LAWMAKERS, April 5, 1984
LAWMAKERS, April 5, 1984
[20.21.42] DUKE-REAGAN won first battle in SENATE over aid to EL SALVADOR and NICARAGUAN REBELS. Sen. Joseph BIDEN-he will bet that if REAGAN gets re-elected, then there will be AMERICANS fighting in EL SALVADOR. Sen. Patrick LEAHY (D-VT) thinks it's ridiculous to have AMERICAN TROOPS going to fight in EL SALVADOR. [20.21.46-Salvadorean military maneuvers] DUKE v.o. desc. Upcoming election between D'AUBUISSON and DUARTE, desirable to defeat rebels before election. [20.22.01-SALVADOREAN soldiers jump out of the back of a truck with rifles. Shots of soldiers. Shot of soldiers carrying bundles of BALLOTS into a building] DUKE v.o. says REAGAN contends no plan to send AMERICAN troops, but electoral process must be protected if peace is to be achieved. [Norteamericanos stepping down from Jet Airliner] Sen. David BOREN (D-OK) says that if rebels can disrupt the elections, there might not be any more democracy in EL SALVADOR. The U.S. should give aid. Sen. CHRISTOPHER DODD (D-CT) says it's the same old election year story, CONGRESS is afraid to cross REAGAN in case they get the blame for "losing El Salvador". [20.22.58-external of one wing of CAPITOL and Dome.] DUKE vo-REAGAN divided enough DEMOCRATS to win the issue in the SENATE. [Shots of meeting of ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, Sen. Claiborne PELL] DUKE-attempts to limit or ban US MILITARY involvment in El Salvador defeated. [20.23.20-Sen. BOREN] BOREN concerned that the U.S. might desert EL SALVADOR and leave it defenseless against the godless commies [not a quote]. Sen. DODD says that CONGRESS doesn't want to make a decision of any kind but would rather blame REAGAN after the fact. CONGRESS should take its responsibility under the CONSTITUTION to act. [20.24.02-DUKE] DEMOCRATS are divided in HOUSE as well, with Speaker O'NEILL against aid and Jim WRIGHT for it. Comments it is reminiscent of DEMOCRAT party splits over VIETNAM. [20.24.27-WERTHEIMER] introduces report on CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION, which is was questioned by N.O.W. and N.A.A.C.P. leaders in APPROPRIATIONS HEARINGS. Groups argued that the COMMISSION was not independent of the REAGAN administration and called for its funding to be taken away. [20.24.48-Rep. JULIAN DIXON in committee meeting] DIXON-the present CRC is a disgrace to legacy of past CRC, asks for funding to be taken away. Rep. Pat SCHROEDER says with regret that the time has come to end the CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION, it's not doing what it is supposed to do. Rep. Don EDWARDS, chair of subcommittee that oversees CRC: EDWARDS says its mind boggling, but women's and minority groups are begging for the cancellation of the CRC budget because they feel the commission is actually working to UNDERMINE progress on Civil Rights. Shots of committee members deliberating and of SCHROEDER testifying. [20.25.51] Rep. Bob GARCIA, chair of HISPANIC CAUCUS, arguing that the REAGAN administration has made the Commission a tool of the administration's policies. It is intended to be independent. Shot of committee chamber [20.26.09-COMMISSION chair Clarence PENDLETON-a BLACK CONSERVATIVE] PENDLETON says charges that the COMMISSION is not independent are discriminatory, LIBERAL DEMOCRATS don't have monopoly on civil rights. WERTHEIMER gives history of COMMISSION and its mandate. 20.26.45-current commissioner of CRC Mary BERRY. BERRY says the original purpose of the COMMISSION was to publish facts on discrimination, which it has done over the years. [20.26.55-short shots of SOUTHERN COPS hassling and turning FIRE HOSES on blacks.] BERRY says now the commission is not fulfilling the information mission. WERTHEIMER summarizes criticism of COMMISSION-it only looks for INDIVIDUAL discrimination instead of patterns, doesn't consider past effects of past discrimination, and requires proof of INTENT to discriminate to make charges. Rep. EDWARDS complains that the COMMISSION has not been investigating complaints as it has done historically, but is only propounding a set of views on CIVIL RIGHTS. 20.28.05-aerial shot of Washington MALL, 1960's CIVIL RIGHTS MARCHERS filling area around reflecting pool and WASHINGTON MONUMENT, WERTHEIMER says critics of CRC say the COMMISSION has stopped taking HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE on CIVIL RIGHTS. Current commissioner PENDLETON and a former staffer express divergent views on need to consider past discrimination in current cases.