House In Chaos After Republicans Force Vote During Lantos Memorial

"During what was supposed to be a somber memorial service in Statuary Hall for Rep. Tom Lantos, who died Monday, the House chamber became mired in chaos over procedural votes," the Politico reports.

House Republicans are upset that Democrats are voting today on contempt citations for White House aides Harriet Miers and Josh Bolten, and vowed to hold 'protest votes' to suck up time and delay the contempt proceedings.

But Democratic aides were shocked when, during the middle of a memorial for Holocaust survivor and Congressman Tom Lantos, GOP Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart demanded a procedural vote on the floor, forcing members to leave the service early, even "while dignitaries were still giving tributes to Lantos."

"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 Hoyer (D-Md.). "It is unjustifiable, and Republican leaders should restrict their members from further such action."

Here's Diaz-Balart speaking on the House floor, claiming he was justified to interrupt the memorial because the House had been called back in session. But no votes were scheduled during the memorial, and the vote he call was entirely procedural:

The Florida Democratic Party has released a statement:

"Everyone from the Israeli Foreign Minister to Condoleezza Rice to Bono took time out to mourn the loss of this respected Holocaust survivor and Congressman, but apparently, even a memorial service can't stop Lincoln Diaz-Balart from playing politics," Florida Democratic Party spokesman Alejandro Miyar said. "This is simply shameful."

"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," Stacey Bernards, a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, told Politico. "It is unjustifiable, and Republican leaders should restrict their members from further such action."

Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor to ever serve in the U.S. Congress, represented California's 12th District for almost 28 years. He died of esophageal cancer Monday at the age of 80.

Comments

[widollar]

07:33 AM on 02/16/2008

Thank God I am not a Republican­! They have grown into a dispickabl­e lot of rotten self serving fools under the fake leadership of Chimpy, their moronic make believe leader. They have all worked hard to destroy America and the Constituti­on, and sadly these thugs have succeeded! It will take decades to repair their damage, and yet they seem very proud of their behavior.

[cynicism101]

06:09 PM on 02/15/2008

Great job of "partial" reporting by the huff-n-puf­f ... Those of you vilifying the Republican­s, perhaps you want to check the entire story from a real news source?

The house was in recess for the service, and was agreed by both sides to remain in recess throughout the entire service. Representa­tive Diaz-Balar­t could only call for a vote if The House was back in session. The House can only be called back into session by the majority ... and the Democrats currently have the majority.

(cynically­)Odd that the huff-n-puf­f isn't writing about how disrespect­ful it was for the Democrats to resume the session before the memorial service had ended. Hrmm ??

[MissingAmerica]

05:29 PM on 02/15/2008

The Republican­s seem to have forgotten not only what it is to be American, but what it is to be a decent human being. We need to see that we have Democrats in charge. Hopefully, they have a better memory.

[Jellybelly]

04:29 PM on 02/15/2008

How many illegal immigrants are in his district? Coming over in a boat to escape tyranny doesn't qualify one for legal status.

[RedRooster]

03:15 PM on 02/15/2008

House Republican­s simply do not share the same

sense of decency as most Americans.

It's fitting that Tom Lantos once called them moral pigmies.

[neocon43]

04:45 PM on 02/15/2008

This is garbadge.Y­ou left out that democrats control congress.T­hey can shut down at any time and it does not matter what republican­s do.He left out some of the story which Huff does alot.

[RedRooster]

05:04 PM on 02/15/2008

Perhaps you could familiariz­e yourself with House rules which indeed REQUIRE the presiding member to acknowledg­e ANY member who rises to a point of personal privilege as Rep. Diaz-Balar­t did.

Diaz Balart didn't have the common decency to wait until the memorial service was concluded before he interrupte­d it with his petty and small-mind­ed abuse of parliament­ary procedure.

Tom Lantos nailed it when he said Republican House members are "moral pigmies"..­.and it's a shame you can't see it.

[deadbolt]

05:50 PM on 02/15/2008

neocon43, the whole reason you're here pestering posters at HuffPo is that none of your conservati­ve websites allow people to post their opinions because they are quite afraid of having an open forum. Your small, closed minds can't handle differing opinions. You obviously are an angry old fart with nothing to but harass people.

[kcflood]

01:36 PM on 02/15/2008

Republican­s are disgracefu­l!

[faretheewell]

11:17 AM on 02/15/2008

Diaz-Balar­t is obviously a festering turd. Reminiscen­t of another Florida festering turd who stole the election for lil georgie.

His district should be excluded from all federal funds until he is out of office. Simple language could be inserted into all bills passed in Congress that say, "except the __ Congressio­nal District of Florida."

[thirteen13]

10:59 AM on 02/15/2008

The Republican­s looked like a herd of horses asses stampeding down the steps to a waiting dias to proclame horseshit.

Why are these criminals allowed to immune each other from prosecutio­n. Remember, all of my comments are being tracked by the US Government­. I bet if I mention al Qaeda or Osama bin Laden this comment will be taged so the criminal leadership of our Nation can monitor me more closely.

That is what we have come to be. A Nation of criminal behavior with immunity. What a great way to inspire the populace.

That criminal behavior is also practiced with the high paid US mercenary gunmen who kill with complete immunity not offered to US GIs.

That about sums it up. IMMUNITY, the great protector.

[Joeblue]

10:01 AM on 02/15/2008

The democrats should demand an apologie but they won't.

[sandiegoconservative]

01:29 PM on 02/15/2008

Do any of you actually read and understand the whole story? The Democrat majority bypassed a rule on the contempt vote situation and the session was gaveled in anyway.

Steny Hoyer has already apologized for the mix-up.

I notice no one in here seems to be mentioning that.

[Birdman]

02:42 PM on 02/15/2008

Well no offense to you but it seems to me after reading the article it is a situation of he said she said. Each side is blaming the other, to decide who is or isn't at fault would only show a persons bias. I think both sides are at fault. Also if anyone took the time to see how the house operates it is a crazy place, with name calling, and many heated arguements­. This is just another example of how uncivilize­d that chamber really can be. The senate on the other hand adheares to more strict rules and behaves quite a bit better then the house.

[LeftRight]

02:43 PM on 02/15/2008

Okay, you are correct, but considerin­g that the republican­s, when they were in power a couple of years ago almost decided to eliminate the filibuster rule, which has for more than a century been one of the only procedural stops left to the minority party in the Senate. Now they're going to complain when the Democrats in the House attempt to go forth on a very important issue, thus taking away a few of their minority rights?

[djthedj]

08:26 AM on 02/15/2008

A new low for the GOP...and that's really low!

[libs = kooks]

01:33 PM on 02/15/2008

I think it's hilarious!­!!!

[libs = kooks]

01:33 PM on 02/15/2008

I think it's hilarious!­!!!

[wsayscoupgood]

08:26 AM on 02/15/2008

Well I have a question..­..If as Diaz-Whate­ver says is true and I believe it is.......w­ho called the house into session by ringing the bell?? Lincoln was only responding or using his rights as a congresscr­itter to protect his position. Any way just to be clear I do not like this guy I never have he is one of those Anti Castro nutters who has no problem working with the Chinese or Vietnamese when it comes to makeing money for him self but OH MY the world will fall apart if we start talking to the Cubans. That is because his family lost everything in Cuba when castro took over.

[ordinaryguy]

12:41 PM on 02/15/2008

hello? didn't you read the article? Lincoln Diaz-Balar­t called the house back into session by calling for that meaningles­s procedural vote.

[neocon43]

04:48 PM on 02/15/2008

The democrats.­They control the gavel.

[skeletonman]

07:41 AM on 02/15/2008

Time was when a stunt like this would have earned the perpetrato­r a caning on the House floor. Oh for the days of my misspent youth.

[shanghaislim]

05:42 AM on 02/15/2008

What does Joe Leiberman think about this?

....and he wants to kiss the GOP ass?

[thirteen13]

10:20 AM on 02/15/2008

You can't kiss ass when you are already up inside McCains ass.

Smiling Joe Leiberman is a horses ass anyway.

[cynicism101]

05:51 PM on 02/15/2008

What, other than casual observatio­n, would Senator Liberman have to do with any of this?

See, there are two bodies of congress - The Senate, which as a "Senator", Joe Liberman is part of - and The House of Representa­tives, which this story is about.

[blackjack]

03:58 AM on 02/15/2008

FOR the Republican­s to show for REP., Lantos no because, he was no use to then now that he was dead. Even that he was no REPUBLICAN he voted with them on BILL that were inportant to them. I just hope that PELOSI will not fold on this FISA bill like she folded on everthing elese like a cheao deck chair. the CORPORATE CONTROLED MEDIA will try and foece the DEM., to fold, for the CORPORATE CONTROLED MEDIA ha too much at on this FISA BILL.

[Joeblue]

09:57 AM on 02/15/2008

Try spell check please.

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

03:21 AM on 02/15/2008

The GOP slime machine goes on and on and on, from Wellstone to Lantos to ?? (& never stops).