Monday, December 05, 2005
Republicans Offer Money, Limbs For War Effort
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 - The Bush Administration has asked Congress to pass the hat to help pay for the war in Iraq. Former Republican Majority Leader Tom Delay has volunteered to donate his entire Congressional salary to support the war effort and he called on his fellow Republicans to do the same.
"Put your money where you mouth is," Delay shouted in an emotional speech from the House floor. "This war is costing our country millions of dollars every day and the least we can do is make some personal sacrifices."
For those congressmen who would prefer to dedicate their donation for a specific item or purpose, Delay proposed a number of categories. He said one smart bomb can be purchased for $100,000; a rocket launcher at $50,000; an automatic weapon for $25,000; a prosthetic limb for an American soldier at $10,000; a phosphorus shell for $5,000; a bullet-proof vest at $1,000; or a year-supply of food for a prisoner-of-war for only $100.
Gifts will be given to donors who make generous contributions, according to Delay. They may include a mounted skull of an Al-Qaeda suicide bomber or a framed photo of an Iraqi prisoner receiving electric shocks. Delay said these gifts were in limited supply and will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.
President Bush hailed this effort as "patriotism at its finest." Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said his chamber will consider donating organs and limbs to wounded servicemen. "There is no reason why any of us couldn't give up a kidney, arm or leg to someone who has been severely injured fighting for his country," Frist explained. "Since we can transplant almost any part of the body it creates an opportunity for us to make a meaningful contribution."
Frist also invited Democrat senators to participate, but he suggested they "don't have the balls" to donate a body part. Senator John Kerry responded that he already gave up his "manliness" when he ran for president. Minority Leader Harry Reid proposed that Bush should make a very small, symbolic donation first, like his brain.
"This support the war effort is sounding more and more like The Wizard of Oz," Reid said. "We're all a bunch of straw men with tin armor and no courage looking for someone to wave a wand to get us out of this mess. But our wizard is no whiz kid. He is just an ordinary fool hiding behind a curtain," Reid pointed out.
"Put your money where you mouth is," Delay shouted in an emotional speech from the House floor. "This war is costing our country millions of dollars every day and the least we can do is make some personal sacrifices."
For those congressmen who would prefer to dedicate their donation for a specific item or purpose, Delay proposed a number of categories. He said one smart bomb can be purchased for $100,000; a rocket launcher at $50,000; an automatic weapon for $25,000; a prosthetic limb for an American soldier at $10,000; a phosphorus shell for $5,000; a bullet-proof vest at $1,000; or a year-supply of food for a prisoner-of-war for only $100.
Gifts will be given to donors who make generous contributions, according to Delay. They may include a mounted skull of an Al-Qaeda suicide bomber or a framed photo of an Iraqi prisoner receiving electric shocks. Delay said these gifts were in limited supply and will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.
President Bush hailed this effort as "patriotism at its finest." Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said his chamber will consider donating organs and limbs to wounded servicemen. "There is no reason why any of us couldn't give up a kidney, arm or leg to someone who has been severely injured fighting for his country," Frist explained. "Since we can transplant almost any part of the body it creates an opportunity for us to make a meaningful contribution."
Frist also invited Democrat senators to participate, but he suggested they "don't have the balls" to donate a body part. Senator John Kerry responded that he already gave up his "manliness" when he ran for president. Minority Leader Harry Reid proposed that Bush should make a very small, symbolic donation first, like his brain.
"This support the war effort is sounding more and more like The Wizard of Oz," Reid said. "We're all a bunch of straw men with tin armor and no courage looking for someone to wave a wand to get us out of this mess. But our wizard is no whiz kid. He is just an ordinary fool hiding behind a curtain," Reid pointed out.
