The last I heard, the numbers of children ever put in Straight is only a guess. The clown Connie Mack says "
Some 9,000 graduate students*, individuals, have completed that program, not just
in the state of Florida, but throughout our country." "Graduate students"? "individuals"? Got any help with that pesky Orwellian speech impediment of yours yet, Connie Mack?
(I guess not...
http://www.conniemack.com/home.html)
JUNE 12, 1989, MONDAY
SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING
LENGTH: 17401 words
HEADLINE: CB
HEARING OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
SUBJECT: STATE DEPARTMENT AND AMBASSADORIAL NOMINATIONS
CHAIRED BY: SENATOR ALAN CRANSTON, (D-CA)
NOMINEES:
RICHARD SOLOMON FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS;
MELVIN SEMBLER OF FLORIDA FOR AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRALIA
AND CONCURRENTLY AMBASSADOR TO THE REPUBLIC OF NAURU;
...[just an excerpt, pm me if you want the whole thing]
SEN. MACK: Which gave him the opportunity to travel around the world, I guess
some 150,000 miles, speaking to some 45 different groups around the world, again
another indication of his ability to deliver the message of importance to this
country.
And thirdly, an area that I would put a great deal of impact on is the
involvement in the community. I mean, it's natural to be interested in your
family; it is natural to be interested your business and in some respects
natural to be interested in what happens in your community, but Mel takes it one
step further. When -- and when I say "Mel," I also should say Mel and Betty. I
'm sure his wife -- in fact I know his wife Betty, seated back there in the
audience -- Mel and Betty both saw a problem in their community, a problem
dealing with drugs, and unlike so many others said that this is a problem that
they are going to become personally involved in trying to solve the problems in
their community, established an organization called "Straight, Incorporated."
Some 9,000 graduate students*, individuals, have completed that program, not just
in the state of Florida, but throughout our country. And so it is with a great
deal of honor, pleasure, distinction that I feel so happy to have the
opportunity to introduce to the committee a good friend of mine and I hope the
next Ambassador to Australia, Mr. Mel Sembler.
MR. SEMBLER: Thank you.
CHAIRMAN CRANSTON: Thank you very much.
MR. SEMBLER: Thank you, Senator.
*[emphasized in bold by me]
[ This Message was edited by: formerly known as on 2005-03-08 10:44 ]