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GOP Supports, Democrats Reject, Impeachment Debate
EVERY DAY, DEMOCRATS in Congress rise up to accuse Vice President Dick Cheney of impeach able war crimes. But when Republicans tried to get a debate going on Articles of Impeachment offered by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), pictured right, Democrats ran for cover.
When Kucinich asked for floor debate on his impeachment measure, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said they would not take up the impeachment of Mr. Cheney or Mr. Bush. Republicans shocked the House by supporting a debate on impeachment.
“We’re going to give them their day in court,” said Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Tex.).
In the middle of a vote to table (reject) a vote, Republicans began voting against it. The motion failed, opening the door for a debate. Democrats then countered with a resolution referring the matter to the Judiciary Committee, where it has long languished without action. The referral passed, 218 to194.
The House Republican Conference later sent out an email with a mug shot of Kucinich under the headline: “The New Direction of the New Majority.”
It cited the 251-162 vote in favor of a debate, but did not note that that 165 yes votes came from Republicans.
(Issue #47, November 19, 2007)
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