It doesn’t happen too terribly often, so when the U.S. House of Representatives at least drifts in the direction of madness, it’s worth paying attention to.<\/p>\n
It seemed like House Republicans had stumbled upon one of their famously clever ideas. With Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) calling<\/a> for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, the GOP thought it was time for a little stunt. Not willing to debate the war on the merits, or discuss a strategy for success, or even consider how we got into the war in the first place, Republicans thought they’d turn a debate over the war into a little partisan game.<\/p>\n They crafted a one-sentence resolution<\/a> that read, “[I]t is the sense of the House of Representatives that the deployment of United States forces in Iraq be terminated immediately.” The idea, of course, was to put Dems on the spot — vote for the Republican characterization of Murtha’s plan for the future of the war and stand for an immediate withdrawal, or hang Murtha out to dry and vote with the GOP.<\/p>\n It’s the cynical, vapid nonsense that congressional Republicans have taken to an art form. It was also a transparent stunt that Dems saw coming a mile away — and knew not to fall for. Dem leaders — including Murtha — denounced the ridiculous resolution and easily helped vote it down.<\/p>\n But along the way, the House erupted<\/a> to the point of near-violence.<\/p>\n Differences over policy on the Iraq war ignited an explosion of angry words and personal insults on the House floor yesterday when the chamber’s newest member suggested that a decorated war veteran was a coward for calling for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops.<\/p>\n As Democrats physically restrained one colleague, who appeared as if he might lose control of himself as he rushed across the aisle to confront Republicans with a jabbing finger, they accused Republicans of playing political games with the war. […]<\/p>\n [T]he maneuvering exposed the chamber’s raw partisan divisions and prompted a tumultuous scene, which Capitol Hill veterans called among the wildest and most emotional they had ever witnessed.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n At the heart of the fiasco was Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio), the woman who barely beat Paul Hackett in a special election earlier this year. Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) drafted a simpler resolution calling for an immediate withdrawal of troops, saying it was a fair interpretation of Murtha’s intent. Members were heatedly debating a procedural rule concerning the Hunter resolution when Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) was recognized at 5:20 p.m. Schmidt won a special election in August, defeating Iraq war veteran Paul Hackett, and is so new to Congress that some colleagues do not know her name.<\/p>\n She told colleagues that “a few minutes ago I received a call from Colonel Danny Bubp,” an Ohio legislator and Marine Corps Reserve officer. “He asked me to send Congress a message: Stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message: that cowards cut and run, Marines never do.”<\/p>\n Dozens of Democrats erupted at once, pointing angrily at Schmidt and shouting repeatedly, “Take her words down” — the House term for retracting a statement. For a moment Schmidt tried to keep speaking, but the uproar continued and several GOP colleagues surrounded her as she sat down, looking slightly dazed. Presiding officer Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) gaveled in vain for order as Democrats continued shouting for Schmidt to take back her words. Rep. Martin T. Meehan (D-Mass.) yelled “You guys are pathetic!” from the far end of the Democratic section to the GOP side.<\/p>\n Just as matters seemed to calm a bit, Rep. Harold E. Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.) suddenly charged across the aisle to the GOP seats, jabbing his finger furiously at a small group of GOP members and shouting, “Say Murtha’s name!” Rep. David R. Obey (D-Wis.), who had led the chants for striking Schmidt’s comments, gently guided Ford by the arm back to the minority party’s side.<\/p>\n At 5:31, when order was finally restored, Schmidt rose again and said softly, “My words were not directed at any member of the House.” She asked that they “be withdrawn” from the record.<\/p>\n As the House temporarily moved to other matters, a calm Ford said in an interview that he confronted the Republicans because he was angry that they were using a ploy to avoid “a real debate” about the war. “I said, ‘If you believe it’s about Murtha, then talk about Murtha, don’t hide behind a resolution,’ ” Ford said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n A video Schmidt’s remarks is available online<\/a>. Keep a bottle of Maalox handy if you choose to watch it.<\/p>\n
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