| "The gentleman from Florida is reminded to refrain from personal references toward the Vice President." This remark was not made by the Democratic Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi during a House session on January 16, 2008, but this person referred to as "chairman" was herself referring to part of a speech made by Rep. Robert Wexler (D-19) in which he said, "...In this time, at this moment, Congress must stand for the truth. If we fail to act, history may well judge us complicit in the alleged crimes of Vice President Cheney."
Wexler had asked these three questions:
- Did the Vice President manipulate intelligence to push this Nation into war based on false pretense?
- Did the Vice President unmask a covert CIA agent for political purposes?
- Did the Vice President order the illegal surveillance of Americans and the illegal use of torture?
In calling for hearings on the resolution of impeachment of Vice President Cheney as a member of the judiciary committee to which Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich's resolution of impeachment was referred, Wexler justified the action by holding up the names of 189,000 Americans whom he said had registered their support on his website in the first four weeks it was posted.
As captured on a video of his speech originally aired by C-Span brief applause could be heard followed by the "chairman's" remarks that "...gallery will refrain from applause."
"We'll see what the so-called leaders of the House ultimately do with this" [Wexler's request for hearings], opined Dave Davison, president of Peace Network of the Ozarks, a local group strongly in favor of impeachment. However, Davison is pessimistic and admits that he doesn't hold "high hopes that they will do anything at all."
Davison voiced his concern and disappointment over leaders at all levels who don't understand the importance of holding "criminals" accountable, and especially when the vast majority of the grassroots voters put them in office for exercising such a stance.
"In the so-called leadership I can't tell the difference between the 'no oversight party of Bush' and a cowardly Democrat anymore," Davison said. "I don't care what anybody's politics are in Blue vs. Yellow vs. 'what-have-you' Dog Democrats. What is happening is a continuing catastrophe for our country in the future with the so-called current leaders that are not brave enough to stand up to do the right thing."
As an advocate of peace, Davison believes that justice is its major component. "Peace and justice go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other," he concluded.
A full transcript of Wexler's five minute speech may be found here.
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