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

[researcher]

yea and obama is going to bring these folks together. right.

this country is divided as much as the days leading up to the civil war.

heed jefferson that is the only solution.

[CaptainObvious]

We're only a couple months away from a major election. Every house seat is up for grabs.

Keep the gun clean and oiled, but locked away in the gun rack at least until after the election.

[JerryJef]

This man, Diaz-Balart, rightly deserves all the scorn and insult that can possibly be heaped upon him. But, do not think for a moment he was acting alone. Legislative bodies do not operate that way. He was merely playing a small role assigned him by the Republican leadership.

Obama swears he will unify the country and the government. Many believe him. But how the hell is he going to it having to deal with people like these?

A BlueDanube earlier likened the Republican tactics to the actions of the German National Socialist Workers Party in the Reichstag in 1930 to 1932. He is completely correct. If Obama does not realize that he is not dealing with American patriots, or with people who have the nations interests at heart he will fail to deliver on his chief promise.

[GingerB]

Hopefully, people will come out in record numbers to vote a straight Dem ticket.

We need to get big majorities in Congress to effect the change we want.

[butchie65]

And what will Hillary do ?

[1differentdrummer]

Read The Birth Of The Nazis. It looks as if the Rs have followed scripts written by both Hitler and Mussolini. Rove and the Neanderthal neo-conmen wing of the R party have followed the best example of the worst people, and gotten it done twice. Unless we all work, give and vote the Dems won't have the WH and veto-proof congress.

[dutchess2]

He will deal with them because they will be gone - fewer and fewer of these rabid republicans after each election until they are gone.

And....those few remaining will be without support and approval to behave as they wish.

[nicemarmot]

Totally agree. Whichever democrat wins the election she or he will inherit a massive federal deficit, troops stretched thin as we police the world, hate and distrust from large portions of the developed and undeveloped countries AND a republican leadership devoted to toppling any progressive initiative buy ANY means. Why? Because republicans generally think that they rule the world. There is no "we" in imperialist totalitarians.

[ljsfolly]

What a shameful act for someone who deserved respect at his service for all he did with the life the Nazi's tried to take from him. For this to happen and for no one to stand up from the republican side and appologize is something many should never forget and the one who did this should be run out of congress and at the very least censured for hsi actions. He deserves not to be heard from ever again on the florr of congress. My hope is those who were in attendence will also voice their displeasure at such an obvious act of attention seeking. Godspeed Mr Lantos and may your story live on as one of bravery and not this action by a sick man.

[JBelbute]

He needs to be censured. This is absolutely disgusting and any representative who does not publicly denounce the behavior is just as bad.

[neocon43]

So sensor the democrat who held the gavel and let the process continue.Democrats are total losers.

[guntotinganglion]

Not despicable. Republican! Minor difference, but notable.

[ramal]

At long last Mr. Diaz-Balart have you no sense of decency, sir? Apparently not.

[endtyranny]

Absolutely despicable.

[chisel]

This does not in any way shock me,I,m far beyond that. My dad always said " if you live long enough you'll see just about anything". Rebub's, I can smell them before I see them.

[Keo]

my absolute favorite thing about the republicans--and i'm sure the lantos famly would agree--is that they're such a fine, FINE bunch of Christians.

[TXfemmom]

Lantos was good and decent man, who had survived the horrors of the Holocaust, and then this a**hole would act like this.

These Republicans have no morals, no dignity, no sense of decency are truly despicable, tyrants.

This man should be pummeled from within his district and I only hope that there are enough decent people within it to vote him out.

[Bluedanube]

Republicans are a cancer in the body politic. Like any cancer it must be excised if the patient is to survive. Another Republican admininistration will result in a terminal diagnosis for the nation. For the health of the country it's time to purge the system of a far greater threat than any cave dwelling terrorist, the Republican Party.

[realitybase]

I can't beleive these a**holes. Ship 'em off to an ice floe, and let 'em drown....just like they've let the country drown in debt in a war for no reason.

[Bluedanube]

When one reads a history of the Reichstag just prior to and soon after the Nazi's rise to power it's easy to see where the Republicans got their play book.

[Bluedanube]

Why would anyone be surprised by the Republicans disrectful actions toward a fellow Congressman and Holocaust survivor. Republicans respect nothing except for money, power and hypocrisy. They are a blight on the nation.

[NormBlon]

Have they no shame?

[GeoLee]

This is why the party of dirty tricks and Diaz-Lahart must be overwhelmed in November. They have proven over and over that they will stop at nothing. He certainly defames the name of the person whose name he goes by and the party of that person, too.

[factanonverba]

Ain't gonna happen. He has a safe district. That's the point. That's why Obama is wrong to think that you can work with these people. You can't. So even try? Sometimes it is worthing having a fight. Especially when you can win, but Obama gives it up before the first shouting match. 15 million Americans right under the bus. No health care for them. The GOP has already won. Because they know how to play. We don't. We surrender even before a fight.

[TXfemmom]

That is the thing that bothers me about Obama. Hopefully, all that stuff about kissy face and let's all be friends is not how he really intends to act.

One cannot work with a bunch of scum, and that is what the Republicans are. That is why I think that Hillary and Bill are better suited to slug it out with the Republicans, and God knows, they have to have the pent up hostility toward them to be willing the smack, kick, pummel, knock down, and stomp them for the years of hell they inflicted upon them.

Obama says he won't be swift boated, but he has far too much luggage that the PUKES can and will use against him.