Censure: So what?

[Reader Rabbit]

I don't mean to be a smartass, but can being censured materially harm a politician? Will he be kicked off committees or fined? Is there some sort of punishment that goes along with censure?

Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.

[rodeodance]

1. Stark was not centured as motion was tabled. Barney Frank was centured

[Virginia Dare]

3. Right, but why didn't he just accept the censure..

that's what I'm wondering as well.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

2. It Depends

When a repub gets threatened with censure, the entire party bands together and Attacks The democrats en masse.

When a democrat gets threatened, they cave in 100% and apologize.

[backscatter712]

4. Technically, a censure is just a nasty letter.

It's a formally worded letter entered into the Congressional Record and served to the person saying "It is the sense of the House of Representatives that you've been naughty!"

I'm thinking there was a lot of back-room threatening to Stark that forced him to apologize - threats to remove him from his committee seats, take away his pork, etc.

If it weren't for that, if I were Stark, I would have taken a cue from Rush Limbaugh and auctioned off the censure document on eBay. That's how much respect Congress deserves today - NONE!

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. This will go on your permanent record, young man! nt

[incapsulated]

6. Nothing, and the man is 75 years old

He's not some new, young congressman afraid for his future in the party.

He should have taken it and rubbed their noses in it.

Others have, why is everyone making excuses for him?

Yes, the leadership sucks but they won't change if people don't stand up to them.

[halobeam]

7. maybe this makes some sense...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2117106&mesg_id=2117689