by Frank James
Memorial services are normally a time when warring sides bury the hatchet, if only for a few hours, to pay respect to the dead.
But then Capitol Hill isn't your typical place.
As if they didn't have enough things to fight about, Democrats and Republicans are now arguing over which side is responsible for a procedural vote that was unexpectedly called today during the service in Capitol's Statuary Hall for the widely respected Rep. Tom Lantos who died Monday of esophogeal cancer at age 80.
The Politco blog, The Crypt, has a good description of what happened:
Democrats angrily denounced the GOP as insensitive for calling a "motion to adjourn" — essentially a dilatory tactic — while dignitaries were still giving tributes to Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who was chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. But Republican aides shot back quickly, saying it was Democrats who broke an agreement to keep the House in recess during the memorial service.
To some extent, it appears both sides are at fault, but the recriminations have been fast and furious.
"The disrespect that has been shown by a Republican member of Congress in calling a political procedural motion during the memorial service for the late Chairman Tom Lantos is incomprehensible," said Stacey Bernards, a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.). "It is unjustifiable, and Republican leaders should restrict their members from further such action."
A senior Republican aide, however, said the GOP was given no choice in asking for a vote because Democrats broke their commitment to keep the House in recess during the memorial service. Democrats are pushing a contempt vote against White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former Bush counsel Harriet Miers, and have bypassed traditional rules allowing an hour of debate on the matter, according to Jo Maney, a spokeswoman for Republicans on the House Rules Committee.
Another Republican spokesman, Michael Steel, offered a tougher comment.
"This morning, during the memorial service for Tom Lantos - a public servant beloved on both sides of the aisle - the House Democratic Leadership violated an agreement and called the House back into session. They took this action despite clearly understanding that it would trigger a series of procedural motions. This cheap, cynical political move seems to have been designed to shut down one of the few procedural tools that can be employed by the minority party in the House. Playing this sort of game during the memorial service of a great and good man is beneath the dignity of this House and should be beneath the dignity of Democratic Leaders."
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Comments
I get so tired of this congress...both sides.
Posted by: bill r. | February 14, 2008 3:11 PM
"TOM LANTOS SPEAKS THROUGH MY HEART"
BEFORE ME WAS A CONSTITUTION, BEING ME, IT WAS VIOLATED, TAKEN AWAY AND DESTROYED BY ONE MAN AND HIS MEN.
TODAY AS I REST, "THE HOUSE" IS IN ORDER AND MAY GOD FOLLOWS US ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE. I THANK YOU.
LONG LIVE THE BITBURG NATION!
Posted by: Roger Morris | February 14, 2008 3:26 PM
Why would congress not be in recess for a memorial? If the congress is in session it should be doing the people's business. Otherwise, call a recess.
Posted by: Jeff | February 14, 2008 3:29 PM
The GOPer's are stepping in it so bad!
The Republic Party is not only going to the minority Party again after 08 they're going to be a VERY SMALL MINORITY.
Posted by: John E | February 14, 2008 4:21 PM
Hmmm, Frank James, who we know is nearly completely incapable of being objective, says both Democrats and Republicans are at fault. In other words, Democrats are completely at fault. Why am I not surprised? Just as the Democrats politicized the Wellstone memorial service, they have done so again with Lantos. Worthless people, Democrats are. Scum, really. I guess that is why John E loves em!
Posted by: John D | February 14, 2008 4:27 PM
"IT'S FEBRUARY 14TH, 2008"
REPUBLICAN GOP HAS ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE TO SHARE ON "CSPAN" ONLY.
REPUBLICAN GOP HAS ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE AND DECIDE TO SHARE IT WITH THE HOUSE IT SO SERVES.
REPUBLICAN GOP HAS ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE THAT "AFRICAN AMERICAN INVENTORS, ENGINEERS" DON'T MATTER ON VALENTINES DAY.
A DAY TO REMEMBER, A DAY OF DEMOCRATIC MOMENT ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THEY HAD THE NEVER TO HOLD "TWO PRESIDENTIAL STAFF MEMBERS" ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR DIRECT DISRESPECT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENA'S THAT DO THE "PEOPLE WORK"
HOW DARE AMERICA PUT THEIR CIVIL LIBERTIES ABOVE AND BEYOND OUR GOP "IMMUNITY" AND RETROACTIVE IMPUNITY FOR EAVESDROPPING, WIRETAPPING AND DATA MINING AMERICANS, WITHOUT A "WARRANT" NO DOUBT.
HOW DARE THIS NATION CHALLENGE GEORGE BUSH, WHILE DICK CHENEY WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY. HOW DARE THIS NATION CHALLENGE GEORGE BUSH WHILE CONDI RICE IS DOWN THE HALL EXPLAINING WHAT AN "AUGMENTATION" OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT IS.
HOW DARE THIS NATION WAKE UP TOMORROW AND EXPECT GEORGE BUSH TO KEEP YOU SAFE.
HOW DARE THIS NATION HOLD THERE ELECTED PRESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS "OATH OF OFFICE."
SO THE "BLUNT" AND THE "BOEHNER" COULD GO HOME TODAY AND BE WITH MAMA!
ON THE 14TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, YEAR 2008, HOW COULD AMERICA DO THIS TO US AT A TIME OF 4.00 GALLON MILK, 4.00 GALLON OF GAS, BILLIONS AND BILLIONS LOST IN IRAQ. 3100 MEN AND WOMEN KILLED IN IRAQ WHEN THERE WERE NO WMD'S IN A 10 MILE NO FLY ZONE.
HOW AMERICA, HOW "MAJORITY SPEAKER"
321 YEA AND 5 NAYS, THAT'S HOW!
Posted by: Roger Morris | February 14, 2008 4:43 PM
Frank James won't ask the questions so we'll have to: why was congress in session and working on legislation while the memorial service was still going on? What were the democrats planning to do while their colleague was being mourned that couldn't wait until the end of the service?
Posted by: Jeff | February 14, 2008 5:32 PM
Geographically Ignorant Dumb Dumb Little Johnnie Dyslin, "the Joseph Stalin of Streamwood", shows once again that he has no reading comprehension whatsoever. First he says "Frank James, who we know is nearly completely incapable of being objective, says both Democrats and Republicans are at fault." He immediately follows it with this: "In other words, Democrats are completely at fault."
If both are at fault, as Frank James says, then neither side can be solely responsible for the situation. But this simple fact flies right over the head of The Swamp's resident mental defective.
Posted by: BC | February 14, 2008 5:39 PM
BC, the only person alive who thinks Cuba does not border the Gulf of Mexico, again shows he can't read and comprehend. So, I'll explain it again, in simpler terms for you. Frank James says both sides are at fault. He knows the Dems are completely at fault, but his biases prevent him from reporting that (this is the reporter who called folks against giving rebate checks to illegal aliens as "illegal alien hardliners>" Anyway, BC, the Republicans are not at fault. That is the point, you blithering mental idiot.
Posted by: John D | February 15, 2008 2:33 AM