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Rep. Stark says sorry; censure fails |
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By Jackie Kucinich
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Posted: 10/24/07 07:37 PM [ET] |
Following an unsuccessful GOP censure attempt, Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) apologized to his colleagues Tuesday for controversial comments he made last week about the Iraq war.
“I want to apologize to my colleagues — many of whom I have offended — to the president and his family and to the troops,” said the 18-term lawmaker. He added that he hoped the apology would allow him to “become as insignificant as I should be” and explained that public attention should remain focused on critical, divisive issues such as the war in Iraq and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) bill.
Stark then left the podium, wiping away tears. Reps. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) comforted him while he regained his composure.
Stark’s demeanor was more upbeat, however, during the censure vote that preceded his apology. He smiled as one member high-fived him and other Democratic members approached him with encouraging handshakes.
He consulted frequently with Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.), who stayed at his side. But as the clock ticked away, Stark could be seen staring at the votes as they registered on the tally board.
Just before the vote closed, he crossed the chamber and approached Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who later said he and Stark spoke about “whether or not an apology would be well-received by Republicans.”
“I told him I think it has to be a real apology. You can’t ask a man to do more than that,” Blunt said.
The remarks, Blunt added, “were particularly insulting to the president.”
“It’s easy here to forget the impact that thoughtless comments can have beyond the person you’re addressing,” he said.
Blunt and Stark then approached House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), who shook Stark’s hand.
Aside from the apology, Stark’s comments also prompted the California State Society to announce a rescheduling of a Nov. 6 Capitol Hill Club luncheon, in which Stark was slated to be the featured speaker.
“We mutually decided that it would be best to reschedule for a later date,” said Linda Ulrich, chairwoman of the State Society’s executive board.
The drama began early Tuesday when Boehner filed a privileged resolution to censure Stark, angered by the California Democrat’s comment during last week’s debate on whether the House should override President Bush’s veto of an expansion of SCHIP.
“You don’t have money to fund the war or children,” Stark said while speaking on the floor last Thursday. “But you’re going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president’s amusement.”
Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) attempted to have Stark’s words stricken from the record, which would have resulted in a punishment for California lawmaker. But he was denied when Stark’s words were deemed in order.
Boehner’s resolution was ultimately tabled Tuesday morning by a vote of 196-173.
Five freshman Democrats — Jason Altmire (Pa.), Brad Ellsworth (Ind.), Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Chris Carney (Pa.) and Heath Shuler (N.C.) — voted with Republicans on the move to table Boehner’s resolution. A further eight Democrats voted present: Dan Boren (Okla.), Emanuel Cleaver (Mo.), Lincoln Davis (Tenn.), Baron Hill (Ind.), David Loebsack (Iowa), Tim Mahoney (Fla.), Charlie Melancon (La.) and Dennis Moore (Kan.).
Speaking after the motion failed, Shuler and Altmire said they voted with the Republicans only because it deserved to be debated and voted on.
Stark’s apology came on the heels of strong words from House Democratic leaders condemning his outburst.
Stark faced pressure to apologize, a House leadership aide said.
Last week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called his comment “inappropriate” and said it “distracted from the seriousness of the subject at hand: providing healthcare for America’s children.” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) also called the remark “unfortunate and totally inappropriate,” and said he hoped Stark would “express his regrets to the president.”
On Tuesday, Hoyer said he found the apology “appropriate.”
“I thought he did it well. I don’t think he sugarcoated it,” Hoyer added.
This is not the first time Stark has let his rhetoric roam freely.
In 2003, The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Stark referred to former Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.) as a “whore” for the insurance industry. During a Ways and Means panel meeting that same year, he called former Rep. Scott McInnis (R-Colo.) a “fruitcake” and a “little wimp.”
Former Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) then cited that outburst to call the U.S. Capitol Police to break up the panel’s Democrats from a meeting in a library, to which they had retreated after the caustic meeting.
Thomas later apologized for the action.
Mike Soraghan contributed to this report. |
