Ehlers engages in peace talks

Analysis:

This article is based on a meeting between Congressional Representative Ehlers and a group of people opposed to the US War in Iraq. The article states that 9 people met with Ehlers, three of which are cited in the story. Is it clear from their comments what they were asking the Congressman to do? Constituents who are cited refer to the need for Ehlers to listen to his constituents, not follow the GOP position, that he needs to represent the people who voted for him. and that comments on Ehlers being a religious man.

The article does mention that this meeting was part of the effort by the group Americans Against Escalation in Iraq that has been targeting 40 Republican Congressman across the country. Ehlers is quoted as saying that he has not changed his position and that “It seems to me we have to get the factions to quit killing each other and create a more peaceful atmosphere so the Iraqis can get busy solving their problems.” The Press reporter does not verify this claim that the problem is that Iraqis are killing Iraqis.

Story:

The full-court press to change the mind of U.S. Rep. Vern Ehlers on the war in Iraq continues.

But Ehlers has heard nothing yet to convince him to do so — despite impassioned pleas of constituents who think he is wrong.

“I still think we have an obligation (to Iraq). The question is how to best exercise that obligation,” Ehlers said, after meeting privately with nine constituents at his Grand Rapids office Wednesday.

“It seems to me we have to get the factions to quit killing each other and create a more peaceful atmosphere so the Iraqis can get busy solving their problems.”

But Middleville resident Patricia Wilson said she thinks it’s time to end the war effort, calling Ehlers out of touch with anti-war sentiments.

“There are a lot of people he is not hearing,” said Wilson, 55. She was one of his constituents who sat down with Ehlers in an attempt to get him to change his support for the war.

Wilson said it is time Ehlers bucked the GOP leadership that continues to back the war.

“I would expect him to fall out of lockstep with the Republicans and follow his conscience,” she said. “This has gone on five years. That’s long enough.”

During the meeting, the constituents handed Ehlers a basket they said contained more than 1,000 petitions against the war.

The session followed an anti-war gathering Tuesday night at Grand Valley State University’s Loosemore Auditorium in Grand Rapids, an event organized by Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, a national group that is targeting dozens of federal Republican lawmakers.

It also is targeting five other Michigan congressmen, all Republicans.

Its activism comes as political forces on either side of the war galvanize support in advance of a September report on progress in the war.

Eileen Rios, 54, of Grand Rapids, holds Ehlers “personally responsible” for the deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Iraqi civilians.

“I expect more from him,” Rios said. “I want him to represent the people that voted him in. The majority want us out of Iraq.

“I have a great deal of respect for him. But when it comes to this, I don’t know how he sleeps at night.”

Glenn Freeman, 43, of Grand Rapids, is hopeful Ehlers will change his mind.

“I believe Ehlers is a very reasonable person. He is a religious man and, as a religious man, he either believes God will correct his mistake or he will have to correct it himself.”