Tahoe quizzes Doolittle: Congressman shares views on Iraq, global warming

While Rep. John Doolittle's South Lake Tahoe town hall meeting remained mostly amicable, some testiness arose Tuesday surrounding the ongoing war in Iraq and the congressman's skepticism regarding global warming.

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South Lake Tahoe resident Ralph Sinibaldi opened up the question and answer portion of the meeting with the query, "How do you propose we get ourselves out of Iraq?"

"I think there were good reasons to go in. When I voted to go in it wasn't only because of weapons of mass destruction and I think removing Saddam Hussein was something that needed to be done," said Doolittle. "Increasingly we need to turn it over to the Iraqis and I don't mean five years from now, I mean on the pretty fast track. We're looking towards the end of the year as the time this hand-off could happen."

Scattered grumbles were heard throughout the crowd when Doolittle expressed skepticism regarding the threat of global warming to the U.S. and the world, in response to comments from Sinibaldi.

"I don't really buy into the whole global warming catastrophe argument that you're seeing advanced so much by the mass media. The facts are that the history of the Earth is one of warming and cooling. We shouldn't become too alarmed," said Doolittle. "I think the facts are quite in dispute and I think rather than reacting to a state of fear, we would be better off trying to actually ascertain what the facts are and trying to take proactive measures that are reasonable and improve our situation."

During his opening presentation Doolittle listed his priorities in Congress as curbing illegal immigration, reducing wasteful government spending, protecting rural schools, providing health care for all Americans, protecting the environment while preserving jobs and solving the situation in Iraq.

Doolittle will remain at the South Shore tomorrow, going door-to-door to talk with local residents.

Here are some additional questions and answers from Tuesday's town hall meeting:



Q: Joy Rothschild: What can be done to improve our image worldwide?

A: You know, I think it already is improving. Its just improved in the last year or two. With the threat of Iran I think we're working very cooperatively with some of the European countries that have not been terribly supportive of us in Iraq, for example. We've seen remarkable cooperation over the North Korea situation in just the past few months, even getting China and Russia to come around a little bit on that. The facts as I'm seeing them, its relatively better now than its been in some time.

Q: Juan Chavez: In the film "Fahrenheit 9/11", Michael Moore approached you and asked if you would enlist your family members in the army, you didn't respond. Can you tell us why you didn't respond and what would your answer be to this question today?

A: You know, I was on my way to a meeting and this bearded guy tried to get in my face. I was late for the meeting, so I just brushed him aside and went on. It was Michael Moore, and I didn't even really realize that, but he put me in the movie. Let me say this, any of my family members that would care to go, would go. I don't even have the power. Are you suggesting I should be able to go and put them into Iraq against their will?



Q: Charles Jensen: Why don't you want the president to go through Congress to declare war on Iran?

A: I want Iran to think we might go to war, I want them to worry about that. I don't want to pass a bill that basically tells the world, including Iran, that we won't be doing anything in Iran unless both houses of congress pass a declaration of war. That would just be stupid in my opinion. We want them to be nervous. Maybe that nervousness will cause them to back off of their attempts to produce nuclear weapons to be used against Israel and other countries in the middle east.

Q: Lawrence Klamick: What do you plan to do with employers who continue to hire illegal immigrants?

A: Enforcement actions against employers have been increased. In the works is a bill that would create an easy system for employers to be able to verify if somebody is here illegally. It would be like a credit card that you'd swipe and get a response back yes or no. If it's yes, you take it and put it in your files so if you're ever questioned about it, you have evidence. It makes it secure for the employer and it's an easy way of verification. That is one of the ideas that is out there, and its going to be considered in this new comprehensive bill that is being discussed in the congress now. These enforcement actions, that are happening right now under existing law are having a positive effect, I think, until we can get something stronger in place.



Q: Joyce Blackstone: Why did you vote no on the bill that would have allowed Medicare to lobby the drug companies on prescription drug prices?

A: I voted against that because I think that it could actually be a drag on the development of new drugs and what is available to people. I didn't want the government setting the prices for drugs because if that is what ends up happening, you're going to have fewer drugs available to you.

Q: Audrey Moore: Why have you voted against pay increases for the U.S. military in combat in Iraq?

A: Actually I voted for them, but that is an issue that is gets into a little game the minority party and majority party play with each other. I will just tell you that we have increased substantially the pay and benefits for the military, and I will continue to vote for those.



Q: Mark McKinney: How do you feel about young children's declining respect, especially when it comes to profanity?

A: There has been a marked coarsening of our culture in the last few years. That is just something we as a people, collectively, need to work on starting with ourselves, our families, through our churches, the civic associations we belong to. This idea of civility has really started to decline and I think because it's gradual, it creeps up on all of us. I think we need to just recognize that there is a better way. To me there is no excuse for using profanity or obscenity out in society, but I think it's quite commonly accepted.