildren, nephews, and nieces of top administration officials enlist in the military,” Chandler said. “Since our armed forces are all volunteer, the suggestion would be an exemplary fit for Bush’s “September of Service” idea.”

Chandler said that his challenge is a way of exposing the hypocrisy of those who are beating the drums loudest for war. “I’m just asking for consistency from those who are always the first to advocate war, use the loftiest language, but always seem to find an excuse for avoiding service for themselves and their families,” said Chandler. “I grew up right after Vietnam when the military was in particular disfavor; I didn’t enlist. But then I have always been an advocate for using non-violent means to resolve conflicts.” Chandler opposes an attack on Iraq and says neither Bush nor Cheney have made the case for a preemptive strike on another sovereign nation.

“Last week Cheney raised the rhetoric, but did not offer one scintilla of evidence that Iraq had anything to do with September 11. Nor did he provide a single bit of proof that Iraq does indeed have any weapons of mass destruction,” Chandler said. “Furthermore, Cheney did not show how Iraq could deliver such a weapon to the U.S, nor how Iraq is a “mortal threat” to our country. Just repeating something over and over again does not make it so. Before embarking upon the destruction and death of war, you better present to the American people one hundred percent certainty of danger.”

“That’s why until you hear the warhawks encouraging their own young family members to enlist in the military, everyone should take their oratory with a grain of salt,” Chandler said. “Considering the arguments for war we have been hearing lately, having ‘other priorities’ -- the excuse Cheney used to explained his failure to go to Vietnam -- shouldn’t be accepted from this crowd and should be used to question their real intentions.”

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Second Chandler “Meet the Candidate” Open House in Arvada

Arvada, Colorado - Dave Chandler, candidate for U.S. Congress for the new seventh district, will hold his second “Meet the Candidate” open house on Sunday, September 8, 2002.

This meeting will be at the Standley Lake Public Library, 8485 Kipling Street, Arvada. The library is located on the west side of Kipling, midway between 80th and 88th Avenues.

The open house will be conducted from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the library’s large meeting room.

Chandler, the Colorado Green party candidate, encourages interested voters to attend the informal gathering so that he can introduce himself, discuss his stand on issues, and answer questions. Voter registration forms will also be available.

The new seventh congressional district includes the communities of Aurora, Bennett, Strasburg, Brighton, Commerce City, Arvada, Wheat Ridge, Golden, and Lakewood.

Dave Chandler
Candidate - US Congress
Colorado 7th District
Green Party
720-436-4402