Originally posted on October 18, 2007.

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Now, there is the saying that you'll never be able to get everyone to agree on everything, or maybe not even a few people to agree on some things. It's also true that some people get into heated debates on things they feel passionately about.

However, decorum and etiquette rule in the US House were appaerntly tossed out the window when Congressman Pete Stark made the following comments on the floor of the House:

"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."

How's that for partisan sniping? Want more?

"President Bush's statements about children's health shouldn't be taken any more seriously than his lies about the war in Iraq. The truth is that Bush just likes to blow things up in Iraq, in the United States, and in Congress. I urge my colleagues to vote to override his veto," Stark continued.

As I always do, I respect everyone's right to free speech, and the US Congress has their own rules about speaking, and they should be respected. The Democrat running the debate at the time reminded Stark that personal attacks were not permitted, and Republicans denounced Stark's remarks. House Minority Leader John Boehner asid that the remarks resulted from the Democrats' impending loss in overriding President Bush's veto on the S-CHIP program.

The Republican National Committee did not have to hold back, and they did not.

"Pete Stark's out-of-control rant is an insult to every American, Democrat or Republican. It is one thing to disagree with the war in Iraq, but it is another to go to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives and rave that the men and women of the United States Armed Forces are '[blowing] up innocent people.' The Democrats cannot stop playing partisan politics," said RNC Chairman Mike Duncan.

“This sort of rhetoric is simply beyond the bounds of civil discourse on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. Decency demands that Congressman Stark retract his remarks and apologize,” said Pete Hegseth, Executive Director of Vets for Freedom who condemned the comments.

A minor correction to Mr. Duncan...the US Armed Forces were not accused of wantonly blowing people up...the President of the United States was! He was essentially accused of using the US Armed Forces as if they were expendable.

I agree with Mr. Hegseth that Pete Stark should at the very least apologize to the President and the US military, and if this is not forthcoming, then Stark should be recalled. This may seem to be extreme, but read his comments again!

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John B.
Blog Guy

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