tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-861586646186106520.post-8053563456083326392007-09-05T11:37:00.000-07:002007-09-05T11:53:40.270-07:00<p>It is a pleasure to note that <em>The Barack Obama Report </em>- a campaign blog independent of the senator's official presidential effort - has <a href="http://www.thebarackobamareport.com/the_barack_obama_report/cries_from_iraq_tales_of_american_soldiers_and_iraq_civilians/index.html" target="_blank">written about LaVena Johnson</a>. The post, the concern it evinces for soldiers and their families, and the attention it will bring to LaVena's story, are all greatly appreciated.</p> <p>However, the blog post does bring a question to mind regarding <strong>another</strong> presidential contender: Senator Hillary Clinton.</p> <p>A convergence of circumstances places the junior senator from New York in a unique position. She is one of the most prominent members of the majority party in Congress. She is the leading Democratic presidential contender. She is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee - one of the two legislative bodies to which <a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/pfc_lavena_johnson/" target="_blank">the LaVena Johnson petition</a> is addressed. These factors make for a compelling argument that Senator Clinton should bring her support to the Johnson family and its efforts to launch a new investigation of the circumstances surrounding LaVena's death in Iraq. </p> <p>Of all the presidential candidates, Democratic or Republican, only Senator Clinton is in an official position - <span style="font-style: italic;">right now</span> - to bring influence to bear on the Army. Even in purely political terms, the opportunity to demonstrate support for military families and their loved ones in service should be clear to all. </p> <p>It is to be hoped that the senator from New York has sufficient concern for soldiers that she will lend the Johnsons her support in the name of all service families who have given so much, and whose search for the truth about their daughters, sons, fathers, and mothers is too often <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/node/6034" target="_blank">lost in the fog of war</a>.</p> <p>Constituents of Hillary Clinton who share this hope are invited to express their feelings to the senator herself <a href="http://clinton.senate.gov/contact/webform.cfm?subj=issue" target="_blank"><strong>by way of email</strong></a>, or via the addresses (district office recommended) or phone or fax numbers below:</p> <p><strong>District office</strong><br />780 Third Ave<br />Suite 2601<br />New York, NY 10017<br />Phone (212) 688-6262<br />Fax (212) 688-7444</p> <p><strong>D.C. office</strong><br />United States Senate<br />476 Russell Senate Office Building<br />Washington, DC 20510<br />Phone (202) 224-4451<br />Fax (202) 228-0282 </p>Philip Barronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10734063270306074707noreply@blogger.com