Posted on 09/15/2006 9:53:39 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
Saying it insults victims, families, she casts one of just 22 'no' votes
Madison's Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin was one of only 22 members of the House of Representatives who voted against a resolution to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The House passed the resolution Wednesday by a vote of 395-22, with 21 Democrats and one Republican voting against.
Baldwin and other Democratic critics said the resolution drafted by Republicans praised controversial legislation like the USA Patriot Act and a border security bill.
Baldwin contended the GOP "disgracefully politicized what should have been a solemn and sincere resolution."
"Instead they converted the resolution into an endorsement of the Patriot Act, punitive immigration bills, and other highly controversial measures, which many of my constituents oppose," she said in a statement explaining her vote.
She added it was disrespectful to the Sept. 11 victims and families to be "playing election year politics" with the anniversary.
Republicans defended the inclusion of the GOP-crafted security laws and bills. Without them, said Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., "we would not be here today without having suffered another attack on our soil."
"I could never say it better than political commentator Bill Maher did: 'It's better to be safe than sorry,' " said Republican Dave Magnum, the Portage-area broadcaster who is running against Baldwin in the 2nd District Congressional race.
"There is nothing wrong with paying tribute to those who paid such a high price for our freedom. I am troubled by the way that Representative Baldwin is distorting what is actually a very simple resolution that we must never forget that sacrifice," Magnum said.
Except for Baldwin, the rest of the Wisconsin delegation voted for the resolution.
They included Democratic Reps. Ron Kind of La Crosse, Gwendolynne Moore of Milwaukee and David Obey of Wausau, and Republican Reps. Mark Green of Green Bay, Thomas Petri of Fond du Lac, Paul Ryan of Janesville and F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. of Menomonee Falls.
'Demagoguery': House Republicans and Democrats traded accusations of improper politicking as they sparred over the resolution.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called it "self-congratulatory."
"It praises Congress for some reason. Instead of having the focus on the innocent victims of 9/11, it talked about the accomplishments of this Congress. I can't even imagine why they thought that was a good idea," she said.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., called the criticism "cheap demagoguery."
The intensifying quarrel between Republicans and Democrats over national security comes weeks before this fall's midterm elections, which will determine which party controls the House and Senate.
Democrats, flanked by foreign policy experts from Democratic administrations past, argued that President Bush's failures call for a change in congressional leadership. They outlined plans to withdraw some troops from Iraq by the end of this year and improve the security of trains, ports, subways and planes.
Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., who supports an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq, said officials sitting on their "fat backsides in the Oval Office" and elsewhere in Washington should stop making excuses for poor planning in Iraq. He called for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, while acknowledging a resolution to remove him would probably never get a vote.
Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., said House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, owed Democrats an apology for questioning Tuesday whether Democrats "are more interested in protecting the terrorists than protecting the American people."
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., called on Senate Republicans to distance themselves from the statement.
Republicans took issue with something Pelosi told reporters last week about al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. "He has done more damage the longer he has been out there. But, in fact, the damage that he has done is done. And even to capture him now I don't think makes us any safer," she said.
A Pelosi spokesman said her words were no different from those made by some Republicans, who have said that if bin Laden were captured or killed, it wouldn't remove the threat posed by the al-Qaida terrorist network.
Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., said the statements are different. "That quote clearly indicates a misunderstanding of how important and what a symbol Osama bin Laden is," he said.
"I actually thought that the Democrats would pursue a policy of national security almost identical to what the president's proposing of taking the war to the enemy," he said. "But now I understand ... that indeed they would, I believe, cut and run. I believe that they would appease."
"FYI Ping!"
Hopefully, those of you in WI will remember this when Miz Baldwin comes up for re-election.
Alas, even though I'm in PA, I'm not in Murtha's district, or I'd vote the bum out.
"I'm sorry I spoke the truth - I know how much you hate that."
It doesn't matter. The city of Madison (including all of the Wisconsin students) is her constituency. She is a do-nothing liberal lesbian which means that she is utterly untouchable.
We're trying. Businessman Dave Magnum has run against her the past two times. Last time around he got 37% of the vote, so if his money holds out, he'll beat her in another few terms...if we can survive that long.
This is my frustration with the WI GOP. WHERE are the conservative contenders against a TRAITOR like this? She has the WORST rankings of any congresscritter. She accomplishes NOTHING, and also gets ALL of her funding from out of state.
I guess being a lesbian has it's perks. You'd think by now the Dems would consider her "mainstream" for their party and not "special" enough.
I pray for the day that she screws up (ala Lieberman) and they throw her under the bus! Until then, we're stuck with her & all of her special interest money.
"So no real regular Republican voted wrong."
Prayers of thanks up for this small favor. ;)
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