[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 37 (Tuesday, February 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H2312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            ``THE PROJECT''

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Dickey). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of January 4, 1995, the gentleman from Kentucky [Mr. Whitfield] 
is recognized during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great concern about an 
article which appeared in Sunday's Washington Post. Since I read 
articles in most newspapers with great skepticism, I hope that facts 
set out in this article are not true.
  According to the article in the Washington Post, a prominent 
Democratic Congressman at a recent Washington dinner party 
enthusiastically discussed what he referred to as ``The Project''--a 
coordinated, calculated effort designed to politically destroy Speaker 
Newt Gingrich.
  A week later, another Member of the Democratic Party, in a keynote 
address to a party convention in Boca Raton, disclosed that the House 
Democratic leadership had embarked on a day-by-day plan to investigate 
the House Speaker, harass the Speaker, and drive him from office.
  According to the article, members of the Democratic leadership in the 
House meet on a weekly basis for this purpose. Mr. Gephardt is 
represented at the meetings and the White House is also kept informed.
  The Democratic National Committee also publishes a weekly ``Newt 
Gram'' trashing the Speaker.
  Two senior liberal Democratic Members of Congress--not a part of 
``The Project''; that is, Newt bashing--said ``Our party attacks 
Gingrich because we don't have anything else to say.''
  If it is true, what a tragedy--the National Democratic Party and its 
leaders deliberately working on ``The Project'' to destroy another 
political leader.
  Our great Nation faces many serious issues crying out for a solution. 
It is almost incomprehensible that a handful of Democratic leaders 
would be consumed with such a destructive compulsion for revenge.
  It is not surprising that in so many issues we have debated on this 
floor during the last month that a handful of Democrats have used 
similar tactics to polarize America. Pitting the poor versus the middle 
class--and the middle class versus wealthy members of our society--in 
effect using scare tactics.
  We are all Americans and we must develop solutions that will benefit 
our entire society not just one part of our society. The American 
people not only deserve but demand that Members of Congress devote 
their time and energy trying to solve very serious national issues 
instead of trying to destroy another political leader because they do 
not agree with his political philosophy.
  The election box is the proper place to decide philosophical 
differences, not some sinister plan referred to as ``The Project.''

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