Today Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold introduced a resolution to censure the President of the United States for “authorizing the illegal wiretapping program and then misleading the country about the existence and legality of the program.” The link also provides evidence of Senator Feingold’s charges.
Here are developments and what some members of Congress and others have said about censuring the president:
- Republican Senator Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi announced early support for a censure.
- Republican Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas said, “I think that at some point I think censure is going to be one of the options.”
- Democratic Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, told the New Haven Register: “That is a distinct possibility, the censure.”
- About 20 Republican lawmakers, led by Republican Congressman Peter King of New York, are circulating a petition promoting censure of the president that would include a financial penalty and a statement of wrongdoing or contrition from the president that stops short of admitting to illegal behavior.
- Republican Congressmen Sherwood Boehlert of New York and Mike Castle of Delaware seek a censure that “would impose a fine and block any pardon.”
- Republican Congressman Elton Gallegly went so far as to say a censure without penalties would be a “copout.”
- Both former president Gerald Ford (Republican) and Jimmy Carter (Democrat) have publicly come out for censure.
- Among former Congressional members, Former Florida Congressman Bill McCollum said a censure without penalty would be a “toothless resolution”
- Tim Butler, press secretary to Republican Congressman Ray LaHood of Illinois, quoted LaHood as saying after watching the president on television regarding the matter that his remarks would “not have much effect” on his decision, and suggested that censure would be insufficient punishment for such illegal activity.
Surprised by the support for censuring, or even impeaching, the president? You shouldn’t be - that was the standard for censuring or impeaching President Bill Clinton for charges of lying about an extramarital affair. President George W. Bush’s approval of illegal spying on Americans is a completely different affair.
It’s time for Democrats and Republicans in congress to stand with Senator Russ Feingold for what’s right. Feingold’s censure resolution is a ‘baby step’ in the direction of responsible governance that maintains the rule of law - and most in congress fear to take even that small a step. Shame on them.
[Editor Note: I Googled all of the information above - it’s all publicly available. Some of the sources include:
block pardon and Hutchison, Lieberman, King and LaHood.]
Post a Comment