A Letter from Jim Traficant
“I sent James Traficant a Christmas card a few months ago. I received this reply today”:

Dear (anonymous),

Thank you! Thank you for thinking of me and my family. Life is hectic and fast-paced– and for you to have thought of me, and then to stop and take time from your precious life to write me– is an honor. And once again, I thank you! Most of the people who write me say they cannot understand why the government targeted me with such a passion. Every rumor and innuendo that any political opponent would plant and foster became public and, before long, developed into an indictment without any physical evidence– only the testimony of subjects who were able to avoid jail by fabricating falsehoods about me. Lies and half-truths became ‘facts’; and ultimately became a 10 count indictment. My evidence, that would have proved they were lying, was not allowed to be presented — either before the Congress or the Federal Court! However, I know why I was targeted: I was not afraid of the government, and I had learned too much! The beginning of all of this was my first trial, in 1983, when I became the only American in history to defeat the U.S. Department of Justice in a RICO case– pro se (representing myself), and me not being an attorney. They were embarrassed!

The straw that broke the camel’s back was when I proved that John Demanjuk was not the infamous Ivan the Terrible of the Treblinka death camp in Poland. The government was stunned and in shock. The real Ivan was nine years older, taller, and had black hair and a scar on his neck; his name was Ivan Marchenko. My investigation, in conjunction with John Demanjuk’s beautiful family, proved not only that John was innocent, but also that the Justice Department knew he was not guilty– even before they took him to court!

Shame, shame!! They lied to the court– gave false testimony and presented false witnesses– knowing that he would be put to death! Shame!! The Justice Department then came after me with revenge, and a passion! I lost my respect and my faith in our government. Because this case was ‘too sensitive,’ Congress would not even hold a hearing on my evidence… Congress, all of them, at the time– turned their back, worried about reelection!! The Democrats were in charge then, and they knew of my investigation in Congress… hoping I would abandon it! I did not! I sent my findings to the Israeli Supreme Court– and they had no choice: They released John Demanjuk! In fact, they delivered him to me at the airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, and I personally brought him home, along with his son, his son-in-law, and Israeli bodyguards! (more…)

Americans Shout ‘NO!’ To Hate Bill

By Rev. Ted Pike

Last Monday morning a representative of Sen. Gordon Smith (co-sponsor with Kennedy of the federal “anti-hate” bill) told me that if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid got the chance he wanted to pass the hate bill before the Senate disbanded for summer. Reid’s chance didn’t come. A tight-packed legislative calendar may have stopped him from introducing the divisive and time-consuming hate bill.

Also, the American people again protested. By Monday night, I had been interviewed on nine national radio broadcasts, warning that the hate bill might not be delayed till September but might be introduced as early as Tuesday. Quickly, this threat topped discussion on alternative talk radio nationwide.

On Pat Kiley’s “Follow the Money” (90 affiliates) the message went primarily to evangelicals. On the largest talk show website in the world, www.rense.com (15 million visits monthly), as well as Rense’s radio program and its many affiliates, my call to protest was heard by patriots, largely of the religious and “far” right. Prominent voices from alternative talk radio broadcast the threat; they included Jack Blood and Dr. Stanley Monteith of Genesis Radio Network and John Stadtmiller and Rick Adams of the Republic Network.

As a result, thousands of calls reminded senators that Americans don’t want the hate bill and will vote out politicians who approve Orwellian restrictions on freedom.

Unlike several weeks ago (when the evangelical right learned that Sens. Kennedy and Smith were attempting to attach the hate bill to the federal Arms Reappropriations Bill), conservative Christian leaders didn’t join this fight. They were probably concerned that Reid hadn’t made his intentions explicit, nor had the Republican leadership in the Senate. Also, they may have wanted to save evangelicals’ limited powers of protest for a massive push when Congress reconvenes in September.

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