Boehner Moves To Censure Stark, Stark Then Apologizes
Congressman Pete Stark and American Atheists California Director Dave Kong
According to MSNBC and Fox respectively, John Boehner “just stood up on the House floor to put forward a motion to censure Rep. Pete Stark (D) over the congressman’s “heads blown off for the president’s amusement” remark on the House floor last week”. Then Stark apologized.
Here are his original remarks:
“They sure don’t care about finding $200 billion to fight the illegal war in Iraq. Where are you going to get that money? Are you going to tell us lies like you’re telling us today? Is that how you’re going to fund the war? You don’t have money to fund the war or children. But you’re going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president’s amusement.”
Fox:
WASHINGTON — House Minority Leader John Boehner introduced a resolution Tuesday to censure Rep. Fourtney “Pete” Stark of California for comments he made last week suggesting President Bush was sending troops to Iraq to get their “heads blown off for his amusement.”
The eight-paragraph resolution quotes Stark’s comments and his later refusal to apologize, and explains that the “personally abusive language” impugning the president’s and Congress’ motives dishonors the troops.
It then resolves “that the member from California, Mr. Stark, by his despicable conduct, has dishonored himself and brought discredit to the House and merits the censure of the House for the same. Resolved, that the Member from California, Mr. Stark, is hereby so censured.”
The resolution was immediately put to a vote to table, meaning it will be laid aside and never brought back up for a full vote.
Stark’s comments came last week before a failed override vote on the president’s veto of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Criticizing the president for his refusal to add $35 billion over five years to expand SCHIP to 10 million kids, Stark said Bush is able to find money for the troops, but not for children’s health.
With demands from House Republicans to apologize, Stark then said he neither respects “the commander-in-chief who keeps (the troops) in harm’s way nor the chicken hawks in Congress.”
Asked to reprimand Stark, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week called the comments “inappropriate” and distracting from the the subject at hand.
On Tuesday, before the vote, Republican lawmakers slammed Stark for the comments.
“For him to insult out military men and women because he is trying to degrade the commander-in-chief is just plain wrong. He should be thanking them for their service,” said Rep. Thelma Drake, R-Va.
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Good on Boehner!!!
The more I hear from this man the more I’m damn proud he’s a fellow Ohioan!
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:47 amWeird photo. Who is the gay hair freak Stark is looking at purses with?
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:58 amUh… who the hell is that in the picture? Sweet haircut. Is he holding a purse wrapped in bubble wrap? If you put an awesome picture like that up, you need to explain it better!
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:05 amWhile I applaud Sen. Boehner, I’m disgusted that the motion was tabled. This amounts to something less than a slap on the wrist. Why can’t these windbags grow a pair and call treason by its name! Do they think these comments don’t ‘aid and abet’ the enemy? WTF?
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:39 amPat -
Is that you dressed as Valerie Plame/Wilson dressed as Mata Hari ?
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:41 amWhat the hell is that thing on the right?
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:51 amStark and Geronimo are purse shopping lol but seriously this guy committed treason, we all know its true. Why wont our government realize this? bunch of pussies? probably
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:03 amI think thats what happens to your hair when its up your ass for a long time…
October 23rd, 2007 at 11:12 am