New Rep. Speier Makes Splash Over Iraq

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), sworn in Thursday to succeed late Rep. Tom Lantos (D), pulled no punches in her first speech on the House floor.

“The process to bring the troops home must begin immediately,” Speier said.

She went on to criticize President Bush and John McCain, hours after the president said he would halt the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq.

“The president wants to stay the course and a man who wants to replace him suggests we could be in Iraq for 100 years,” Speier said. “But Madam Speaker, history will not judge us kindly if we sacrifice four generations of Americans because of the folly of one.”

Several Republicans booed Speier after she knocked Bush and McCain, and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) walked out of the House chamber, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Though Speier is a new congresswoman, she’s neither a stranger to Capitol Hill nor to harrying situations abroad. In 1978, she was chief of staff to Rep. Leo Ryan (D-Calif.) and accompanied him when he investigated the Jonestown cult in Guyana. Ryan was killed by gunfire in an attack by cult members on the trip, and Speier was shot five times.

Read The Hill’s story on Speier’s past here. Watch Speier’s swearing in and her first House speech below. She begins talking about Iraq about 8:20 into the video, which is just before the jeers begin.