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

[guntotinganglion]

And Democrats want to play nice with these sociopaths? They should take inspiration from these procedural moves, and understand the power of a callous and classless minority. That power can be amplified by a majority position, but only if you look at these creatures as what they are, nothing to be trifled with. They are sharks, and you will get bit if you don't treat them accordingly. Bang sticks and spearguns are how you deal with the oceans top predators in a threatening situation...the Democratss need some legal analog to that to keep this predators in check. Need to throw the fear of their god into them. And they're god is? MONEY. hit em in their pocketbooks, and you'll get their attention.­..otherwis­e just go away and let them predate every living thing that isn't them.

Stop referring to them as "my esteemed colleague" or as my "friend". They're neither. They're a fucking virus, and they act as one, and move as one...and that is why they are, have been, and will continue to be, a great danger to this country.

[KOisGod]

Brilliant. A f'in virus, a genetically mutated anti-life that has somehow been given legitimacy when they should have been splattered against the wall the moment they crawled into the house.

[connorin]

Nice of Huffington Post to leave out a bit of informatio­n....pleas­e check this out...also from the Politico:

Minority Leader John Boehner's spokesman Michael Steel has put out a statement blaming Democrats for the chaos during Lantos' service.

"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," Steel said. "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."

[Mike169]

The Republican Party's a mess
They do nothing and anything less
They love to obstruct
Leaving our country fucked
How low they can get is your guess.

[KOisGod]

"If I were the man I was five years ago, I'D TAKE A FLAME THROWER TO THIS WHOLE FUCKING PLACE."

Al Pacino, in Scent of a Woman.

Where are the Frank Slade's, when we need them?

[Moxo]

Republicans sure do love to take every opportunity to make America look bad.

[DJBrunner]

Just the latest example of just how low these deprived Rethugs will stoop, that plus again showing their true colors and outrageously bogus concern for justice. These are the very same assholes who called Libby's conviction a shame, that only involving a treasonous act of outing a CIA operative, while these Bush stooges plainly give Congress the middle finger and are blatantly in contempt of the law and these Rethug hypocrites react by pulling this crap during a memorial service and then finish it off by walking out on the vote.

From another article on the subject - 'Republicans said Democrats should instead be working on extending a law — set to expire Saturday — allowing the government to eavesdrop on phone calls and e-mails in the United States in cases of suspected terrorist activity.'

That's right folks, it's far more important to them to get that FISA bill passed which allowing spying on Americans and grants retroactive immunity to the telephone companies who illegally spied on Americans.

Then to top it off the we get the now standard bullshit / scare tactic line of - '"We have space on the calendar today for a politically charged fishing expedition, but no space for a bill that would protect the American people from terrorists who want to kill us," said Rep. John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, the minority leader'.

The only people we truly need protected from is these friggin hypocritical asshole Rethugs. I'm afraid that our once great country is truly screwed.

Fellow posters, I reported the problem that I'm having posting to HuffPost but they've not replied back. I put blank lines between paragraphs and when I preview my post it shows the spacing. When I post however the blank lines disappear and the paragraphs all run together. Others aren't having this problem, any idea what might be happening?

Thanks

[syllepsis]

'"We have space on the calendar today for a politically charged fishing expedition, but no space for a bill that would protect the American people from terrorists who want to kill us," said Rep. John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, the minority leader'.
So what was the impeachment of Bill Clinton- a politically charged panty raid?

[helonias]

You should also mention Clinton's christmas card list and the repub investigations into that.

[gappytoofcondi]

Bolton and Miers are mere appetizers. I'm HUNGRY. Where's the main course- Rove, Cheney, and Bush?

[HearNoWeasel]

After Diaz-Balart's vote, the Republicans threw a hissy fit and walked out. Like five-year-olds. Because they couldn't find any arguments against the well-deserved Bolton/Miers contempt citation. Over three quarters of the Repubs boycotted the contempt vote.

Idiotic Repub behavior like that gets no press coverage, but it is another vivid reminder that bipartisanship will never work with this gang of retards. Unfortunately, they succeeded in making Pelosi act embarrassed and appologetic towards the press, when it's the Repubs who acted like jerks today. The woman has no instinct and no fight in her.

[nunzia]

HearNoWeasel - I spent time with a class of five year olds this week. You do them a disservice when you liken them to the GOP. Five year olds are human beings before disillusion, corruption and dishonor sully their souls.
The current GOP act like the FRAT BOYS they are, not five year olds.

[GeoLee]

Absolutely on target...these folks forgot all their kindergarten lessons years ago.

[echeola]

Classy stuff.

[AZDemocrat500]

These guys are totally class less. It is politics at all cost. This should further renforce democrats to take a harder line with these fanatics.

[kingofscotts]

Is it really asking too much to request that you moonbats actually read the whole story before throwing up on your keyboard and calling it a post.

All you have to do is watch the video of what happened and it's clear that the Dems wanted this to happen.

How easily the moonbats are fooled. Stop reading Arriana's insanse headline writers and actually read some news.

[LucieLee]

Could a procedural vote be taken to sanction Lincoln Diaz-Balart this disrespect....I think that would very much warranted.­.......Thi­s isn't the first time for him to do something crass like this.....

[nunzia]

Remember he's one of those Florida Cubans.
Remember how they behaved about Elian Gonzalez?
Remember the crazy, hysterical lunacy?
That's what he is.
And, he ought to be censured.

[engineer68]

Yes, he should censured, but it will do no good as he will be re-elected in November by a safe margin. Those Cubans don't give a damn. Florida is their new country and will be until we get over this Castro thing we have going for the last 49 years. Commies in China are OK, but not in Cuba!

[PoliticalAnimal]

If Republicans aren't careful, they're going to give hatred and bigotry a bad name!

[syllepsis]

"On Thursday, three Republicans joined 220 Democrats to support the contempt resolution, including Rep. Walter B. Jones of North Carolina, presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest of Maryland, who was defeated this week in a primary."
So three Republicans will defend the Constitution against what even Steny Hoyer now calls the Imperial Presidency.

[ResistanceisFutile]

The only good Republican is a (you fill in the blank) Republican.

[incontempt]

unemployed

[ManassasMan]

imprisoned !

[GoreyFantod]

imaginary

[lungfish]

ex-

[DietrichMoody]

Every time I think 20th century politics has hit bottom.

They manage to go further and further back.