West Capitol steps
Advance copy of Doris Haddock's remarks on the west Capitol steps in Washington D.C. 5 p.m. Tuesday, September 19th, 2000
Free admission: Doris "Granny D" Haddock will speak on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol with David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Sheryl Crow, Paula Poundstone, cast members of West Wing, Sen. John McCain, Sen Russ Feingold, Gov. Jesse Ventura, and others on Tuesday, September 19th at 5 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Do you think there are enough of us here, that if we all wished the same wish, it might come true?
Well, let us try.
Let's imagine that we could pass a law in this great building that could work some magic. It would get big money out of the way of our democracy.
The law would read as follows:
"Whoever directly or indirectly, corruptly gives, offers or promises anything of value to any public official with intent to influence any official act; Or, being a public official, directly or indirectly, corruptly demands, seeks, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive or accept anything of value personally or for any other person or entity, in return for being influenced in the performance of any official act, shall be fined under this title or not more than three times the monetary equivalent of the thing of value, whichever is greater, or imprisoned for not more than fifteen years, or both, and may be disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States."
Now, how hard must we wish to make that law the law of this land? Humor me, please, and close your eyes tightly and click your heels together three times. One, two, three.
You have done it. The law I read to you, condensed somewhat, is indeed the law of the land. It is United States Code, Title 18, Chapter 11, Section 201: Bribery of public officials.
18. 11. 201. Under the crystal clear provisions of this law, most of the people who make laws in these buildings to send other people to jail, should themselves be in jail. Under the unambiguous provisions of this law, political parties that extract protection money from industries are in violation of federal bribery law and require prosecution.
Now let us make another wish, and this one needs yet to happen. We wish that the Attorney General of the United States, Ms. Janet Reno, might spend the final months of this administration, and the final months of her service to our people, in improving health; and that, in good health, she might strengthen her legacy by setting in motion the proper enforcement of this existing federal law upon which the very health of our democracy depends. 18, 11, 201.
I ask you, Ms. Reno, to investigate the sale of public policy by the elected leaders of our nation. I ask you, Ms. Reno, to investigate the purchase of public policy by the great lobbying operations that have set upon our temple of self-governance like great vampire bats that we must now carefully cage and send home to their dark caves on Wall Street.
Ms. Reno, we, the people, ask this of you, our friend. No other one person but you holds the power to set a new course for our nation overnight, --with the stroke of a pen.
18, 11, 201: the law is there to be enforced, and the evidence drips from every window of K Street, flows down every hallway of Congress, rises waist-deep in the fundraising ballrooms of every luxury hotel in this city. Do your duty, Ma'm, though, in so doing, you will have not a friend left in this city. We the people will call you our dearest friend..
How many good men and women have died for our freedom as a self-governing people? Go across the cold river to Arlington and see! The spirits of the dead, and the hearts of the living are filled with sorrow for what now happens in this, our own Capitol city, the home of our democracy.
Title 18, Chapter 11, Section 201. That must be our demand at the door of Justice: 18, 11, 201.
Immediately following this event, I invite all of you to walk with me to Ms Reno's front door, only a few blocks from here, to help me post this letter upon her door and to raise our voices with this demand: 18, 11, 201.
Thank you.