Here's the abominable response (dated January 12, 2009) I got yesterday to the letter and phone message I sent to "my representative," Sen. Sherrod Brown:

"Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the current situation in Gaza.

Israel has a right and a duty to defend its people from terrorism. For too long, Hamas has used Gaza as a staging ground for terrorism, including the recent escalation of rocket launches against Israeli citizens, to the detriment of the Palestinian people. I cosponsored S. Res. 10, a resolution reaffirming support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, because it states that right and asserts our concern about humanitarian aid and protecting civilian lives.

I am deeply concerned by the growing number of civilian casualties. All sides must work towards an immediate resolution to the crisis. The Bush Administration [this letter arrived on Inauguration Day]
must work to bring about a ceasefire and an immediate removal of all obstacles for the delivery of humanitarian aid.

I am monitoring this situation and will continue to promote direct action by this and the next Administration to develop a lasting peace for the region.

Thank you again for writing me.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown
United States Senator"
****

The false "facts," hypocrisy, and cruelty of this [Likud] propaganda are appalling. I emailed an answer detailing the many errors of Sen. Brown's cavalier support for the Israeli government's war crimes.

Do what I did after I got one of those replies: I called both the local and DC offices of my Senator and said
(1) I received the response, and that
(2) I am appalled that the senator supports Israel's terrorist activities.

I said the reason why I called Israel's actions in Gaza "terrorist" was because
(1) it cynically broke the ceasefire on the night of our national election,
(2) it ignored Hamas' repeated request for peace talks in December after Hamas had already agreed in 2004 to recognize Israel and to recognize the 1967 UN Resolution borders,
(3) it bombed UN facilities marked as such on the roof and in advance by GPS,
(4) it used2,000-lb and illegal phosporous bombs on defenseless citizens, and
(5) it starved desperate Gazan citizens of food, fuel, medicine, and ambulances.
[I wrote all these on an index card, BTW.]

I told the woman that I was going to be emailing these items, and that the world community knew these facts, had instituted a Boycott, Divest, and Sanction reaction to Israel, and that our news orgs censored this info.

Then I added that unless the senator worked in US national security interests first and not the Kadima/LIkud party's idea of justice in the region which prompted 911, I would work to have the senator replaced in 2010 with someone younger, more willing to use the net to uncover the truth for himself, and more in touch with the American mood, and values.

I immediately emailed Brown with a list very similar to yours, though I left out your great point about Nov 4 being our election day, and have also called both offices since then.

I appreciate your concise list, as well, for my future calls and letters,

Susie

'though I left out your great point about Nov 4 being our election day'

The whole thing was timed to take advantage of most of us being on holidays when the length and extent of the rampage had reached it's zenith. And the start on election day, and the finish just prior to inauguration day is illustrative of the dreadful cynicism at work.