Posted by D. Cupples | Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) was displeased with President Bush for vetoing SCHIP and with some House Republicans for refusing to help override the veto. According to Crooks & Liars, Stark publicly expressed his displeasure:
“'I’m just amazed that the Republicans are worried that we can’t pay for insuring an additional 10 million children. They sure don’t care about finding $200 billion to fight the illegal War in Iraq....
“'President Bush’s statements about children’s health shouldn’t be taken any more seriously than his lies about the War in Iraq. The truth is that that Bush just likes to blow things up – in Iraq, in the United States, and in Congress....'
CNN took a poll, asking "Should Stark apologize?" When I checked, 9753 people had answered and 9006 (92%) said NO.
After the White House and others criticized Stark, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi apologized for him. Stark's response was as blunt as his original statements....
The LA Times blog reported:
"Stark adamantly remained unapolegtic. 'I have nothing but respect for our brave men and women in uniform and wish them the very best.... But I respect neither the commander-in-chief who keeps them in harm's way nor the chickenhawks in Congress who vote to deny children healthcare."
Unlike said "chickenhawks," Stark did serve in the military. For interesting commentary, see Memeorandum's blogger roundup.
Here's a video clip of Stark:
Pelosi should apologize for terming it "inappropriate." Good grief, you'd think that Washington was a politics-free zone from the prim harpies that have gone after Stark.
Posted by: Charles | October 20, 2007 at 12:01 PM
It's pretty crazy: all those hard-ball players acting like Victorian ladies at a tea party. Break out the smelling salts!
Posted by: The Crux | October 20, 2007 at 01:31 PM
Everything Stark said is true. It's time someone in Congress stands up and expresses how most of the country feels. All these calls for censure, (and the subsequent pathetic apologies from the democrats), show just how out of touch our 'elected officials' are with the public. Stark needs to be applauded for his candor, not scorned by a bunch of 'chickenhawks' and their 'democratic' enablers. I, too, have no respect for this idiot-in-chief. Not many do anymore. And as the bodies pile higher in the desert, with no apparent objective or foreseeable end to the madness, it's hard not to see that indeed, with his corporate cronies raking it in and his empty-headed rheotoric, this 'president' could not be happier with the way things are going in Iraq. Check his last press conference-check out his blatantly evasive 'answers'. And check the ever-present smirk, now more annoying (and alarming) than ever. Looks like a man amused to me....
Posted by: sparrowhawk | October 23, 2007 at 05:48 PM