WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Republicans angled Tuesday to put Democrats in a no-win position: reprimand a senior colleagues or be seen as blindly excusing legislative bullying for partisan reasons.
House leaders tentatively scheduled a late Tuesday vote on a Republican move to reprimand Rep. John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat and close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. The GOP accuses Murtha of making a blatant threat against a Republican who challenged a pet project that Murtha wanted.
Democratic leaders said they believed they had the votes to kill the motion, but conceded that some party members were unhappy about being pressed to defend a blustery colleague known for bare-knuckled politics.
Murtha has not disputed a Republican claim that he stormed across the House floor May 17 to confront Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich. Rogers had tried unsuccessfully to strike a $23 million Murtha earmark -- or narrowly targeted spending item -- for a drug intelligence center in Murtha's district.
In a House speech Monday, Rogers said Murtha threatened him by saying, ''you will not get any earmarks now and forever.''
Rogers, backed by House GOP leaders, said Murtha's threat violates congressional ethics rules and ''merits the reprimand of the House.''
If true (and Murtha is not denying it), why would Democratic leaders kill the motion? Not only should they pass it, they should twist arms to pass it by a landslide. Murtha should vote in favor of reprimanding himself.
I would be quite irate if any Republican congressperson acted in such a manner toward a Democrat, and I am appalled to see Murtha or any Democrat behave like a spoiled child toward a member of the other party. Such actions should not be ignored, condoned or in anyway tolerated, no matter which party is in in the majority, or which party the offending member represents.
I expect Democrats to have higher standards, to set a good example for their colleagues across the aisle. Sadly, I also expect to be disappointed on this matter.
Update: Sure enough, the attempt to reprimand Murtha failed by a 219-189 vote, along a near perfect party-line split (one D voted to reprimand him, two R's voted not to). All AZ Representatives voted the party line.
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