Paul Simon

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Paul Simon was a U.S. Senator from Illinois.

"Solidarity"

Circa 1984, July 17, at the Great Electronic Underground, San Francisco, Democratic Socialists of America's American Solidarity Movement organized a reception "Solidarity"at the Democratic Party Convention, in support of US labor.

Sponsors included Rep. Paul Simon.[1]

Admiration for Harrison Brown

In a tribute to Harrison Brown by John Holdren in the March 1987 edition of the The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Paul Simon is quoted as saying:

"When I was a very young and green state legislator, Harrison Brown appeared on a panel at the University of Illinois and I was most impressed by him and I have been impressed by what he has said and done since that time."[2]

Comprand

In 1987 Paul Simon was a Member of the Executive Committee of Chicago based Comprand (Comprehensive Research and Development)[3].

Opposed aid to El Salvador

On February 6, 1990, Senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry introduced a Bill to cut off all aid to El Salvador just a few days after EI Salvador's President Cristiani had come to Washington to discuss the need for such support.

This bill was backed by four other Democratic Senators: Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Paul Simon of Illinois, Alan Cranston of California and Brock Adams of Washington state.

The Senators and Congressmen who vote against providing aid to the government of El Salvador were effectively handicapping the democratically-elected government in that area and paralleling the Communist line of the time.[4]

The Communist Party USA newspaper, the People's Daily World of January 30, 1990 stated:

Last weekend's meeting of the Communist Party, USA resolved to Mobilize to build the March 24 demonstration in Washington, D.C. demanding an end to military aid to El Salvador and intervention in Central America.

Coalition for Democratic Values

In 1990, Democratic Socialists of America "friend" Heather Booth became director of the Coalition for Democratic Values, a new national Democratic Party organization founded, under the leadership of Senators Howard Metzenbaum, and Paul Simon, to hold the Democratic Party to "progressive standards."[5][6]

Empowerment '92

Empowerment '92: A Call to Action Conference, was held June 6 to 9, 1992. African American community activists, joined with trade unionists, politicians, peace activists, environmentalists and others to discuss how to change the nation's priorities as the economic crisis deepens.

Of the upcoming conference DC Statehood Senator Jesse Jackson said..."We issue this Call to Action to reaffirm and reassert our vision of a true world order, one based on peace, justice and human priorities. our message, translated into action can, and must srt a new direction for our nation".[7]

Speakers included;

UN booster

Writing in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, Oct 1993, John Isaacs, executive director of Council for a Livable World, Bulletin contributing editor said "Not that there aren't UN boosters in Congress, including such senators as Indiana Republican Richard Lugar, and Democrats Joe Biden of Delaware, David Boren of Oklahoma, Paul Simon of Illinois.

On July 14 Biden, Boren, Simon and Pell introduced a bill calling on the United States to to designate specific forces for peacekeeping under Article 43 of the UN Charter. A companion measure was introduced in the House by New Jersey Democrat Robert Toricelli.

Single-payer Bills

In 1994 Jim McDermott, John Conyers and Paul Wellstone promoted a "single-payer" health care bill (HR1200/S491).[8] Ellen Shaffer, a member of Wellstone's staff told the People's Weekly World that the authors had been "working closely" with Hillary Clinton. "She knows what they are doing" Shaffer said.[9]

Senators Howard Metzenbaum, Paul Simon and Daniel Inouye joined in sponsoring another "single payer" Bill, S491, in the Senate.[10]

Representatives and Senators call for appointment of Special Rapporteur to Colombia

After an international campaign by pro-Colombia rebel activists, on February 9 1996, Senators Russ Feingold, Paul Simon and Tom Harkin, and on February 12 Representatives Jim McDermott, Tom Lantos and Porter plus 31 co-signers wrote Secretary of State Warren Christopher, urging him to have the U.S. representative to the UN Human Rights Commission (meeting in Geneva in March) support the issuance of a Special Rapporteur for Human Rights for Colombia.[11]

Supported by Council for a Livable World

The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported Paul Simon in his successful Senate run as candidate for Illinois.[12] He has also been previously supported by the Council.[12]

FightingBobFest speaker

Paul Simon was a guest speaker at Wisconsin's annual progressive Fighting Bob Fest, in 2002. [13]

References

Template:Reflist

  1. ↑ American Solidarity Movement flyer]
  2. ↑ Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Harrison Brown 1917 - 1986, March 1987 by John Holdren
  3. ↑ Comprand Letterhead Sep 29 1987
  4. ↑ Communists in the Democratic Party, page 9
  5. ↑ Leaders From the 1960s, A Biographical Sourcebook of American Activism, Edited by David DeLeon, page 477-481
  6. ↑ DEMOCRATIC LEFT SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER 1990, page 20
  7. ↑ Peoples Weekly World, May 25, 1991, page 8
  8. ↑ Dem. Left, Jan./Feb. 1994, page 2
  9. ↑ PPW, March 13, 1993, page 1
  10. ↑ PPW, March 13, 1993, page 1
  11. ↑ [Action on Colombia, Winter 1996]
  12. ↑ Jump up to: 12.0 12.1 CLW website: Who We've Helped Elect
  13. ↑ FBF Speakers page, accessed Dec. 28, 2012
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