Families of 9/11 victims a powerful political force
By Bill Schneider
CNN Political Unit
(CNN) -- It's not often that ordinary citizens can force government to do their bidding. When it does happen, it's the political Play of the Week.
The groups formed by many families of 9/11 victims have turned into a political force to be reckoned with.
As 9/11 commission Chairman Thomas Kean acknowledged on Thursday saying, "You demanded the creation of this commission. You have encouraged us every step of the way as partners and as witnesses."
The rule in American politics is, if you don't push for what you want, you won't get it.
The 9/11 families wanted an independent commission, not a congressional inquiry. President Bush balked at the idea. They got it.
They wanted President Bush to testify.
"I think there will be pressure for President Bush to cooperate better," said 9/11 widow Kristen Breitweiser in March on CNN's "American Morning."
They got it.
They wanted access to all relevant government documents. They got it.
"We were able to see things that no commission or no member of Congress has ever seen in doing our work," Kean remarked.
This week, the report came out. But what will it mean?
"We cannot claim at this time that this commission is going to have a big impact. That remains to be seen," said 9/11 commission Vice-chair Lee Hamilton.
The report calls for massive reorganization of federal intelligence gathering. It's already facing bureaucratic resistance.
"Our worry is that this great report doesn't sit on some shelf and gather dust," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York.
Not if the families can help it.
"The FBI, the CIA, they can't just be thinking about, well, this is my job and that's your job," said Bob Hughes, who lost son in the World Trade Center.
They intend to keep working.
"This report is not done," said Carie Lemack, who lost his mother on 9/11. "This is just a starting ground."
The families have established a moral presence in American politics. And they demand that it be respected.
"Members of the 9/11 commission and the families of the 9/11, the victims, are going to work together to re-establish that sense of urgency and uniting this country we honestly feel that morning of September 11th. We want that back," said Kean.
So far, they're getting what they want -- including the political Play of the Week.
The 9/11 families want to keep politics out of this. And they're succeeding. The 9/11 report got the unanimous endorsement of the commission members: five Democrats and five Republicans.
