[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 12, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H1753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            DEBATE REAL ISSUES AND LEAVE JOKES TO COMEDIANS

  (Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, the debate over war and peace in this 
House has crumpled into farce. Yesterday, some of our colleagues held a 
press conference to announce that the House would now be serving 
``freedom fries'' and ``freedom toast'' instead of French fries and 
French toast. So far, German chocolate cake, Russian salad dressing, 
and the entire Chinese food section have been spared the wrath of these 
culinary correctors.
  Mr. Speaker, this episode would be funny if it were not so sad. 
Because of this stunt, the image of the House in the eyes of the 
American people and people around the world will diminish once again. 
This House should not be a punch line, Mr. Speaker; it should not be 
the butt of jokes on the ``Tonight Show.''
  I hope that the Members who staged yesterday's circus enjoyed the 
publicity. I hope it was worth it.
  We are about to go to war, Mr. Speaker. Let us have a real debate 
about real issues that affect the lives of real people and leave the 
jokes to the comedians.

                          ____________________