David Obey: “I would not have done this but for the words uttered by the gentleman from California. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from…”

“I would not have done this but for the words uttered by the gentleman from California. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from California who just spoke attacked those who were supporting this amendment as being ``leftists and socialists and the like.'' I would like to ask him whether he believes that the Pentagon's director of Operational Test and Evaluation, whether he is a leftist or a socialist. I would like to ask him whether he believes the committee's own staff on surveys and investigation are a collection of leftists and socialists. I would ask him if he believes the General Accounting Office is a collection of leftists and socialists. I would simply point out the gentleman himself, in the subcommittee last year, when we marked up this bill, supported the proposal to slow down the production of this aircraft until some of these questions could be offered and said that what was happening on that day was ``a good thing,'' and I am quoting him directly. I have a great deal of respect for the service the gentleman has provided this country, in the military and in this institution; but that does not give him a right to question the views or motives of those who disagree with him by calling them leftists or socialists. Every person here on this floor is a good American and we believe we are doing our duty when we have the ``temerity'' to raise at least a question or two before we spend almost $290 billion of the taxpayers' money.…”