House In Chaos After Republicans Force Vote During Lantos Memorial

[Coexist]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/14/house-in-chaos-after-repu_n_86639.html

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.

[originalpckelly]

1. OH MY GOD!

They have no shame.

[TooBigaTent]

2. And these are the assholes that Obama thinks he will work with. He is deluded.

[LynneSin]

4. and they'll work better with Hillary for some reason

:rofl:

[Bake]

13. Hillary says she wants to fight them. Obama says he'll hold hands with them.

Right across the aisle. Apparently that's the "new kind of politics."

Bake

[LynneSin]

16. 'Fight them', 'Hold Hands' - both of them mean the same exact thing to me

republicans are assholes who will figure out a way to not work to bring unity back to this country

[countryjake]

23. You do know they both have said "reach across the aisle"...

the strategy of each of our candidates, as promised in their sound-bites numerous times during the past two months, indicates that no real fighting will be going on.

Clinton calls it "civil strategy", Obama calls it "compromise"...not much difference 'tween the two. In reality.

[TooBigaTent]

21. I am not a HC supporter by any definition. I do think she would resist them a

little, as opposed to BO's statements that he wants to work with/for them. But they are both too corporate-oriented for me so the bottom line is that there is no real difference. Neither remaining Democrat will be much better than psycho McCain - just degrees of disaster.

As an aside - I am struck by the knee-jerk reaction of criticism of BO or HC by their supporters - instead of responding by pointing out where the criticism is wrong, both groups merely say, "But your person did so-and-so." Sounds like a group of six-year olds. Immature six-year olds.

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. Just couldn't resist, could you.

So who's the asshole?

[malaise]

3. Rethugs are scum

Only their lives count.

[Mz Pip]

5. Talk about no class

I've heard Lincoln Diaz-Balart on some of the talk shows and he definitely is several cards short of a full deck. He's a partisan hack of the worst kind.

Hope he gets "Worst Person in the World" today.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[dchill]

10. "Worst Person in the World"

Good call.

[Coexist]

11. there is a video at the link - maybe you should email it to Mr. Olbermann!

I think he would give him one of the top 3 spots!

[Blue State Bandit]

This cannot be forgiven.

I would expect nothing less than his removal from any committee

seats he may hold, and a public denunciation. Further more, when

he runs again, this should be revisited everyday till he loses

his seat, or resigns. He might as well have just spit on the man's

grave.

[Selatius]

6. Diaz-Balart couldn't have done worse if he pissed on Lantos' grave.

That's the kind of thuggery you should expect from Repubs. They need to be dealt with in a confrontational approach, not a conciliatory approach.

[sam sarrha]

7. Republicans are EVIL, they may be duped, doesn't matter, they are all dangerous, sick bastards

[spanone]

8. they are NOT in chaos, they are getting a lot of work done

[Coexist]

14. it wasn't my title - it was HuffPo's

I know they are!

[blm]

12. Sonny Bono treated like Winston Churchill and Holocaust survivor gets treated like

his contribution was insignificant.

[Bake]

15. Has a single Rethug condemned Diaz-Balart's action?

Just one? Even one?

I'm not holding my breath.

Bake

[Warpy]

Are you kidding?

The rest of the scum probably put him up to it.

They have no honor, no decency, no morals, and no manners. Anybody who thinks he can work WITH them is crazy. They need to be fought tooth and nail and evicted from their seats and kept out until this bunch all die off.

They're EVIL.

[JerseygirlCT]

17. I hadn't seen that part. Disgusting and shameful

They have no shame whatsoever. None.

[RuleOfNah]

18. Are Republicans still anti-Semitic?

Holocaust deniers?

Petty is too kind a word for the horrible manners of Republicans.

[LSK]

19. who is running against Diaz-Balart???

[tsuki]

29. His name is Raul Martinez. He will be getting some of my love.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/1/21/235620/158

[L. Coyote]

20. Republican Party in Chaos. Almost all Members evaded voting to support the Junta Criminals.

If they can't stick together, are they really a Corrupt Bastards "CLUB"? :rofl: Emphasis on CLUB!

[Ichingcarpenter]

22. I didn't know that the repugs forced the vote at a funeral

Good grief that is even worse than the walkout.

Now, I see what happened, Thanks.

[TahitiNut]

24. Diaz-Balart, like his father, is a total Franco/Batista FASCIST ... akin to those who perpetrated

... the Holocaust! It is not at all surprising to me that he'd piss on this Memorial Service for the only Holocaust survivor to serve in the Congress.

[TooBigaTent]

26. He should be sent back to Cuba and treated to the necktie justice he so richly

deserves.

It would be a good start.

[Blue_In_AK]

25. Bunch o' Nazis.

They always show their true colors, don't they.

[countryjake]

27. This puts a whole different spin on their subsequent walkout...

defining them as the fascist-supporting pigs that they really are.

First they walked out on a sad memorial to a dedicated Congressman who perfectly defined the effects of the stranglehold of Fascism, then they walked out on a vote supporting a resolution to hold such corruption in our own government accountable.

Is it Fascism yet?

(my favorite question)

[wryter2000]

28. I thought they couldn't sink any lower

Boy, was I wrong.

[HooptieWagon]

30. He's Miami/Dade, right?

A fair-sized Jewish community down there... they probably didn't vote for him anyway, but this would be a great slam against him during re-election bid... I hope he has an opponant, and they run with this hard...

[JI7]

31. assholes

[Generic Brad]

32. Which came first today?

Calling the vote during the Memorial or the FISA walk out?

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

33. They play dirty because THEY ARE DIRTY!!!

I'll bet the skin off my butt they are desperate to cover their own asses over these illegal spying crimes.

[gordianot]

34. Congress many times in the past descended beyond civility once they even started a war.

This is a symptom on how divided we have become. Confront or appease them the decline continues. This is why I have always thought Gore and Kerry did not contest election fraud more aggressively, the political divisions have become so great we risk serious chaos. No matter who becomes President Obama or Clinton they will variously have to confront or appease Republicans. On the other hand a Republican administration simply does not care, McCain will become more Bush like if he is elected. It is the Republican platform to represent the elite.

Congressman Lantos deserved better, so do the American people.