Sign Rep. Wexler's petition for Cheney impeachment hearings

[SharonRB]

Wexler Launches Online Push for Cheney Impeachment Hearings

at www.WexlerWantsHearings.com


Following the release of an online op-ed advocating for Cheney impeachment hearings by Representatives Robert Wexler (D-FL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), all Members of the House Judiciary Committee, Wexler has launched an ambitious online effort to mobilize support for immediate impeachment hearings for Vice President Dick Cheney.

Wexler, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, has launched www.WexlerWantsHearings.com to mobilize grass roots and netroots support from across the nation in order to increase pressure on Congress to hold hearings. In a new video, featured at www.WexlerWantsHearings.com, Wexler issues a strongly worded statement in favor of hearings.

"Our Constitution mandates that the House of Representatives hold Presidents and Vice-Presidents accountable when they commit High Crimes... Accountability and the rule of law are not partisan; they are American. They supersede politics and strategy. We must hold all of our leaders accountable. No exceptions," Wexler states on the video.

A copy of the online op-ed by Wexler, Gutierrez, and Baldwin, entitled "A Case for Hearings", is available at www.WexlerWantsHearings.com.

In the editorial, the three Members of the Judiciary Committee declare that serious charges have been made against Cheney "relat to his deceptive actions leading up to the Iraq war, the revelation of the identity of a covert agent for political retaliation, and the illegal wiretapping of American citizens."

The Members of Congress further state that "the worst legacy of the Clinton impeachment – where the GOP pursued trumped up and insignificant allegations - would be that it discourages future Congresses from examining credible and significant allegations of a constitutional nature when they arise."

Wexler is encouraging the online community and netroots to join together to support hearings. Wexler will take part in a Blogcall Press Conference on December 14, at 10:30 am with leading bloggers to advocate for impeachment hearings.

[babylonsister]

1. With Pleasure! Thanks!

:hi:

[Patsy Stone]

2. Done and done!

We're off to dinner, so I won't see you later. I hope we're back in time for Bill Moyers.

:hi: Shabbat Shazam, Shar!

[SharonRB]

4. I'll meet you in the clubhouse at 10

for Moyers. We'll miss you at 8.

[Patsy Stone]

22. Missed you all, too.

Moyers wasn't on here last night at 10, which is good because I didn't get home until 10:20. It was a Rolling Stones documentary.

It's on at 1:30 a.m., so I'll set the tape.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. Done.

[judaspriestess]

5. done

[sk8rrobert2]

6. thats a done 10-4 over and out good buddy

[Cleita]

7. Heard about it on Randi Rhodes this afternoon.

Happy to sign and recommend.

[SharonRB]

8. Yeah, I heard Wexler on Randi's show today, too

and I went out and signed it then.

[lonestarnot]

9. Done!

[SharonRB]

10. Thanks!

[tekisui]

11. I'm on there. He's wanting at least 50, 000.

[MuseRider]

12. Made me very happy

to sign this. I am just all smiles tonight for some reason. Perhaps it is because of this and Dodd saying he will filibuster the FISA bill. Backbone makes me shiver with joy I guess. :)

[2tr4nqued]

13. Signed and passed on. n/t

[SharonRB]

14. Thanks!

[SeattleGirl]

15. Done!

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

16. Gladly. Thank you! eom

[wildbilln864]

17. Done! n/t

[orleans]

18. done. k&r. here is the op ed that the papers wouldn't run:

A CASE FOR HEARINGS
By Representatives and Members of the Judiciary Committee:
Robert Wexler (D-FL), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)


On November 7, the House of Representatives voted to send a resolution of impeachment of Vice President Cheney to the Judiciary Committee. As Members of the House Judiciary Committee, we strongly believe these important hearings should begin.

The issues at hand are too serious to ignore, including credible allegations of abuse of power that if proven may well constitute high crimes and misdemeanors under our constitution. The charges against Vice President Cheney relate to his deceptive actions leading up to the Iraq war, the revelation of the identity of a covert agent for political retaliation, and the illegal wiretapping of American citizens.

Now that former White House press secretary Scott McClellan has indicated that the Vice President and his staff purposefully gave him false information about the outing of Valerie Plame Wilson as a covert agent to report to the American people, it is even more important for Congress to investigate what may have been an intentional obstruction of justice. Congress should call Mr. McClellan to testify about what he described as being asked to “unknowingly along false information.” In addition, recent revelations have shown that the Administration including Vice President Cheney may have again manipulated and exaggerated evidence about weapons of mass destruction -- this time about Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

Some of us were in Congress during the impeachment hearings of President Clinton. We spent a year and a half listening to testimony about President Clinton’s personal relations. This must not be the model for impeachment inquires. A Democratic Congress can show that it takes its constitutional authority seriously and hold a sober investigation, which will stand in stark contrast to the kangaroo court convened by Republicans for President Clinton. In fact, the worst legacy of the Clinton impeachment – where the GOP pursued trumped up and insignificant allegations - would be that it discourages future Congresses from examining credible and significant allegations of a constitutional nature when they arise.

The charges against Vice President Cheney are not personal. They go to the core of the actions of this Administration, and deserve consideration in a way the Clinton scandal never did. The American people understand this, and a majority support hearings according to a November 13 poll by the American Research Group. In fact, 70% of voters say that Vice President Cheney has abused his powers and 43% say that he should be removed from office right now. The American people understand the magnitude of what has been done and what is at stake if we fail to act. It is time for Congress to catch up.

Some people argue that the Judiciary Committee can not proceed with impeachment hearings because it would distract Congress from passing important legislative initiatives. We disagree. First, hearings need not tie up Congress for a year and shut down the nation. Second, hearings will not prevent Congress from completing its other business. These hearings involve the possible impeachment of the Vice President – not our commander in chief – and the resulting impact on the nation’s business and attention would be significantly less than the Clinton Presidential impeachment hearings. Also, despite the fact that President Bush has thwarted moderate Democratic policies that are supported by a vast majority of Americans -- including children’s health care, stem cell research, and bringing our troops home from Iraq -- the Democratic Congress has already managed to deliver a minimum wage hike, an energy bill to address the climate crisis and bring us closer to energy independence, assistance for college tuition, and other legislative successes. We can continue to deliver on more of our agenda in the coming year while simultaneously fulfilling our constitutional duty by investigating and publicly revealing whether or not Vice President Cheney has committed high crimes and misdemeanors.

Holding hearings would put the evidence on the table, and the evidence – not politics – should determine the outcome. Even if the hearings do not lead to removal from office, putting these grievous abuses on the record is important for the sake of history. For an Administration that has consistently skirted the constitution and asserted that it is above the law, it is imperative for Congress to make clear that we do not accept this dangerous precedent. Our Founding Fathers provided Congress the power of impeachment for just this reason, and we must now at least consider using it.
http://www.wexlerwantshearings.com/

[burrowowl]

19. Done! K&R!

[halobeam]

20. Done, K & R !!!

[orleans]

21. okay--this needs a kick. n/t

[CGowen]

23. 3 House Judiciary Members Call for Impeachment of Cheney NOW

Faced with an obstructionist leadership in the House, and a mainstream media that have forsaken their role as a Fourth Estate monitor of government abuse, three Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee are calling on the public to demand that the Congress initiate impeachment hearings immediately against Vice President Dick Cheney.

Speaking at a telephone press conference Friday organized by Democrats.com, Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) said that following a bi-partisan vote Nov. 7 by the full House to send Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s Cheney impeachment bill (H Res 799, formerly H Res 333)opinion article penned by himself and two Judiciary Committee colleagues, Reps. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), which was sent to a number of leading newspapers, including the Miami Herald, the Washington Post and the New York Times, was rejected for publication—an astonishing act of censorship for a document authored by three members of congress on an issue of such significance as impeachment of the vice president.

...

http://www.democrats.com/node/15106

[orleans]

24. kick

[orleans]

25. .

[tom_paine]

26. K & R!