Editor’s Note: Below is an open letter from the Santa Monica Democratic Club sent on Dec. 12 to Representative Ted Lieu.
Dear Representative Lieu:
We the executive board of the Santa Monica Democratic Club wish to convey our appreciation for your calm and courageous response to the fear and fear-mongering over the issue of Syrian refugees. The vote in Congress on the so-called SAFE act was one of the most important of this, your first year representing us. Your vote against it was brave and principled, and the statement you released was exemplary in its eloquence and passion.
We were, as you know, disappointed in your vote on the Iran nuclear deal, but we acknowledge and appreciate how forthcoming you were in revealing your process of deliberation and laying out the information and analysis on which you based your decision, along with your candor in sharing how difficult it was to reach that decision. We have been gratified by your accessibility and responsiveness, and note that you have not only taken positions we favor on numerous important issues but have demonstrated vision and leadership.
Among them, we note in particular your leadership in demanding accountability for Exxon’s longstanding, egregious actions in suppressing the work of its own scientists showing the disastrous effects of carbon emissions on climate and its subsequent campaign of disinformation denying anthropogenic climate change; your forceful message last spring during the hearings on mass surveillance — “follow the damn constitution” indeed!; your vigorous defense of Planned Parenthood in the face of the concerted campaign of specious attacks against it; and just this week your floor speech condemning the Republican majority’s actions to stymy the President’s climate-action clean-power plan.
We extend our best wishes to you, your staff, and your family for the new year, along with our thanks for your effective work and responsiveness as our representative.
Sincerely,
Jay Johnson and Maryanne Solomon, Co-Presidents, and the members of the Executive Board
