Douglas Makes Us Proud

"We cannot, we must not allow this resolution to stand unchallenged. We have a stellar track record of supporting out troops and veterans. Let's not throw that away."


Sen. John Douglas' speech on Fonda resolution
AJC Published on: 03/16/06

Here is the transcript of Sen. John Douglas' (R- Covington) speech on the Jane Fonda resolution:

Yesterday this Senate passed Senate Resolution 1189, as it would any other privilege resolution, without fanfare or debate. But as the gavel came down and I heard the name of Jane Fonda, I immediately knew that we had made a terrible mistake that stained the honor, not only of this Senate, but of this state. I can think of no living American who is less worthy of this honor than Jane Fonda. She is as guilty of treason as Benedict Arnold and Tokyo Rose. She betrayed her country in wartime. She worked for our defeat. She visited American POWs, not to help them, but as the guest of the enemy. She betrayed them by not reporting back to our own government what she had seen. She was photographed in enemy anti-aircraft guns aiming at our own pilots, wearing parts of the enemy uniform. In 1969 at the University of Michigan she said "We should get down on our knees and pray that this country will one day become communist." In 1972 she spoke on Radio Hanoi where she called our soldiers "war criminals" and said that we are fighting in an unlawful war. In 1973, of returning prisoners of war, she called them liars after they said they were mistreated, starved, beaten and brainwashed.

Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, honoring Jane Fonda, no matter how much good work she might be doing now, would be the equivalent of this Senate spitting on every person who has ever worn the uniform of this country. Let's honor every Georgian who answered the call of our nation to serve in Vietnam and every other war, and never ever forget those who did not return. We cannot, we must not allow this resolution to stand unchallenged. We have a stellar track record of supporting our troops and veterans. Let's not throw that away. I ask that the Senate vote yes to reconsider.


Lawmaker pulls resolution honoring Fonda
By SONJI JACOBS
The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionPublished on: 03/16/06

The Georgia State Senate voted down a resolution that would honor actress Jane Fonda for her charitable and public service works Thursday.

State Sen. Steen Miles (D-Decatur) created a stir when she introduced a resolution to honor Fonda on Wednesday. The measure passed -- but then the Senate decided to rethink its actions after one lawmaker voiced his strong objection.

Miles tried to dial down the controversy Thursday by abandoning her effort, but the Senate Republican majority forced a last-minute vote on the measure.

"I am deeply sorry that a simple, routine resolution honoring the tireless efforts of Ms. Jane Fonda to prevent teen pregnancies in our state would cause such a firestorm," Miles said.
A sometimes emotional Miles explained that Jane Fonda did not ask for the honorary resolution, which applauded Fonda for her work with women and girls, particularly her role as founder and chairwoman of the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention.

"I offered it freely and I stand by it without equivocation," Miles said. "Having received however, a call from her office -- she is out of the country -- for the sake of unity for the country that she loves, she has respectfully asked that I withdraw this resolution."

Senate Resolution 1189 failed 38 to 1. Sen. Emanuel Jones (D-Ellenwood) cast the only "yes" vote.

The resolution is one of hundreds usually approved each year by the General Assembly. Such commemorative and honorary measures typically are non-controversial and are not approved by a vote. Instead, they pass through a very quick legislative procedure known as a "unanimous consent."

Fonda's honorary resolution seemed to sail through the Senate Wednesday -- until Sen. John Douglas (R-Covington), a retired Army major and chairman of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, voiced his personal objection. Miles gave a fiery speech defending Fonda and the resolution, an action which then prompted Douglas to ask the Senate to reconsider its approval.

On Thursday, Douglas gave a passionate speech Thursday in which he cited a long list of Fonda's anti-Vietnam war efforts during the late 1960s and 1970s.

Fonda, a two-time Academy Award winning-actress, often engaged in anti-war activities during the Vietnam War. In her most infamous action, she posed on a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft gun -- a move that angers many veterans to this day. Fonda has said that she regretted the gesture, but she continues to speak out regularly on controversial political and social issues.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Senate, honoring Jane Fonda, no matter how much good work she might be doing now, would be the equivalent of this Senate spitting on every person who has ever worn the uniform of this country," Douglas said. "We cannot, we must not allow this resolution to stand unchallenged. We have a stellar track record of supporting out troops and veterans. Let's not throw that away."

Several lawmakers gave Douglas a standing ovation.

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Read More about public reaction to Sen. John Douglas and the Fonda Resolution