(April 5, 2007) -- Setting the stage for what could become a defining issue in the 2008 CA Presidential primary, the highest ranking Democrat in the CA Senate, State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D., Oakland), announced on Thursday April 5 that he will introduce legislation on Monday April 9 to put a measure on the Feb. 2008 CA presidential primary ballot calling for an immediate withdrawl of U.S. troops from Iraq.

And the CA Senate Majority Caucus (i.e. Senate Democrats) immediately used the internet to amplify the event, posting on-demand video for national and worldwide access on YouTube.com.

Screen save from YouTube.com posting by CA Senate Majority Caucus

To view the Berkeley press event as posted by ballot measure supporters, click "Vote U.S. Out of Iraq" press event, April 5, 2007.

A release posted on Senator Perata's office website says the "Vote Us Out of Iraq" advisory measure -- to be introduced in the State Senate on Monday -- would ask voters on the Feb. 8, 2008 CA Presidential primary election ballot if they support or oppose the following resolution:

The people of California, in support of the men and women serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, urge President Bush to end the U.S. occupation of Iraq and immediately begin the safe and orderly withdrawal of all United States forces; and further urge President Bush and the United States Congress to provide the necessary diplomatic and non-military assistance to promote peace and stability in Iraq and the Middle East.

If a majority of CA voters agree, CA's Secretary of State Debra Bowen would be required to communicate the results of the advisory vote to the White House.

To get on the ballot (without collecting petition signatures), a majority of Democrats in the Democrat-majority controlled state Senate and Assembly would have to agree to put it on the ballot...and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger would have to sign it (agreeing to let voters decide).

Sen. Perata said in the release, "We moved up California's Presidential Primary to make our vote matter. Let's take that same opportunity to tell the President where California stands on Iraq - and ask every presidential candidate to stand with us. If we convince other states to join us, we can make February 5th a national referendum to end this war."

Sen. Perata spoke on the steps of the Veterans Memorial Building in Berkeley...and was joined by representatives of Military Families Speak Out, Veterans for Peace, Bay Area Grandmothers for Peace, clergy and community groups.

Proponents of the measure also launched a website: voteusout.org.

"Forty years ago, Berkeley was the birthplace of the peace movement. The best way to honor that legacy is to carry it on," Sen. Perata said.

"We’ve had nearly 3,300 Americans killed and spent more than $350 billion, with no end in sight," Sen. Perata continued. "We’ve established a democratic government in Iraq, now it’s up to the Iraqis to make it work. With the possible exception of George Bush, we all know it’s time to go...George Bush hasn’t learned from history -- we’ve got the failed policy to prove it. If the biggest state in the nation says `end the war now,’ maybe it will start to sink in."

He added, "California's owed billions in federal funds that go unpaid as war costs soar -- slowing our economy and shortchanging state revenues for schools and health care. The price of this war is already too high."