Tonight's Presidential Debate

TONIGHT'S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE -- (House of Representatives - September 30, 2004)

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I briefly rise, as well, to join my colleague in acknowledging the meeting between the Prime Minister of India and, of course, the President of Pakistan asking for their fellow countrymen and -women to understand the importance of aspiring for peace for their people.

But I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to really ask my colleagues and the American people what tonight's debate should really be about. This debate has been almost poised as a contest between two warriors. In fact, I believe this is a debate for the American people. The question should be asked, why were the American people told that we needed to go to war for the weapons of mass destruction that did not exist? Why have some thousand-plus of our young men and women and family members died in Iraq when there was no basis for this war? Why did the President not seek a constitutional vote for this war? Why are there thousands of wounded lying in our hospitals and we do not even know if the veterans hospitals will remain open?

The question is, who can lead us forward, and the answer is John Kerry. That is what this debate is about, what will the American people want for their future and I can assure you it is not and should not be a litany of untruths from their national government; they simply want the truth.